Why do bad things happen to good people?

After discussing common questions/objections raised in my Personal Evangelism class today, I have decided to post how I would answer these objections when they are raised. These are not the only possible ways to answer these questions, but I hope my apologetical answers will help those of you who perhaps are perplexed by these questions or have faced these questions and have been uncertain how to answer them.

Why do bad things happen to good people? This is perhaps one of the most asked questions by those with whom Christians share the gospel. While this question has been asked and debated by millions through the ages, it still persists today. Here is how I might answer this question.

1. This is actually the wrong way of positing this question. Rather it should be asked, "Why do good things happen to bad people?" The Bible is clear, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," and "the wages of sin is death." We have sinned and have committed intergalactic treason against God. All of nature is now in rebellion against God and the proper order--thus humans are currently not in their place of sovereignty over creation (as we were meant to have under the direct lordship of God (cf. Genesis 1:26-30)). Thus, we are not getting what we deserve but rather what we do not deserve.

God did not owe it to us to create us. Thus, how much less so does He owe us breath, food, water, the sun and the moon, friends, warmth, etc now that we have rebelled against Him and are now deserving wrath? We should therefore not be surprised that any bad things happen to people, but rather that God is gracious to give us all good things that we experience--including this time we have in which to turn from our sins, trust in Christ, and follow Him. Therefore I urge you to take advantage of this time God has given you at Christ's expense, and turn from your sinful ways to God.

2. Why do bad things happen to good people? Well, I'll tell you why. It is so that "now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation [atoning sacrifice] in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration... of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus" (Romans 3:21-26).

Bad things happen to good people, or to be grammatically correct, bad things happend to the good person, as Jesus of Nazareth is the only person who has ever lived to be good, so that God could show mercy to humans and restore those who trust in Him to a right relationship with Him. It is so that we could come to God, though we cannot boast since we have done nothing to merit God's favor, thus God gets all the glory (Romans 3:27-31). God has made it possible for Himself to justify all who come to Him and yet to be just--that is, a judge who upholds the law. If Christ did not face the excruciating death on the cross and rise again from the dead, God could not save any person, and thus we would be forever damned in our sinfulness. Since God did show mercy, Christ had to die and show that God was just/righteous in forgiving the sins of all who trust in His grace and mercy. Christ also died and rose again so that He might be the Lord of both the living and the dead throughout history (Romans 14:9). So bad things happend to the good person (Jesus of Nazareth) so that God could be merciful and gracious, so that Christ would be the supreme Lord over all, and so that we could be saved by faith in Christ Jesus.

3. Are you a good person? Do you know of any good people? If either of these receive an affirmative answer, I would then move into the Law. I would ask questions such as: have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen anything, regardless of value (including an employer's time)? Have you ever hated anyone--since God calls that murder? Have you ever failed to take a day of rest on a weekly basis to honor God? Have you ever used God's name in a way that is not coherent with His character or blasphemed His name (such as using God's name as a curse word)? Have you ever lusted after another person sexually or emotionally--as this is spiritual fornication/adultery? Have you ever desired something that was not your own and you wanted it more than you wanted God, even for a moment? Have you ever put something as more important in your life than God, even yourself? Have you ever dishonored your parents? (cf. Exodus 20:1-17).

Thus I would show them that they are not good people, and neither is anyone else. This refers us back to response #1.