How can God be good and still allow suffering?

 Your question, which falls under the broader category of, “the problem of evil”, is a very difficult one. Many religions and philosophies attempt to make sense of this issue. Some, such as Hinduism, have tried to solve the problem of evil by denying that it exists. Atheistic evolutionists (if they’re consistent) see death, pain and suffering as the process by which nature eliminates the unfit and brings about more complex life forms. To them evil is just another word for progress. In order to speak of good and evil they must borrow the terms from a theistic worldview.

The problem of evil and suffering is really a problem for those who hold to a biblical worldview. This view affirms that God is all good and all powerful and that evil exists. (I’ll not attempt to give a full answer here; you might want to listen to my sermon series “Deliver Us from Evil” at www.trinitychickasha.org.) For now I’ll skip over the philosophical arguments and focus on what I perceive to be the root cause of suffering. But first it must be said that no human being knows why a particular tragic event happens. The book of Job reminds us that attempts to explain anyone’s particular suffering can be dreadfully wrong. If someone has just suffered a tragedy, it’s not the time to give an answer; it’s the time to sit quietly and hurt with them. But there is a time when an answer should be sought concerning evil and suffering in general.

Philosophers of religion have made a distinction between moral evil (such as murder) and natural evil (such as hurricanes). The Bible, however, points to rebellion and sin as the source of all evil--moral and natural. In Genesis chapters 1 and 2 we read about God’s act of creation. It’s there we discover that God created man and woman in His own image. They were the pinnacle of creation and were given dominion, under God’s authority, over all the earth. In Genesis chapter 3, however, we read about Adam and Eve’s rebellion against God. In essence they wanted to be their own gods and decide for themselves what’s good and evil. A cursed earth along with toil, pain and death were a direct consequence of their rebellion. This curse, still in place today, will one day be lifted (Romans 8:19-23; Revelation 22:3). When the human rebellion is over, God will eliminate evil and suffering forever (Revelation 21:1-5). The final story is that God will overcome evil with good.

Evil and suffering in this present world serves as a constant reminder that all is not well between us and our creator. It should also remind us that life is short and tomorrow is not promised. When thinking about this question we should all take note of Jesus’ response to a tragic event that happened in his day, “…those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent [turn from your rebellion] you will all likewise perish,” (Luke 13:4-5).