Why Do Bad Thing’s Happen

James 1:16-17 “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and

sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

This is by far the most difficult of all the big questions to answer. Why does a benevolent and loving God allow

any type of suffering?

Genesis 1:31 “God saw all that he had made, and it was

very good.”

Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin entered the world

through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned”

Death, suffering, disease, bloodshed is the result of man’s sin.

John 9:1-3 “As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2

His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”    3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

Jesus did not consider this man’s suffering to be wasted because God would be glorified in the man’s life.

Luke 13:1-5 “Now there were some present at that time who

told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

The presence of suffering does not mean that God does not love us.

Christ came and suffered with us and took the punishment that we deserved.

James 1:13 “When tempted, no one should say, “God is

tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;”

God gave mankind “free will”. God hates the sin that man creates. In spite of this:

Hebrews 13:5  “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Jesus suffered He was tempted He was abandoned He was persecuted He was falsely accused He was beaten He was whipped He was mocked He was crucified by having nails driven

through his wrists and feet

What eats at your soul? The guilty go free The death or injury of a fellow law enforcement

officer Death of innocent victims The distrust from citizens Seeing the worst that humanity has to offer Injustice and politics

Jesus Christ never became soured on society

Titus 3:1-2 “Remind the people to be subject to rulers

and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.”

Romans 13:1-7 “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for

there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.  6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. “

“For since words will not persuade the world, severity must be used, and people must be compelled to desist from crime, so that the common peace and unity may be maintained and a restraint be put upon wantonness. If the thief persist in stealing, let him dangle from the gallows, and then we shall be secure from him. Let the wanton villain who takes delight in injuring every one, and who strikes and stabs tor the sake of a mere word, find justice on the gibbet, and then he will let people alone; he will henceforth strike and stab no more, for the hangman puts an excellent stop to such work. Therefore, the civil government serves God by using the sword against sin and scandal; for God, who will not leave offences and sin unpunished, has given the command to do this. God makes this distinction among men, that to a few He entrusts the sword, with it to ward off mischief and to protect the subjects”

What if any laws could you not enforce based upon your own Christian beliefs. If so why?

Job 1:1-22“In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.  4 His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.  6 One day the angels[a] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan[b] also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”    Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”  8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”  9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”  12 The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”    Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

 13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”  16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”  17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”  18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”  20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said:    “Naked I came from my mother’s womb,    and naked I will depart.[c] The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;    may the name of the LORD be praised.”  22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Job 42:12 “The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life

more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys.”

A group of terrorists attacked his servants, killed them and stole his donkeys and oxen.

Fire came down from the sky and consumed all his sheep and his servants that were tending them

Another group of terrorists attacked and killed those servants who were watching his camels and they were all stolen

His children were all killed in a building collapse

Job was afflicted with boils and skin rashes

Job’s reaction was sorrow and grief, but he did not blame God!

Job recognized that he was only a steward of the things that God had bestowed on him. “I came into this world with nothing.”

Could you have endured the same afflictions as Job did and still praise God?

What bad things have happened to you? Did you blame God for your troubles?

Do you view yourself as being a steward of the possessions God has blessed you with?

Job was patient because God is patient with us.

1 Peter 1:7 “These have come so that the proven

genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

God uses times of trials to test our faith and as a way to learn that we can’t make it alone in this world without having God in our lives.

James 1:2-5 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,

whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Have you ever considered your trials as pure joy?

Do you believe that God can speak to us during our trials?

God wants Christian believers to support one another

He doesn’t want us to try to “self-cope” with our struggles or be weighed down with self-pity.

He wants us to go into action to help one another out of our difficult times

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ

Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

The presence of suffering in the world should remind us that we are sinners in a sin cursed world and prompt us to tell others about the salvation available in Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 “For our light and momentary troubles are

achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. “

Being a Christian does not mean that your life will get easier

Satan attempts to make things more difficult for Christians

Going through difficult times is a lot lot exercising our bodies. With time and working through our pain we

become stronger.

Do you feel that you are spiritually fit?

Do you believe that you have the ability to lead others to Christ?

Philippians 4:12-13 “I know what it is to be in need, and I know

what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. “