Think on These

Things

by Tom McLemore

Question: If God is good, why does he allow suffering in the world?

Answer: God is good (Psalm 100:5; Matthew 19:17, et. al.). God created humans with free will. Also, God ordered the universe in such a way that causes produce effects–actions have consequences. All human suffering is ultimately the result of human sin (see Genesis 3:16-19; Romans 5:12, etc.). The only way God could eliminate suffering is to have denied humans freedom of will and/or to have ordered things so that actions would not have consequences. If we will consider carefully, we would not want it to be otherwise. The possibility of human suffering is the price that must be paid for the benefits of human freedom and an orderly existence. In Christ, God ultimately overcomes the consequences of sin. By means of a human sin that brought suffering (Christ’s execution), God accomplished forgiveness for sin (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). Without sacrificing human free will or an orderly universe, God will have made all things right (see Romans 8:28).

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