What is there that can punish like a conscience ignored?
Why do the innocent die?
Anonymous asked you:
How, why, would a “loving” God let innocent people die?
I answered:
Thank you for this question! We have all lost loved ones, and this surely is one of life’s toughest questions. Please let me answer it to the best of my ability. All I ask from you is a patient and open-mind.
There are so many terrible things in this life, and death is one of them. However, I do believe that there is a simple reason for God allowing death in this world: nature. This is the natural course of things. Even God’s own followers die. They die by murder, disease, and poverty, the same as everyone else. In this world, nothing is perfect. Everything is running down and getting worse. How could God let this happen? Well, it’s a complicated question, of course. We can start with a few statements:
- If this world is perfect, there would be no reason for death to exist.
- It would be chaotic and destructive to put immortality into the hands of imperfect people.
- If there is a God, then there is a life beyond this one. Therefore, He is able to still be loving because there is immortality beyond this hard life.
Having said these statements, it becomes apparent that immortality in this world would actually be negative, not positive. However, God has still provided an end result for the repentant. Someone who repents is simply one who follows Jesus as God, their Savior who died for their sins. Because Jesus took the punishment for all the evil you and I have done, we can have a personal relationship with Him. Let me briefly explain:
A good judge will never turn a blind eye to evil. Retribution must always be made for every evil act. So God made a way to still be a perfect judge and still allow us to have a relationship with Him forever.
Having said these things, we can now examine the state of human beings, and whether they should get into a perfect dwelling without Jesus. They of course would have to be innocent (free from moral wrong).
in·no·cent
1. free from moral wrong; without sin; pure.
Are we innocent? We lie, cheat, steal, murder, insult, abuse, hate, cheat, curse, gossip, slander, condescend, and blaspheme. By very nature, our parents have to teach us not to be evil, for that is our natural course. We were not born innocent and then victimized by the corruption of society. Therefore, we are evil. We are then corrupted by society and become even more evil.
e·vil
8.the wicked or immoral part of someone or something.
Clearly, we are imperfect, not innocent: evil. So my question to you is this: How, why, would a perfect, just God die for us evil persons in order to forgive us our debts? That is beyond absurd. You and I, we do not deserve perfection. We choose evil instead of good every day. Yet, He died anyway, because He loves you.
Death is the course of nature. The rampant poison of imperfection is running through the veins of this earth. If humans lived forever, we would all be monsters. The worst notion of a loving God is blessing evil with immortality. Think of all the criminals in the world that are in prison, or have passed away. Now, think of all the people who would commit those same crimes if they were not afraid. Instead of asking me, “Why would a loving God let people die?” you would ask, “How could a loving God let man live forever?”
We would all take advantage of such power. It would corrupt us all. Governments would cease; guns would be useless. You would not be able to die, and you would live in fear of being captured and tortured every day for eternity. Of course, such conditions are barely imaginable, but I suspect that if every criminal that ever walked this earth were alive today, then such would be the case. Instead of allowing this earth to continue in such a way, he limits our lives and dies for us so that we could live. In this way, the evil will perish and the repentant will live forever. How, why would a perfect, just, loving, holy, merciful God do such a wonderful thing?
Jesus Christ. He came to this earth and lived a perfect life, yet He was tortured and killed for claiming to be the very One that He is: God. He then rose from the dead to prove to the world that He truly is God, and He sent those who witnessed this to share what He had done to the world. You have asked me how God could let innocent people die. Yet, I tell you He lets us live, and He died for us in our place. He has always loved you, and He always will. I hope you realize this soon.
“5 But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all.” – Isaiah 53:5-6
I truly hope you have read this with an open mind. Please consider what I have said. I do not wish to fight or argue. Life is hard, and I just want to help you. Please let me know if you have a reply, question, or anything you’d like to share with me. You have my prayers.
God bless and much love
Samuel Assaf
Need advice? Prayer? A second opinion?
Let me know!
Why is it okay for God to kill?
rogareaudax asked: Hey, so I asked a question, not sure if you got it so Ima re post that shit. I’m curious about how Christians can defend the acts of slaughter in the old testament committed by god such as; when he kills the first born of all the Egyptians. That seems pretty corrupt and undependable. What are your thoughts
I said:
Thank you for reposting! I never got your original question. I want you to watch John Piper explain that question, but first I want to ask you a question of your own to think about as you watch those videos: Do you have the perfect wisdom and rights to decide what morality is?
Check these out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taYhbRm6pnU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naT_GlGV8_w&feature=related
Here’s the thing my friend. When you actually read the Old Testament, God is actually extremely patient with the people. When you read the New Testament, God is actually extremely patient with the people. God isn’t like a high school bully with his chest puffed out, looking to throw all the time. However, God cannot stand the wickedness of man. He is disgusted about it. So, He puts an end to it. Noah’s flood, the destruction of the Egyptians, Sodom and Gomorrah, Jericho, etc.
So I find it strange that you would think it’s immoral that God puts an end to evil. Because you’re probably also a person who wonders why the world is so evil and God doesn’t do anything about it. So which one do you want? Do you want God to let evil run rampant, or do you want Him to stop it?
Here’s the thing: God does both. God is very patient. He warned the Pharaoh over and over again. He let the people of Noah’s days become completely evil:
5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” - Genesis 6:5-7
Man was so evil that they thought of doing evil all the time. God waited until they got to that point. It was grieving God to watch man continue to be wicked. God hates sin.
So let me ask you this: If you looked down from Heaven, and you saw every single event of rape, murder, tyranny, lying, stealing, tragedy, and every other sin, would you really do nothing?
And if you wouldn’t do anything about it, then I’m happy you’re not God. Because God is a holy, just, righteous, loving God. That is why He is patient with those who are evil, but that is also why God puts an end to their evil ways.
God owes us nothing, and we owe Him everything. We have sinned against God and have broken His commandments. We have rebelled against the King of the universe. If we were to fight for our rights, we would be in Hell tonight.
But God made a way out through Jesus Christ. He allowed His very own Son to be sacrificed on the cross, where all your judgement and punishment was poured out onto Him instead of you. If you just accept that Christ did this for you, you will be spared from being held accountable to all the wrong you have done in your life. You are dealing with a very patient God. You are in a window of grace. Please think about this.
If you have any more questions or if you have a reply, please do not hesitate.
God bless and much love
Samuel Assaf
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of the Lord stands forever."
— Isaiah 40:6-8
Easter is not about learning about Jesus.
That’s what the Gospel is for. This is a time where we celebrate Jesus. Let us all give thanks for the grace and love that He has given us. Let us continue in repentance and the works of His will so that even more may celebrate the glorious Son of God.
With empty eyes I looked ahead. With clarity, I now look back.
I have been saved by grace.
— John Piper






