Bad Things Happen to Good People

On the subject of bad things happening to good people: people ask "Why?" when bad things happen because they are taught that bad things will not happen to them if they are good enough, if they have enough faith. We take a verse here and a verse there and build a belief. If what James was telling the folks to do was meant for anyone other than those of that time surely we would have seen an example in the other books and letters. Surely Paul would have called for Elders and healed Timothy instead of leaving him sick. He could have healed him himself.



We live in a world regulated by natural law. This suggests a certain amount of suffering is inevitable. We benefit from the laws of nature and we suffer the consequences when they are violated. Imagine a world where God suspended the laws of nature whenever someone "prayed." But we teach them he will and when he doesn't they ask "Why?" Seeing their parents praying and seeing no results over their eighteen years at home might be part of the reason the youth do not continue their parents values and beliefs.

Across the country and I will guess around the world churches tell their members to ask God to suspend the natural laws, his natural laws, for the benefit of someone they care about. He will not.

Jesus said his kingdom is not of this world. It appears the church's kingdom is.