Why Bad Things Happen to Good People Answers, Antidotes, and Advice

Table of Contents

Preface by Dr. Rodger Swearingen...................................5

Chapter One, Do All Things Really Work For God?

John A. Huffman Jr..................................................15

Chapter Two, The 9/11 Tragedy—Why? Why? Why?

Thomas K. Tewell.....................................................29

Chapter Three, If God Is Love Then Why...

James Kennedy.........................................................43

Chapter Four, When Answers Aren't Enough

William Bouknight...................................................55

Chapter Five, Why Do Good Things Happen to Bad People?

Adrian Rogers.........................................................67

Chapter Six, Why Do Christians Suffer?

Billy Graham..........................................................79

Chapter Seven, Why Does God Allow It?

Reverend Chuck Smith..............................................91

Chapter Eight, Change the World!...Miracle?

Michael W. Foss.....................................................107

Chapter Nine, What Happens to Good People When Bad Things Happen?

Robert Anthony Schuller...........................................115

Chapter Ten, How to Make Good News Happen

Robert H. Schuller...................................................125

About the Authors..................................................132

Preface

Dr. Rodger Swearingen

Why bad things happen to good people is a topic that has increasingly captured my attention—and for two principal reasons: First, the number of dedicated Christians and Jews to whom this question seems to remain quietly disturbing—in times of personal crisis, occasionally even evoking a desperate plea: Why, God? Second, the effect upon agnostics. This appears even more devastating and often more decisive: If this is how Christianity or Judaism works in times of need; if this is how God operates, I'm not interested! Such is not an

uncommon agnostic's response. There are, no doubt, a number of other personal, historical, sociological, and family factors in play, which would more precisely define any given agnostic's reluctance to accept God or to join a church or synagogue.

Abiding Faith Makes All the Difference

What, however, devout Christians and dedicated Jews possess that sets them apart and makes all the difference is: a substantial knowledge of the Bible, an abiding faith in the sovereignty of God, a life style reflecting the message of the Scriptures, belief in the power of prayer, and a special kind of love-and, of course, in the Christian's case, the belief that Jesus was the Son of God, born of  the virgin, Mary in Bethlehem, lived and taught on earth, was crucified, arose from the dead, ascended into Heaven, and all of this to forgive our sins and show the way of eternal life.

A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL VIEW

This book brings together, as authors, some of the acknowledged, leading theologians of our times in a multi-dimensional treatment of the subject-the first such edited volume of its kind. By presenting in a single volume the wisdom of outstanding Protestant evangelical authors, the book aims to provide personal insights, depth and considered judgment, as well as, some partial answers, to the troubling question of why bad things happen to good people.

The World of Protestantism

A review of the Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches 2008 (edited by Eileen W. Lindner; published and distributed by Abingdon Press, Nashville), listing statistics on membership in the United States, contains 180 entries. Here, then, the choice (given space limitations) necessarily becomes somewhat-though not entirely-arbitrary, to wit: the four protestant denominations with the greatest number of churches and largest church membership were selected as representative of mainline Christian institutions. They are:

(1) The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (10,470 churches; 3,580,402 members)

(2) Presbyterian Church (USA) (11,903 churches; 2,267,118 members)

(3) Southern Baptist Convention (44,223 churches; 16,306,246 members)

(4) United Methodist Church (34,367 churches; 7,995, 456 members)

This selection process inevitably omits many other well-known and highly respected denominations, but, again, space limitations for the projected, single volume proved controlling. None-the-less this eclectic mix gives, I think, a rich diversified and challenging complexion to the volume, a comparative look at life's eternal question: WHY?

The Presbyterian Authors

The Presbyterian denomination is superbly represented by Dr. John A. Huffman Jr.’s perspective frame of reference, Do All Things Really Work Together for Good? One can imagine no more dramatic example of the troubling question, Why? than Dr. Thomas K. Tewell's description and analysis of the 9/11 Twin Towers' tragedy. Here we witness, first hand, the personal tragedies of so many of Pastor Tewell's congregation. He asks, Why? Why? Why? and responds with answers in three categories: The Reality of Evil, The Reality of Suffering, and The Reality of Hope—A poignant and classic report.

The third well-known Presbyterian pastor, the late Dr. D. James Kennedy, examines the key question, If God is Love, Why? in a most fundamental and challenging manner with the opening line: I believe that the most profound statement that has ever been made in all of theology or philosophy is the simple statement comprised of three words: God is Love."

The Methodist Contribution

The United Methodist contribution, 'When Answers Aren't Enough," by Dr. William Bouknight (Senior Pastor, Christ United Methodist Church, Memphis, Tennessee) not only is a thoughtful, penetrating chapter, but is notable for its charming treatment of the world of children.

Lutheran and Baptist Views

Lutheran minister, Dr. Michael W. Foss, senior pastor of Prince of Peace Church in Burnsville, Minnesota offers inspiring insights with his beautiful uplifting chapter Change the World...Miracle? He tells us that miracles occur today, all the time; and that it is only when our faith is not strong enough that we are not aware of them. The, his wonderful conclusion: Believing is Seeing!

