Finally, the question requires that there be such a thing as a “good” person, yet Scripture and life attest that all of us are broken and miserable (Rom 3:10–18).Indeed, another question might be why good things happen to anyone at all, given how bad we are. First things first: according to the Bible, are there “good people?” The biblical answer is two-fold: We are, by nature, sinners and law breakers and therefore, not good. Bible. We are only good because He has taken our sins and is transforming us into His good image. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44, NIV). Also, God can allow bad things to happen to good people in order to teach them lessons, to discipline them, to improve their character, to encourage them to depend on him, etc. Why Do We Sing Auld Lang Syne at the New Year? I made good grades, mentored other students, and volunteered at my church’s summer programs. This classic book takes you on a journey through this and tried to not just answer the question but to offer comfort and a foundation that you can turn to when things are bad. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: Why bad things happen to good people In a heartbreaking video circulating the web, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks presents a touching answer to a timeless question Overview. “We could bear nearly any pain or disappointment if we thought there was a reason behind it, a purpose, to it.” — Rabbi Harold Kushner, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Micah Goodman tells us in his excellent lecture on the Book of Job, found on U-tube, that the explanation of why bad things happen to good people changed, at … Bad things happen to good people all the time. During my career as a physician I have had on occasion the opportunity to serve as a grief counselor. In Mark 10:18, Jesus said that only God is good. I recognize His limitations. The second part of the answer to the question, “Are there good people?,” is: As already discussed, we are born with a sinful nature; a nature that does not seek God. To ask why bad things happen to good people is to stand at the foot of the cross and the mouth of the empty tomb. We've all heard it numerous times: "Why would a God who is all-good, all-knowing, and all-powerful allow bad things to happen to good people?" That does not mean they are bad people. I served him faithfully for years. What Is the Difference Between Religion and Spirituality? “Not only so, but wealso glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4). For what children are not disciplined by their father? The bad thing that He suffered was the punishment that our sins deserved. By believing that, we keep the world orderly and understandable. Job wondered why. But maybe you’re one of the few people who doesn’t absolutely reject the above explanation for your unhappiness. Two of my kids approached me separately during those final weeks, and with pain on their faces, asked, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Talk about a hard conversation! Some background is necessary to more fully answer the question: Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People? The first edition of the novel was published in 1981, and was written by Harold S. Kushner. God would like people to get what they deserve in life, but He cannot always arrange it. “…you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Colossians 3:9b-10, NIV). That person was Christ. The bad thing that He suffered was the punishment that our sins deserved. Sign Up For Our Newsletter Indeed, there is more prediction in Scripture of a struggle on earth for the believer than there is of gain and success. What does God mean when he asks us to be holy as he is holy. But we can learn a valuable lesson from Job who suffered greatly even though he didn’t do anything wrong. The critic of Christianity would respond that God is either not all-knowing, not all-powerful, or not all-good. This book which uses a belief in God as a backdrop to understanding why bad things happen to good people - can be related to many other philosophies of life - such as mine which is Buddhism. Rather than justifying their pain, we need to get rid of it. It’s like the old fable about the scorpion and the frog. And all of us begin life with a congenital defect: we are shaped like a capital “P”. Related Bible Studies. Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People. “The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. We are free! 20 of the best book quotes from When Bad Things Happen to Good People #1 “We can’t pray that God make our lives free of problems; this won’t happen, and it is probably just as well. There are several reasons this may happen, and the reasons are categorized by belief and non-belief of a higher power.There are reasons which vary greatly from the Jewish, pagan, atheist, and Christian perspective, just to name a few. Take your righteous anger and turn it into a force for doing good. God allows good things to happen to bad people. book. This oft-repeated question says nothing about God, but everything about human beings. The main characters of this non fiction, self help story are , . But people who are devoted to God and worship God gets cursed by God. The fact is: No one is immune from hurt or pain. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright © 2021, Christianity.com. Still another explanation as to why bad things happen to good people is that life is a mystery, and although there are reasons why bad things happen as they do, those reasons are not always known to us. The first edition of the novel was published in 1981, and was written by Harold S. Kushner. I gulped then muttered something about a fallen world, that life will never be perfect on earth regardless of whether we’re good, bad, or somewhere in between. Start formulating a response. Most important, you may learn how to stop making them. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousnessand peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:7-11). And when they pass, it is not necessarily a bad thing. Again, I think it was Thornton Wilder who put forth the notion that our view of life is like looking at a tapestry from the back side. Book was published in multiple languages including English, consists of 176 pages and is available in format. 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