In the wake of the recent terrorist attacks and mass murders, I know many people will come to ask the basic question, “Why? Why does this happen?” When we see this type of hatred and evil cause so much unjust death and suffering, it causes us to look for answers. However, for both Christians and non-believers, answering that question is very hard, and often the answers are not found.
When tragedies like these occur, they do not have to directly involve us to have a major impact on each of us. People of faith can completely lose their belief in God because of such unanswerable, unjust suffering. Many non-believers will say these acts of injustice only confirm their belief in the absence of God. However, the presence of such unjust evil, persecution and death do not prove the atheist correct by any means. In fact, for someone who denies the super-natural existence of God, why would they ever even ask the initial question “Why does this happen?”
For a non-believer, there is only the natural, physical world in this life; there is no belief in a super-natural power. With this principle in mind, let’s examine nature throughout time. The natural world has always been violent. From earthquakes to hurricanes to tornadoes, destruction and death are at the core of the natural world. And with humanity, there is no difference (after all human beings are just more evolved animals, after some species of fish sprouted legs {1}). Throughout time, human nature has been one of egocentricism, with persecution and death being a major side effect. As atheist scientist Richard Dawkins in his “The Selfish Gene” stated, “a predominant quality” throughout human evolution is a gene for “ruthless selfishness”. This intrinsic self-centeredness of mankind leads to hatred which leads to fighting, and ultimately to persecution and death. Thus, the non-believer, due to his or her beliefs and understanding of the natural world, should not need to ask the “Why” question in the first place.
But the non-believer almost universally does ask the “Why” question. They ask because they are looking for purpose and meaning and hope, not only in these circumstances, but also in this life. The human existence of a life void of God can give no definitive purpose or meaning of life in general, let alone any real hope in times of persecution and death.
However, for the Christian, there is real hope and assurance for a time when “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Rev 21:4). By trusting in God during times of suffering, a person can have the strength to still live a life of meaning and purpose. How? By believing that God came to us (Immanuel), not to condemn us for our “ruthless selfishness” and persecution and death, but to suffer and die Himself. Jesus Christ was unjustly beaten and murdered by being crucified. But he then was raised back to life after 3 days, thus defeating death and allowing people redemption. By trusting in Him, a person can be forgiven for their intrinsic “ruthless selfishness” (ie, sinful nature of mankind) and given freedom to fully live a life of meaning and hope.
In an interview following the devastation from Hurricane Katrina, Anne Graham Lotz was asked the question, “How could God let something like this happen?” Her response was “I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we’ve been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?”
God took the injustice of this world upon Himself by being unjustly murdered in order that evil and death can finally be defeated. In this time with so much uncertainty in the world, turn to the only one who can give assurance of an eternity without pain, mourning or death -Jesus Christ.
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us”, Romans 8:18 (NIV).
{1}. Stephen Jay Gould, quoted in “2000 Years of Disbelief, Famous People with the Courage to Doubt”, by James A. Haught, Prometheus Books, 1996.
