How Can a Good God How Can a Good God Allow Pain, Injustice and Allow Pain, Injustice and

Suffering?Suffering?

What kind of world do you want?What kind of world do you want?1.1. We don’t exist? We don’t exist?

2.2. We live in a ‘survival of the fittest’, We live in a ‘survival of the fittest’, ‘dog eat dog’ world?‘dog eat dog’ world?

3.3. We live in a world that is pre-We live in a world that is pre-determined – a closed system!? determined – a closed system!?

4.4. This is the best of all This is the best of all possible worlds but possible worlds but something has gone something has gone terribly wrong. terribly wrong.

Something has gone wrong!Something has gone wrong!–John 16:33, “In this world, you will John 16:33, “In this world, you will

have trouble.”have trouble.”

–Perhaps the response or answer Perhaps the response or answer is…is…

–He is doing something, but we may He is doing something, but we may not be seeing the not be seeing the whole story!whole story!

The Option for EvilThe Option for Evil–Genesis 2:16-17 NIV “You are free Genesis 2:16-17 NIV “You are free

to eat from any tree in the garden; to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”of the knowledge of good and evil.”

A Perfect WorldA Perfect World– Genesis 1:31 “God saw all that he had Genesis 1:31 “God saw all that he had

made, and it was very good.”made, and it was very good.”

– Romans 5:12 NLT “When Adam sinned, Romans 5:12 NLT “When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. sin entered the entire human race. Adam’s sin brought death, so death Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.”sinned.”

Two Kinds of Evil–Romans 8:22 “...all creation has Romans 8:22 “...all creation has

been groaning as in the pains of been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present childbirth right up to the present time.”time.”

Is God impervious to our pain?Is God impervious to our pain?–Hebrews 4:15-16 (The Message) Hebrews 4:15-16 (The Message)

We don’t have a priest who is out We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so get what he is so ready to give. Take ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. the mercy, accept the help.

Is God impervious to our pain?Is God impervious to our pain?–2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) God made God made

him who had no sin to be sin for him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. the righteousness of God.

–2 Corinthians 5:21 (The Message) 2 Corinthians 5:21 (The Message) God put the wrong on him who God put the wrong on him who never did anything never did anything wrong, so we could be wrong, so we could be put right with God.put right with God.