Why Bad Things Happen To Good People (Part 4)

The question "why do bad things happen to good people" inherently implies that God is somehow responsible for everything that happens on the earth - that is, that God somehow owes people who are "good" protection from bad things. But again, that mentality is based on a faulty premise.

God is a God of principles. In the beginning, he set principles in motion by which the world would operate. One of those principles is that man would have free will. God allows us to make choices and experience the consequences. Why? Because God wants relationship, not servitude. He forces us to do nothing. He invites and encourages but then it’s up to us to accept.

Another principle that God set in motion at the foundation of the earth is that God needs us to perform His work and will on the earth. Think about it. In the beginning, God told man to name the animals and take care of the garden (Genesis 2:15, 19). He told us to have dominion over the birds of the air and the fish in the sea (Genesis 1:26). He told us that whatever we bind on earth would be bound in Heaven (Matthew 16:19). God places authority on earth with man.

That’s why we are called the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27) – that is, we are God’s hands, feet, eyes, nose, etc. to do His will here on earth (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). That is why He says faith without works is dead (James 2:26). God calls us to put our faith into action and move on our own behalf as He moves on our behalf.

So, the next time you hear someone ask why God would allow bad things to happen to good people, tell them. God needs your participation in order to help stop bad things from happening to good people.

God bless,
J.W.

Why Bad Things Happen To Good People (Part 3)

So far, we've established that God cares (Part 1) and that He's given us free will (Part 2).

Today, let's talk about God's power.

In Christian circles, you often hear that God is all-powerful. That's true. God is the author and source of all power in the earth. But because of the concept of free will, God has voluntarily limited His power here on earth.

Don't believe me? Check out the following scriptures.

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth" (Genesis 1:26-28).

“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 18:18). 

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?... faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" (James 2:14, 16). 

In each of these scriptures, we see that God has given power on earth to man. God has offered us His help but we must be participatory in the process. As we saw in the last post, God knocks - that is, he offers us the opportunity to take advantage of his assistance, but we must open the door and invite Him in (Revelation 3:20).

We certainly worship an all-knowing, all-powerful, all-encompassing God. But His overwhelming love for us and desire to have relationship necessitates a limiting of His power here on earth. Otherwise, we wouldn't truly have free will and would never suffer the consequences for our often selfish and unwise actions. That doesn't mean that God doesn't have all power to do His will on earth. It does mean, however, that we don't necessarily have access to that power automatically. We need to invite him in.

More to come. Stay tuned.

God bless,
J.W.

Why Bad Things Happen To Good People (Part 2)

If God truly cares about us, why does He allow bad things to happen to us?

Well, the answer lies in the premise.

God cares about us (John 3:16). He wants relationship with us (Revelation 3:20). In fact, we were created to fellowship with God. God seeks relationship. But any relationship worth its salt has to be one built on mutual consent. If one party is compelled, coerced, or threatened to be in relationship with another, it’s not a relationship at all. It’s slavery at worst, and an abusive, manipulative relationship at best.

But Jesus said He came to release us from bondage (Romans 8:21, John 10:10; Galatians 5:1). God wants us to be free (Exodus 6:6, Romans 8:2). And He wants us to choose to be in relationship with Him.

This is why free will exists. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20). God doesn’t barge His way in. He knocks and waits for us to allow Him in. He doesn’t compel us to do anything.

This is why it’s so important that we invite Him in to work in our life. He won’t force it. That's not the kind of King he is.

More to come!

God bless,
J.W.

Why Bad Things Happen To Good People (Part 1)

When people challenge the existence of God, one of the first questions they posit is, “why would God allow bad things to happen to good people?”

It's a valid question, one for which Christians often either don't have an answer or have an incomplete answer. I think that's a mistake.

Underlying the very question is a belief system that’s flawed. That belief system is often based on the concept that God is unmoved and unaffected by the human existence – that is, that He doesn’t care about the things we go through or the circumstances in which we find ourselves; that He simply set the world in motion and now stands back and watches objectively as the events of the world occur.

The truth is the opposite. God created man out of a desire for relationship (Revelation 3:20). He was hurt when Adam and Eve disobeyed Him (Genesis 3:13-19). He was moved by the suffering of His people in Egypt (Exodus 3:7-8). He was angered when the world turned against Him in the days of Noah (Genesis 6:5-6). He so loved the world that He sent His Son to save it (John 3:16) at the birth of Jesus. Jesus wept at the death of his friend Lazarus (John 11). The earth shook at Jesus' crucifixion (Matthew 27:45-51).

God is affected by our circumstances. He cares about our well-being.

