Why do bad things happen to good people? (Part Two) By: Dr. Danny Purvis
QUESTIONS EVERY BELIEVER SHOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER
Question #1: Why do bad things happen to good people? (Part Two)
By: Dr. Danny Purvis
If you remember, we left off this conversation with a promise to see how Jesus interacted with a young man who was convinced that being a “good person” was enough to get one into heaven. Two thousand years removed from that conversation people have not changed much. Generally speaking, when asked, most people will give a similar answer today. What is the most common answer given to the question: How does a person get to heaven? Most times, the answer is, by being a good person. Seems somewhat logical, I guess. Good people get rewarded…bad people get punished. Simple. But there is a huge problem with this approach. How do we define good? Let’s put this idea to the test a bit…shall we?
First, what is the universal definition of “good”? Some people think they are doing “good” by strapping explosives to themselves and killing innocent people. We (in general) look at that as bad…but they don’t. So, who’s right? Second, are their different values attached to what is “good”. In other words, if I hold a door open for someone who has their hands full…that’s a good thing. But is the same value attached to someone who saves a kid from drowning? They’re both “good”. But is one MORE good than the other? Does one count more than the other? And if they do have different values, how many doors do I have to open in order to get to the level of the person who saved the kid from drowning?
Third, what do we do about the “bad” things we do? Is life really a point system where we have to do more good things than bad to get into heaven? And are the bad things weighted as well? Are some bad things MORE bad than others? If I openly neglect to hold the door for a struggling person…is that as “bad” as robbing a bank? If not, how many doors to I have to open in order to counter balance the bank I robbed? And what if you have the opportunity to do a bad thing, and you don’t do it? Is avoiding the bad thing considered doing a good thing or not? And if we have to have our ledger in the black in order to get to heaven, how will I ever know if I’ve done enough? So, I hope you can see that the idea of a person getting to heaven because they are “good” is hopelessly flawed. We can’t even agree on what’s good and what is not good. So how can that be the arbiter of whether I get to heaven?
And still, not only do millions of people believe that folks are basically “good” (however that is measured) and as a result they are destined for heaven…unfortunately many Believers think the same thing. Even though, that idea directly contradicts Scripture (Romans 3:10-12). So, in order to have a conversation related to the idea of bad things happening to good people, we have to do exactly as Christ did when He was faced with a version of this same question. This interaction is recorded in all of the synoptic Gospels, but we will focus on the event as described in Mark 10:17-22. The person involved in this event has been given the moniker, The Rich Young Ruler. In my view, this is one of the most important interactions Jesus ever had with another human being as recorded in the Gospels. It is that big a deal. How does it start?
“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life eternal life” (Mark 10:17). That is the million dollar question. And it is directly related to the question we are addressing related to why bad things happen to good people. The same philosophy is in play here. The person asking that question believes people are basically good. The Rich Young Ruler believes the same. The idea that good deeds put us in good graces with God is prevalent in both of these constructs. And that is what mut be addressed. That is exactly what Jesus did.
If you notice in the verses, Jesus never directly answers the young man. He tries to do him a bigger favor…to correct his errant presupposition in the first place. Jesus’ response is very important here. After the young man asks a question that cannot be answered because of the false premise upon which it is built, Jesus answers with a question of His own: Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone”(Mark 10:18). I hope you’re paying attention to what Jesus is doing here. It is vitally important. In order for the young man to truly get the answer he seeks (how to get to heaven) he has to be shown that the foundation of his question is wrong. The young man assumes that good people can go to heaven…there’s just one problem. No one…not one single person on the planet…is actually good. Jesus tells the young man two very important things. First, that God alone is good. Second, because you’re not God…you’re not good.
This is an amazing interaction here. It is a textbook example of how we are to engage with people when foundational ideas are, in fact, false. So, when someone poses the question…why do bad things happen to good people…we have to do what Jesus did. We have to point out the errancy of the presupposition. What is the presupposition? That people are basically good. Their entire question is based on a faulty premise. And if we don’t do that, then we start bantering about a bunch of things related to God causing things versus God allowing things…God can’t be blamed for the actions of others…His morality as opposed to ours. All kinds of things that are fine to talk about, but the conversation will be built on a false foundation. And no matter the outcome of the conversation, the person will still walk away thinking people are basically good. And we can’t let that happen.
To be honest with you, why do bad things happen to good people is an unanswerable question. Why? Because there is no such thing as a good person. Over and over and over again we are told about the true nature of all people. If you want to see God’s indictment of the entire human race, simply read Romans 3:1-20. Read the characteristics that are inherent in ALL people. Here is a list that breaks it down.
No one seeks God. No one understands God. We have become worthless. Our throats are open graves. We lie. Our mouths are full of curses and bitterness. We are swift to shed blood. We are full of ruin and misery. We do not care about peace. We do not respect God.
These descriptions describe all people. Everyone that has ever lived on this planet. Everyone that lives on this planet now. Everyone who will ever live on this planet. This passage isn’t pointing out the worst of the worst. This passage is pointing out you, and me, and everyone else. After reading that list, how is it possible to come to the conclusion that people are basically good? And understanding that is crucial to understanding the Gospel. Without seeing our sin, we cannot see our need for a Savior. If I believe that I am basically a “good” person, then why do I need a Savior? I would not need one. I would just need a life coach…a mentor…a behavior modifier…a motivational speaker to just help me focus my already innate goodness into right actions. But…I’m not good. Not at all. Not according to God’s standard (Matthew 5:48).
So when you are talking to someone and they bring up that age-old question of why does God allow bad things to happen to good people…maybe we have a conversation about what good really is: “There is none good but God alone” (Mark 10:18).
