“Why Believe In A God That Allows Suffering?”
Genesis 1-3
Sermon Series: “Why Believe?”
Introduction: This sounds like a theoretical topic, but it ends up being very personal. This is the most commonly asked question about Christianity. It is phrased in different ways, including:
-If God is real and he is good and loving but at the same time allwise and all-powerful, how can there be evil and suffering in the world?
-Or, why do bad things happen to good people?
-Why did God cause or allow this to happen? Can He be trusted?
I think all of us have wrestled with this question in some shape, form, or fashion. I certainly have. Sometimes we wrestle with this question because of bad things happening in the world. Other times, we wrestle with it because of bad things happening in our personal lives. With this as the reality of life, why believe in a God that allows suffering? If the Bible is true, there are reasons to believe. In fact, I believe only a Christian worldview (Creation-FallRedemption-Restoration) actually has an answer for this question. I do not have time to fully present the case, certainly cannot fully explain it, cannot answer all the why questions, or do not claim this will be emotionally satisfying. However, I do believe we can anchor our faith to these truths in the midst of a painful existence.
1. God created everything, and He made everything very good (1:1-1:31).
A. God, our Creator, is both good and great.
B. God made us in His image and gave us authority and responsibility (1:26-30).
C. As image bearers of God, we were given the freedom to make choices and experience the consequences of those choices (2:15-17).
D. Everything that God made was very good (1:31). In other words, it was perfect and completely free from defect. This means that God did not create evil and suffering, although He did create the potential for it when He made us in His image.
2. Evil and suffering are actually alien intruders into God’s perfect creation that were brought about through the choice of human beings made in the image of God and are the just consequences of that choice (2:15-17, 3:1-19). Charles Colson writes, “The consequences of sin affect the very order of the universe itself. Most people have a narrow understanding of the term sin. We tend to think it means that we have broken a few rules, made a few mistakes. So we apologize and get on with our lives, right? Wrong. Sin is much more than breaking the rules. God created an intricate, interwoven cosmos, each part depending on the others, all governed by laws of order and harmony. Sin affects every part of that order and harmony-twisting, fracturing, distorting, and corrupting it.” Andy Stanley said, “When nature wreaks havoc on humanity, it is evidence that God is great and good because He could not and would not turn a blind eye to sin.” Craig Groeschel said, “Why do bad things to happen to good people? Something bad only happened to someone good once, and he volunteered for it.”
3. Jesus Christ, our God who came to earth as a man, suffered for us on the cross and suffers with us now (3:20-21, 1 Peter 3:18, Hebrews 4:14-16). We may not know all the answer, but we have the Answer. The answer is not something, but Someone. It is not a philosophy but a Person.
4. Through the finished work of Jesus, God will restore the universe to a perfect paradise, and those who trust in Jesus will eternally be delivered from evil and suffering (Revelation 22:1-5, 21:1-4, Romans 8:18). Evil and suffering is limited and temporary through Jesus.