So, why do bad things happen to good people? Stay tuned for more on that. But in the meantime, know, at least, that God cares.

God bless,
J.W.

Stumbling Blocks (Part 4)

Over the last several posts, we’ve been talking about stumbling blocks. In Part 1, we talked about why stumbling blocks exist (to knock us off balance). In Part 2, we talked about what/who stumbling blocks are (often people close to us). In Part 3, we talked about how stumbling blocks occur (through false or mis- conceptions of who you are). Today, let’s talk about when stumbling blocks come.

In Matthew 13:24-30, Jesus tells a parable about the Kingdom where a man (God) sows good seed (peace and blessings) in a field (your life). But, verse 25 says “while everyone was sleeping,” the man's enemy (Satan) comes and sows weed (stumbling blocks) in the field. Thus, when the seed sprouts, the weeds also appear.

So, what does this parable tell us about the appearance of stumbling blocks in our lives?

Well, according to Jesus, stumbling blocks are planted in our lives when we're asleep. Naturally, it would then be wise for us to "stay woke." Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines the term "stay woke" as "a watch word... for those who [a]re self-aware, questioning the dominant paradigm and striving for something better."

Thus, could it be that God is telling us that when we don't stay woke, we allow weeds into our lives. That is, when we: (1) are not aware, (2) do not question dominant culture, and (3) fail to strive for something better, we give the enemy room to plant stumbling blocks in our lives?

Proverbs 4:23 tells us to, “above all else, guard [our] hearts, for everything [we] do flows from it.” It’s when we’re not on guard, i.e. when we’re asleep, that the enemy attacks.

Thus, “stay woke” shouldn't be just a trendy saying nowadays. Rather, it can be guidance and direction for how to keep stumbling blocks out of our life.

Stay woke fam!

God bless,
J.W.

Stumbling Blocks (Part 3)

On Monday, we looked at examples of close relationships (e.g. husband-wife, mother-son, mentor-mentee, etc.) that ultimately resulted in one party leading the other astray. Today, let's delve further into one of those relationships.

Take Jesus' relationship with Peter.

Peter was Jesus’ right-hand man (Matthew 16:15-19). He was a strong, devoted, loyal friend to Jesus. But Peter was also flawed. Just a few short verses after praising Peter, Jesus rebukes him (Matthew 16:23).

At first glance, it might seem as if Jesus was being harsh. Peter simply loved Jesus, so much so that he didn’t want to see Jesus suffer. But Peter’s wrong perceptions skewed his understanding of Jesus’ purpose, and ultimately opened the door for Peter to be used by the enemy to create a potential stumbling block for Jesus.

In Matthew 16:23, Jesus tells Peter, “you do not have the concerns of God in mind, but merely human concerns.” And therein lies the rub. The fact is, we’re all human. We all make mistakes. We all have flawed understandings and perspectives. We also get caught up in "merely human concerns," just like Peter. And this is the reason why we can’t rely on our friends or relatives to give us sound advice. We're all susceptible to "Matthew 16:23" type moments.

So, remember, just because someone is close to you, doesn’t mean they know what’s best for you. And just because someone wants what’s best for you, doesn’t mean they know what’s best for you. God’s perspective is always right. Seek His perspective before you seek anyone else’s.

God bless,
J.W.

Stumbling Blocks (Part 2)

The other day, I was reading an article entitled “Being Too Busy For Friends Won’t Help Your Career” by Neal J. Roese, a Professor of Marketing at Northwestern’s School of Management. The article was all about how friendships can not only help enhance one’s life but they can also help advance one’s career. For the most part, I agreed with the contents of the article. But one part in particular caught my attention and gave me pause.

Towards the end of the article, Professor Roese presents 5 pieces of advice to make friendships more meaningful. One of those pieces of advice was to “ask for your friends’ perspectives.”

None of those pieces of advice included asking for God’s perspective FIRST (or at all).

This is a hugely important omission because we see examples in the Bible where folks in close relationship with others can steer them astray. Eve enticed Adam to sin (husband-wife relationship). Delilah masterminded Sampson’s demise (boyfriend-girlfriend relationship). Rebecca conspired with Jacob to steal Esau’s inheritance (mother-son relationship). And Jesus had at least two of his disciples (Peter and Judas) challenge Him to abandon his purpose (mentor/friendship relationship).

At the end of the day, we need to be careful who we listen to. Just because someone is close to you doesn’t mean they know what’s best for you. Likewise, just because someone wants what’s best for you doesn’t mean they know what’s best for you.

Seek God’s perspective FIRST. Your friends may either confirm it or contradict it, but at least you’ll be clear what the proper perspective is.

God bless,
J.W.