The late Baptist pastor, Dr. Adrian Rogers (Senior Pastor, Bellevue Church, Memphis, Tennessee; membership, 29,000) turns the tables on us, so to speak, by perceptively exploring the topic, Why Do Good Things Happen to Bad People? (Dr. Rogers died on November 15, 2005.) He begins with a sobering reminder, Death runs in my family, and it runs in yours, and he concludes, Life is full of mystery, misery, and magnificence, but it doesn't seem to make sense.

Worldwide Radio and Television Ministries

At this point, permit me to interject a specific word about the huge radio and television ministries of a number of these famous men of God. Dr. James Kennedy's messages are broadcast on television and radio to over 40,000 cities and towns in America and 202 foreign countries, making him the most listened to Presbyterian minister in the world. The late Dr. Adrian Rogers internationally syndicated Love Worth Finding Ministries T.V. and radio continue to be seen and heard on over 14,000 broadcast and cable T.V. outlets on nearly 2,000 radio stations in more than 150 countries around the world. Dr. Robert H. Schuller (Crystal Cathedral) is also seen and heard internationally every Sunday on the most widely televised one-hour church service in the world, the Hour of Power, making him probably the most-watched person on global television. His son, Dr. Robert A. Schuller, was installed Sunday, January 22, 2006 as senior pastor of the Crystal Cathedral Ministries, which is seen weekly on the international televised Hour of Power estimated at 20 million viewers. He had succeeded his father who was named founding pastor of the church he began in 1955 in a drive-in theater, but the son, Robert A. Schuller, resigned from the Cathedral in October, 2008. Pastor Chuck Smith's radio and T.V. programs can be heard on stations nationwide, as well as in over three hundred cities worldwide. Dr. Billy Graham's legendary Crusades have been witnessed over the years by hundreds of millions of people world-wide. Thus, a great many of the inspiring messages and important texts in this book are written by authors who have become literally household names throughout the world.

Color Photographs—Places of Worship (hard cover book)

A color photograph of the last and likely final, Billy Graham Crusade, as well as nine images of important, large Protestant denominations, ranging from the Fifth Presbyterian Church in New York to the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, may be found opposite the title page of each chapter.

Non-Denominational Men of God

Finally, let me introduce and thank the illustrious non-denominational evangelical pastors—authors of the last several chapters. My sincere gratitude to Dr. Billy Graham and his associates in Charlotte, North Carolina, for responding to my request for copyright permission by offering a revised and updated version of Dr. Graham's classic message, Why Do Christians Suffer?, for inclusion in this volume. (Although continuing to hold his membership in the Southern Baptist church, Billy Graham's ministry is much broader.)

Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel in Santa Ana, California, Chuck Smith’s perceptive chapter, Why Does God Allow It? is especially notable for its lucid explanation of the important Biblical concept, Justification-Innocent of the Charges.

It is also my good fortune and honor to present the messages of Robert A. Schuller and Robert H. Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, California, although members of the Reformed Church of America the Schullers' ministry is also much broader.) son and father, in the same book. Their positive optimistic philosophies, reflected in What Happens to Good People When Bad Things Happen? (They get better!) and How to Make Good News Happen, (Look for, emphasize and create the positive!) are classic, vintage Schuller—an uplifting wonderful note and happy advice on which to conclude this book.

The Scope and Seeming Inequity of It All

Given the outstanding stature and widespread influence of the ten author/contributors, their insights and answers should prove timely and helpful to many of us as we move into an increasingly unknown era of war and terrorism.

Moreover, who does not have a family member, a friend or acquaintance that has experienced a personal tragedy almost beyond comprehension? How many families have, today, loved ones in military service and in harm's way perhaps in the Middle East, Asia or elsewhere? Who has not read stories of missionaries murdered while seeking to bring God and a better life, including the promise of salvation, to peoples in some remote corner of the world? What explanation can hope to satisfy the relatives and friends of the victims of the Indonesian earthquake (December 2004) and its consequent, devastating tsunamis, resulting in some 200,000 dead throughout south and Southeast Asia.

The years 2005 and 2006 proved an increasingly tragic period in terms of natural disasters. Also, the first Islamic extremists' suicide bombings in Western Europe occurred in London, on July 7, 2005, killing 50 people and injuring another 700. On August 29, Hurricane Katrina, which devastated Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama Gulf Coast, resulted in more than 1,200 deaths and leaving thousands homeless and jobless. If this were not enough, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake shook the northern portion of South Asia. By October 15, the death toll had reached 38,000 in Pakistan and Pakistani controlled territory.

The situation in Hezbollah plagued Lebanon worsened in the summer of 2006 with that terrorist organization launching thousands of missiles into Israel, some of them ranging as far as Haifa and killing a great number of Israelis. Meanwhile Israeli ground forces moved to create a narrow buffer zone inside Lebanon while Israeli aircraft bombed suspected Hezbollah targets, as well as bridges and other strategic areas throughout Lebanon. Finally, during the summer of 2007, an 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck Peru. More than 500 people were killed.

During the year 2008, nature posed the question, Why do bad things happen to good people? in even larger and more dramatic terms. The 7.9 earthquake in