-Dr. Danny Purvis
Question #1: Why do bad things happen to good people? (Part Two)
By: Dr. Danny Purvis
If you remember, we left off this conversation with a promise to see how Jesus interacted with a young man who was convinced that being a “good person” was enough to get one into heaven. Two thousand years removed from that conversation people have not changed much. Generally speaking, when asked, most people will give a similar answer today. What is the most common answer given to the question: How does a person get to heaven? Most times, the answer is, by being a good person. Seems somewhat logical, I guess. Good people get rewarded…bad people get punished. Simple. But there is a huge problem with this approach. How do we define good? Let’s put this idea to the test a bit…shall we?
First, what is the universal definition of “good”? Some people think they are doing “good” by strapping explosives to themselves and killing innocent people. We (in general) look at that as bad…but they don’t. So, who’s right? Second, are their different values attached to what is “good”. In other words, if I hold a door open for someone who has their hands full…that’s a good thing. But is the same value attached to someone who saves a kid from drowning? They’re both “good”. But is one MORE good than the other? Does one count more than the other? And if they do have different values, how many doors do I have to open in order to get to the level of the person who saved the kid from drowning?
Third, what do we do about the “bad” things we do? Is life really a point system where we have to do more good things than bad to get into heaven? And are the bad things weighted as well? Are some bad things MORE bad than others? If I openly neglect to hold the door for a struggling person…is that as “bad” as robbing a bank? If not, how many doors to I have to open in order to counter balance the bank I robbed? And what if you have the opportunity to do a bad thing, and you don’t do it? Is avoiding the bad thing considered doing a good thing or not? And if we have to have our ledger in the black in order to get to heaven, how will I ever know if I’ve done enough? So, I hope you can see that the idea of a person getting to heaven because they are “good” is hopelessly flawed. We can’t even agree on what’s good and what is not good. So how can that be the arbiter of whether I get to heaven?
And still, not only do millions of people believe that folks are basically “good” (however that is measured) and as a result they are destined for heaven…unfortunately many Believers think the same thing. Even though, that idea directly contradicts Scripture (Romans 3:10-12). So, in order to have a conversation related to the idea of bad things happening to good people, we have to do exactly as Christ did when He was faced with a version of this same question. This interaction is recorded in all of the synoptic Gospels, but we will focus on the event as described in Mark 10:17-22. The person involved in this event has been given the moniker, The Rich Young Ruler. In my view, this is one of the most important interactions Jesus ever had with another human being as recorded in the Gospels. It is that big a deal. How does it start?
“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life eternal life” (Mark 10:17). That is the million dollar question. And it is directly related to the question we are addressing related to why bad things happen to good people. The same philosophy is in play here. The person asking that question believes people are basically good. The Rich Young Ruler believes the same. The idea that good deeds put us in good graces with God is prevalent in both of these constructs. And that is what mut be addressed. That is exactly what Jesus did.
If you notice in the verses, Jesus never directly answers the young man. He tries to do him a bigger favor…to correct his errant presupposition in the first place. Jesus’ response is very important here. After the young man asks a question that cannot be answered because of the false premise upon which it is built, Jesus answers with a question of His own: Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone”(Mark 10:18). I hope you’re paying attention to what Jesus is doing here. It is vitally important. In order for the young man to truly get the answer he seeks (how to get to heaven) he has to be shown that the foundation of his question is wrong. The young man assumes that good people can go to heaven…there’s just one problem. No one…not one single person on the planet…is actually good. Jesus tells the young man two very important things. First, that God alone is good. Second, because you’re not God…you’re not good.
This is an amazing interaction here. It is a textbook example of how we are to engage with people when foundational ideas are, in fact, false. So, when someone poses the question…why do bad things happen to good people…we have to do what Jesus did. We have to point out the errancy of the presupposition. What is the presupposition? That people are basically good. Their entire question is based on a faulty premise. And if we don’t do that, then we start bantering about a bunch of things related to God causing things versus God allowing things…God can’t be blamed for the actions of others…His morality as opposed to ours. All kinds of things that are fine to talk about, but the conversation will be built on a false foundation. And no matter the outcome of the conversation, the person will still walk away thinking people are basically good. And we can’t let that happen.
To be honest with you, why do bad things happen to good people is an unanswerable question. Why? Because there is no such thing as a good person. Over and over and over again we are told about the true nature of all people. If you want to see God’s indictment of the entire human race, simply read Romans 3:1-20. Read the characteristics that are inherent in ALL people. Here is a list that breaks it down.
No one seeks God. No one understands God. We have become worthless. Our throats are open graves. We lie. Our mouths are full of curses and bitterness. We are swift to shed blood. We are full of ruin and misery. We do not care about peace. We do not respect God.
These descriptions describe all people. Everyone that has ever lived on this planet. Everyone that lives on this planet now. Everyone who will ever live on this planet. This passage isn’t pointing out the worst of the worst. This passage is pointing out you, and me, and everyone else. After reading that list, how is it possible to come to the conclusion that people are basically good? And understanding that is crucial to understanding the Gospel. Without seeing our sin, we cannot see our need for a Savior. If I believe that I am basically a “good” person, then why do I need a Savior? I would not need one. I would just need a life coach…a mentor…a behavior modifier…a motivational speaker to just help me focus my already innate goodness into right actions. But…I’m not good. Not at all. Not according to God’s standard (Matthew 5:48).
So when you are talking to someone and they bring up that age-old question of why does God allow bad things to happen to good people…maybe we have a conversation about what good really is: “There is none good but God alone” (Mark 10:18).
-Dr. Danny Purvis
Recent
Archive
2024
January
February
March
2023
July
August
September
October
November
Categories
no categories
1 Comment
Great message. I’ll alert all my “good” we’ll intentioned sinner friends. PTL!