Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

This is a great question that most people have asked at least once in their life. Part of the answer is found in a re-wording of the question.

The Bible clearly teaches that there are no “good people.” In Romans 3:10 the Apostle Paul quotes Psalm 41 by stating, “None is righteous, no, not one.” Because of the fall in Genesis 3, all men and woman are born into sin. It is important to note that the Bible does call many men and woman righteous. Hebrews 11 speaks of many who are called righteous by God. This righteousness comes not from the work of man, but from God. Verse 7 of Hebrews 11 addresses the issue: “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” Noah wasn’t considered righteous for building an ark. He was considered righteous because of His faith in the only One who is righteous… God.

With this said, the question can be changed from “why do bad things happen to good people?” to “Why do bad things happen to bad people?”
Natural disasters such as tsunamis and earthquakes cause many to question the existence or fairness of God. Tragic events such as 9/11 or Columbine cause many to wonder why such things would happen. Fortunately, Jesus directly addresses this issue in Luke 13:

1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

The people were wondering why a terrible thing such as a ruthless mass murder could happen. Instead of giving an apology Jesus rebukes them for asking the wrong question. He says, in essence, “You shouldn't be asking, ‘Why did this happen to them?’ You should be asking, ‘Why didn’t this happen to me?’” Jesus even goes a step further when he points out the collapse of a tower that killed eighteen people.

Many read this and consider the words of Jesus harsh and unfair. If mankind received fairness, all would be destroyed! Mankind is evil and worthy of nothing but death and destruction! The word of Jesus in Luke 13:1-5 points out that everything mankind does is done by God’s grace.

Two major points can be taken from this to summarize the answer to this question.

1. Bad things don’t happen to good people, they happen to bad people.
2. Since we are all bad and deserving of death, the fact that we live and move and breathe should motivate us to praise God for His gracious gift of life!


Other Sources...
Is God Less Glorious Because He Ordained Evil? John Piper
September 11, 2001: Was God Present or Absent by Ravi Zacharias
If God is All Powerful then Why Does He Allow Suffering? by R.C. Sproul