How do we explain, from a religious perspective, the suffering in Haiti from the earthquake when speaking to non-believers or those weak in their faith? God is love, all-powerful, allows happenings for the good of those who put their trust in him. But this destruction, pain, and suffering leave me sputtering.
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- joyce
Thanks for asking. And thanks for expressing your personal discomfort or distress about the "destruction, pain and suffering" described in news reports coming out of Haiti. Every child of God shares this same kind of discomfort since compassion is a trait believers are quick to express.
You ask how we may testify to others regarding God and his role in such disasters that have marked so much of human history since the Fall into sin and will continue to do so (as Jesus affirms in Matthew 24:7,8). Our starting point, when we are tempted to question divine wisdom or love, is to focus on his saving work for us sinners through Jesus Christ. Then we will begin anew to appreciate him as our loving Father in heaven and will be content with what he chooses for us in our lives and what he chooses at a given time for the lives (and deaths) of others. We will also see these as opportunities to show compassion and kindness to those who suffer. God uses such events to alert us to these opportunities.
We properly acknowledge that God is the primary agent of all things, as Isaiah 45:7 says. He was not surprised by this earthquake (or any of the five other earthquakes that took place in the world that same week). It was his will that these took place. Let us give him glory and confess that he is Lord of all.
When it comes to explaining precisely why he chose to send a particular natural disaster to a particular place at a particular time, however, we are quick to confess our limitations. It is really impossible to answer this kind of question fully or authoritatively because God has not revealed all the answers to our "Why?" questions. He is honest with us and declares this truth in Isaiah 55:8,9. He reveals many reasons for allowing painful things to be a part of our lives (like testing our faith to strengthen us, to keep us humble when we tend to grow arrogant, to give us a wiser perspective on things, etc.), but there is no one explanation that fits all of God's wise works in our lives.
God does these things also with unbelievers in mind. But his judgment differs in many ways from ours. What seems good to us in a particular instance may not be good in his eyes. What is evil to us at a given time may not be evil to him. The ongoing reality of God's love for his creatures plus the reality of his anger against sin also are factors in all of God's doings, but we are insufficient to sort all of this out in a given event. We simply confess that an event like the earthquake in Haiti expresses God's wisdom, love, and anger blended in a way that is beyond our full understanding. We praise him for all that he does, including the things that surpass our comprehension. Through the earthquake God brought many of our brothers and sisters in Christ to glory through death. He also ended the time of grace for many who despised Christ and the gospel and ushered them into eternal death. He alerted mankind again to consider the temporary nature of this world, to sort priorities, to ponder the signs of the times, and ultimately to focus on Christ who came and who comes again. He stimulated consciences so people would seek satisfactory relief at the only true place, the foot of Christ's cross. And, of course, he calls us to humbly bow to his wisdom and providence, trust his promises of love, and rejoice that in the new heavens and new earth these things will no longer happen.
We leave the major "Why?" questions with God. But we can answer other questions, like "What can or will we do now that God has done what he did?" We will praise him, trust his wisdom, confess the reality and seriousness of sin and unbelief, focus mostly on his love in Christ, and leave the governing of the world in his hands, where it belongs.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How do I know there is a God?
Have you ever thought about how many things you know and believe without having seen them? Take gravity for instance. No one has ever seen gravity, but I see evidence of it is all around. As a matter of fact, we depend on it for almost all of our everyday activities. Gravity holds our cars on the road. It keeps us from floating away into space. We would be in serious trouble without it.
Look at God in very much the same way that you look at gravity. You have never seen him, but you see evidence that he must exist in the world. Whether taking in a soft summer sunset or a late night display of the constellations, know that someone took some serious time and effort to get things just right. The Bible puts it this way, "Every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything." (Hebrews 3:4)
Have you ever taken time to look closely at the world in which we live? Get up a little earlier than normal tomorrow and let the sunrise speak for itself. You decide which is more impressive, the beauty of the sunrise or the fact that is has risen every day in the history of the world. You will hear an inaudible voice in that sunrise. It is God's voice. (Psalm 19:1-4)
Perhaps you are more impressed with detail. Take time to count the hairs on one of your arms from your wrist to your elbow. As you notice the delicacy with which each hair is connected, consider how hard plastic surgeons work to duplicate a "normal" hair pattern. They never do get it quite right, do they? All of this is part of God's great attention to detail and more evidence that he does exist.
We have never seen God, but, like gravity, we know he is here. He has taken the time to leave evidence of his existence all around the world in which we live. Take time to notice it. You will see that he is very real. If you want more, definite information, take time to get to know him better in the Bible. -
How could God allow suffering and evil?
This is a classic question. When it's a challenge to the Christian faith, trying to prove that God doesn't exist, it's usually phrased like this: "If God is truly omniscient (all-knowing) and omnipotent (all-powerful) and loving, how could he allow suffering and evil?"
Here is a classic answer.God exists. Jesus said he does, and he rose from the dead to show that he could be trusted to tell the truth.
God is all-knowing. That trustworthy Jesus said so. And since God knows everything, he is smarter than we are. So he may do or say things that are perfectly right, but we don't understand them, because we're not as smart. We have that experience every day with people who are smarter than we are.
God is all-powerful. In philosophical terms, all-powerful means that he can do whatever he wants. He can always put his will into action.
God is loving. God showed his love for all people by sending a Savior (John 3:16).
Does God allow evil to occur? That depends on how you define evil. Sometimes what seems bad or evil to one person seems good to another person.
