Why do bad things happen to Christians?

June 13, 2024

Q: "Why bad things happen to Christians?"

A: Lets look at 4 points and then you can look at sime helpful resources as you look through this.

Scripture is clear.

1. We are all in a fallen world.

> that means corruption entered, sin entered. All commit sin. With the Fall came sin, pain, illness, disease and death.

> Christians are not immune to this suffering.

Thus Scripture says:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted;

James 1:13-14

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted by his own evil desire, which lures him and entices him.”

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

2. Christians have more tribulations than unsaved people because:

John 15:18-19

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.”

Matthew 5:10-12 "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Matthew 24:9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake."

Those outside the West still face extreme persecution and desth fir their faith.

I would encourage her to read the NT and look specifically for where someone following Christ experiences persecution or troubles for their faith. And those who died for it. We are all expected to walk the same. Jesus said

Matthew 16:24-25 "Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.’”

Mark 8:34-35 "And He summoned the multitude with His disciples, and said to them, ‘Whoever wants to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.’”

Luke 9:23-24 "Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.’”

Believers hold to this:

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21

"For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:" Philippians 1:23

2 Corinthians 5:6

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord

Philippians 1:23

My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

"For whether we are in the body or present with the Lord, our aim is to live lives that please Him" 2 Cor. 5:9

Jude 1:21

keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life

2 Peter 3:13

But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells