Why Bad Things Happen

In the first chapter of The Evolution of God, Robert Wright writes about "when bad things happen to good people." According to hunter-gatherer societies, their gods are the cause of why bad things happen. The Ainu, a Japanese aborigine tribe, treated their gods like humans, threatening them when something bad happened and thanking them when it "rained" down blessings. This is typical to several hunter-gatherer societies, however when they do show ritualized respect they seem more fearful of their gods than respectful.

Wright then goes on to talk about the "Christian tradition" of believing that reality is governed by an all-knowing, all-powerful, and good God. The big question is why would an all-powerful God let His people suffer when He is above suffering?

I think Job (from the Bible, the Book of Job) has the best answer to this question. You see, Job learned the hard way what it meant to suffer. Job was "blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil" (Job 1:1). He was given everything, seven sons, three daughters, sheep, camels, oxen, donkeys, and servants. In Job 1:7-12, it says that God allowed Satan to test Job in order to prove that Job was truly a man of God. Job ended up losing everything: his children, all his worldly possessions, even his health failed; yet in the midst of all his suffering he was able to praise God and trust Him.

Suffering isn't from God, it's from Satan. God allows Satan to test us so that we know we know what we say we believe. With God we are able to overcome any obstacle because He has already overcome.

John 16:33 says, "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

Something about hunter-gatherers that I find interesting is that their gods aren't morally perfect. They resemble humans too much to be called "gods." An anthropologist said of the Klamath tribe that relations to the spirits [gods] have no ethical implication. Their "religion" wasn't about morals or establishing right from wrong. How could you follow a god(s) that isn't any better than you? In this world, I need something stable to hold onto, that "firm foundation" is found in trusting God and in His Word.

How great is it to believe that Someone was able to overcome the world!