Mar. 19, 2025
If God is so all-loving and all-powerful, then why does he let bad things happen to good people?
It’s a very good question, and you’re absolutely right to ask it. Being a Christian does not mean shying away from the difficult questions. We’re allowed to mention the elephant in the room.
It’s a question that every generation has asked and that no-one has a complete answer for. Her it is being asked in Jesus’ day. Some Galileans had been killed while presenting sacrifices at the temple. A huge tower
Had collapsed, killing eighteen people. Why? How could God let these things happen?
Jesus does not get involved in explanations such as That’s what you get for plotting against the Romans.
(Pilate was well-known for this kind of ‘peace-keeping’) or It was the fault of the builders; they cut corners on tower safety. These may or may not have been the immediate causes of these people’s deaths, but that’s not the real issue here. And such explanations, while useful in the political arena, are of little help for the grieving people left behind. Even a Galilean terrorist is someone’s son, father, brother.
Instead, Jesus cuts straight to the heart of the matter. Why did they deserve to die, and others didn’t? Were they worse sinners that they deserved this punishment? Were they more guilty? No, says Jesus, it doesn’t work like that.
Jewish thought at the time was that material prosperity was a sign that God was pleased with you and material lack was a sign of his displeasure. So, if your crops did badly one year, it was because you had sone something wrong. We see this in John 9:2 when the disciples asked Jesus about the man blind from birth. “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Neither, said Jesus. It’s the wrong question.
But why do bad things happen to good people? The truth is, we’re none of us good. And death happens, even to people who don’t deserve it.
Bad things happen. Some really, really horrible things happen and it’s not our fault. Sometimes it’s no-one’s fault. But that’s how life is. No-one ever promised it was going to be fair. I could be the world’s best driver and still have someone crash into me head-on. Is it fair? No. Is it right? No. Is it normal? Yes.
Am I anything so special that I should have the world fitted around me such that nothing bad ever happens to me? Of course I am not. Then why should I complain at God if I am the innocent victim of a bad driver? Sure it’s rough, but accidents happen. Random bad stuff happens. Bad people happen. And sometimes they happen to me.
And that stinks. Sometimes it really stinks. But it does not mean that God does not exist, and it does not mean that God is not loving and powerful and good. The existence of darkness does not disprove the existence of light, so the existence of bad does not disprove the existence of good. The uncomfortable truth is that none of us deserve to have a trouble-free life. God is not my servant that he should wait on me, hand and foot.
In the same way that I can’t cause a bad harvest by giving a dodgy lamb for the sacrifice, I can’t merit a bumper crop by being good. It just doesn’t work like that. Being a good person does not mean I get to deserve and easy life. And anyway, who is good?
“Why do bad things happen to good people? That only happened once. And He volunteered.”
R.C.Sproul, Jr.
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Many thanks to Rev. Jan Hieminga for filling the pulpit during Pastor Eric’s mission trip to Guatemala. It is always a pleasure to have Jan back in our midst as he brings us the word of the Lord during worship.
Loonies for Lent
This year Outreach is asking you to set aside loonies and toonies or other monetary donations in order that we may send a large donation to the St James Food Basket. The money that we send will be spent on such basics as tuna, canned tomatoes, tomato paste and vegetable soup which will be distributed to their client families. Each year the number of people who rely on food banks continues to grow and the uncertain times that we are currently living in will only further increase this need. Outreach is asking our members to send their monetary donations to the church (loonies/toonies in containers, cash, cheques or e-transfers) to support this initiative. Please mark your envelopes for “Loonies for Lent, Outreach” and include your name and envelope number. We would appreciate receiving your contributions by April 20th.
St. Patrick’s Day Celebrated in Style
Many thanks to Dave Taylor, for presenting Great Grandma’s Irish Stew. He cooked before a packed house to a very appreciative audience. His always entertaining repartee made us want to sample this delicious feast and no sooner than his presentation was done we were treated to delicious Irish Soda Bread and a bowl of this stew. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Everything was just perfect. I know that the bowls at my table were cleaned down to the last crumb of bread and the last morsel of stew. Thanks to the Outreach Team who made feeding the multitudes look so easy. For those of you who missed this event, here is the recipe for a fabulous Irish Stew.
Beef Stew Recipe:
WEEKLY GIGGLE
Early one morning the husband and wife were arguing over who should get out of the warm bed to make the coffee. Finally, the wife folded her arms and said decidedly, “You have to make the coffee. It’s in the Bible!”
The husband was shocked. “Is not! Show me!”
Pulling out her Bible, the wife opened it to one of the New Testament books and declared, “It says right here — HEBREWS!”
Free Remote Monitoring Devices
Please find the intake form below and review the eligibility criteria prior to completing the application:
TGHC Remote Care Monitoring Intake Referral Form
Please have a healthcare provider submit this form online as we do not accept physical or faxed copies.
To learn more about the program, please visit our website.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our general line: 647-660-8233
Best,
Leslie Elfa
Administrative Assistant – Remote Care Monitoring (RCM)/RCM+)
Toronto Grace Health Centre
650 Church St., Toronto, ON M4Y 2G5
Where to Find Us
Do you have any news or prayer requests that you would like to share? Drop me a line and I will be happy to include it in the Weekly Email. Have a blessed week, everyone.
Susan choppertini@hotmail.com
* Message from Pastor Eric: “FYI the Graceview website page has been revamped, so as to keep people updated of our activities and events. Visit us and enjoy all that is good about Graceview”. https://graceview.ca/calendar-events
* We also have our own Facebook page. (Graceview Presbyterian Church). This site shows the world all that we are and what we have to offer as a church. Check it out and be sure to “follow.”
lease note the following email addresses for all church-related communication:
Pastor Eric: pastor@graceview.ca (416-621-0888) and press #1 for Pastor Eric.
Church Office: office@graceview.ca (unchanged and managed by our Secretary, Halyna)