But let's grant that God does allow evil to occur. It's only temporary. Death intervenes. Since God is smarter, perhaps that temporary evil actually turns out to be for some good in the end. For example, the Bible tells the story of a man whose brothers sold him into slavery. That was evil. But it turned out for good. The man himself said so (Genesis 50:20).
Since God is smarter than I am, I trust that when he allows evil or suffering in my life, it will work out for my good (Romans 8:28). Since he's loving, I trust that everything really will work out for the best in my life. And since he's all-powerful, I can ask him to get rid of the evil, and trust that if that's he wants at that time, he can and he will (Matthew 7:7).
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Do I have to believe the whole Bible?
Your chest feels as if an elephant is dancing on it. You're gasping for air. Sweat is glistening on your face. You are in the emergency room of a hospital. Nurses are hooking wires all over your chest. Another nurse is searching for a vein to start an I.V. Another nurse is putting a small pill under your tongue. After looking at the monitor and the EKG tape, the doctor informs you that you are having a heart attack. It's a frightening scene. Other tests prove that there is a blockage in your heart. The doctor tells you what has happened to your heart and then proceeds to explain what needs to be done to repair your heart so that you can continue to live.
Are you going to believe everything he says? Or are you going to pick and choose what you want to believe and disregard the rest, which could cost you your life? Your life depends on believing everything the doctor tells you.
There are people who believe the whole of the Bible. There are people who don't believe anything in the Bible. But how can a person believe just some of the Bible? How does a person pick and choose what parts of the Bible are true and what parts are not true? How can a person believe that Jesus died on the cross to take the sins of the world away and yet not believe that Jesus rose from the dead? How can a person believe that Jesus did miracles, but that Jonah could not have spent three days in the belly of a great fish?
What is true and what is not true? The Bible is God's Word. Not believing some of the Bible will lead to doubting all the Bible. The Bible is not a collection of human ideas and thoughts. The Bible is God's Word, given word for word by the Holy Spirit to human writers. If any part of the Bible is merely human thoughts, and not God's Word, then all of God's Word can't be trusted. If it is God's Word, then all of it is true and is to be believed.
We believe the entire Bible is God's Word and it is true. Our belief is not founded on shaky ground. First, there is more evidence for the documents of the Bible than for any other ancient book. Second, all the writers of the New Testament wrote within the first century of Christ's birth. They all knew Jesus. Third, even historical facts cited by the writers have been proven to be true. Fourth, God promised that the writers would tell the truth. The Holy Spirit guided them so that they did just that.
We believe all of the Bible because in it God tells us that he loves us sinful human beings so very much that he sent His Son Jesus to live, suffer, die and rise for us so that we could be with him in heaven. That is why God tells us that his words "are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31).
God's Word is all true. You can trust every word of it from beginning to end.
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Am I good enough to go to heaven?
Mom went over to the slow cooker where the turkey had been all day. As the lid was taken off, a shriek filled the air. The slow cooker had been unplugged hours before to make room for Uncle Bob's famous sweet potato soufflé.
Tears filled Mom's eyes. "My dinner is ruined!" she cried. Dad chimed in, "Oh, honey. I am sure that it is good enough." However, the half baked turkey was not good enough, nor was it safe to eat.
In our lives we probably hear or say those words often. "Oh, the lawn looks good enough. I can wait another couple of days to mow." "Oh, the house isn't that dirty. It is good enough for now." "My job was done well enough for today. I am going home!"
What about when it is quitting time here in this life? Are we sure that we are going home to heaven? Are we good enough?
We may be individuals who settle for good enough more than we like to admit. However, we have a God who doesn't settle for anything but perfection. Jesus says, "Be perfect . . . as your heavenly Father is perfect" Matthew 5:48.
So are we good enough to go to heaven?
God takes the "lid" off of our hearts and tells us what he sees. "Every inclination of the heart is evil from childhood" Genesis 8:21. Even if we try hard and work at being kind, good, and perfect we still fail. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23.
So now what do we do? Similar to an uncooked turkey, does the heat get turned up on us in hell? Is our hope to have life in heaven ruined?
Thanks to Jesus Christ our Savior the answer is, "No." We do have hope because Jesus has forgiven our sins by dying on the cross and he has declared us to be innocent by rising from the dead. Because of what Jesus has done, every time that God looks at us he sees "you holy in his sight without blemish and free from accusation" Colossians 1:22.
Are you good enough to go heaven? Jesus did not just make you good enough but he made you perfect! Through faith you receive "the gift of God which is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 6:23.
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How can I be sure there's life after death?
The view that there isn't a life after death is certainly a minority position. People disagree sometimes sharply on what life after death is like, but very few believe that this life is all there is.
Why is that? Perhaps one reason is that a thought like that is too sad to contemplate. The lack of permanence, the brevity of life, the desire for making a lasting impression—all that begs for something more.
Most people have always sensed this, and the Bible tells us why. It says God has "set eternity in the hearts of men" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
God created you with longings that nothing in this life can satisfy. He would be very cruel if he did not provide a life after death.
There is a much better way to approach your question.
Suppose that someone died in full view of people. Suppose he was certified to be truly dead, and that he was buried in a grave. Now suppose that, some days later, the dead man reappeared, obviously alive and well. Then suppose that he talked and ate with the very same people who had known him in life, some of whom had watched him die. Suppose that over 500 people saw this formerly dead man alive, and that these people spread the news of the miracle everywhere. Suppose further that they stuck to their story so stubbornly that some of them were martyred for it.
Your proof is the eyewitness accounts of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Jesus himself said: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies" (John 11:25).
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