Dr. Mike Jones

Q: What should be the Christian response to those that say, “If God is Righteous and Good, why does He permit so much violence in the world?”

Q: What should be the Christian response to those that say, “If God is Righteous and Good, why does He permit so much violence in the world?”

A: It behoves us to first, understand the difference between God’s Sovereignty and His Providence, to gain a better understanding of what’s happening around us and in the world. Sovereignty reveals God’s absolute rule/control over the entire world – now and forever. It means that He hasn’t nor ever will depend on anyone or anything outside of Himself. On the other hand, God’s Providence means that He’s ‘omni,’ knows things in advance, and ordains whatever He wills to come to pass.

Concerning the question at hand, let’s concentrate on God’s Sovereignty. We formulate the answer to this question, by going back to the Book of Beginnings (Genesis 2&3), where we encounter the fall of humanity. Remember, before the fall, mankind had dominion over planet earth, then he relinquished it to Satan (for a specific season), and in Chapter 3:16-19, we’re introduced to the penalty of SIN, by Holy God. The woman will give childbirth in great pain, the man will toil in hard labor to eat from the cursed ground, and thorns and thistles will make growing food somewhat difficult. All this will occur until mankind returns to the ground in death. So we see from the first book of the Bible, that death and suffering [SIN] entered the world as a direct result of rebellion/disobedient to God’s command.

Sin not only affected mankind, but it also affected nature itself: Adam and Eve were ‘naked’ in the garden, which indicated that the climate control was set. But, after the fall of mankind, we see them wearing clothes and a change in the four seasons of climate control – Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall – and sometimes, particularly of late, the weather can be brutal! And of late, we’ve seen on the news where avalanches, wild fires, severe flooding, earth quakes, etc., have caused numerous lives to be lost, and around the globe there’s nothing but sorrow and tragedy.

So, without the fall of mankind, there would be none of the things asked about, such as fatal accidents, random shootings, nor any other suffering throughout the world. People wouldn’t have to ask me questions about the three part series that I taught, “Why Bad Things Happen to Good People?”  “Why Good People do Bad Things?” And, “How to Live Through a Bad Day!” We wouldn’t have to explain Luke 13:1-5, “There were present at that time some who told Him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse offenders than all men living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” [Jesus was simply saying, we live in a sin cursed world, and we have NO idea what is to happen to us tomorrow or next week, therefore, be ye ready, by having a relationship with God the Father, through His Son, Jesus the Christ; because one day, we will all stand before the Judgment Seat – will it be the Bema Seat of the Righteous or The Great White Throne Seat of the Unrighteous!]

For a believer, our last enemy is ‘Death.’ Rejoice, because 1Corintians 15:50-58 emphatically declares, “Now this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible will put on incorruption, and this mortal will put on immortality. When this corruptible will have put on incorruption, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then the saying that is written shall come to pass: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”  “O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”