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“Where Was God?”
Where Was God?
David Sproule
Tragedy strikes and the question often asked is, “Where was God?” Atheists challenge Christians in a time of tragedy and say something like, “How could a loving God allow something like this to happen?” So, in the wake of a mass shooting of innocent children, let’s consider this question.
The first thing to consider is that God has given free will to each person—i.e., God has given each person on this earth the freedom of choice in how he will live and the actions he will take. If you think about it, isn’t that a sign of God’s love? Rather than programming us against our will, He gives us freedom. Of course, we don’t always like the choices that others make, because choices always have consequences. But, there again, we see the nature of God in that He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), for He doesn’t decide who can have the freedom to choose and who cannot. He gives free will to everyone. Thus, the consequences of the actions of others often lead to our own pain and suffering. That does not prove “there is no God” or “God isn’t a loving God.” It proves that God has given freedom of choice to all.
The second thing to consider is that the existence of evil actually proves the existence of God. In a moment of tragedy, some want to use that to prove that God really doesn’t exist. But, if that were true, then how can we explain our evaluation of something being “evil”? The only way to conclude that a mass shooting is evil is to have a standard of righteousness with which to compare it. Where does that come from? The answer is God! If there is no God, then there is no sense of right or wrong, good or evil. That embedded sense of right and wrong is evidence for the existence of God, and more than that—evidence for the existence of a loving God.
The third thing to consider is that death of an innocent child is not the worst thing that could happen to that child. We think it is, because we have decided that death is the worst possible tragedy. But, is it? We are, as humans, dual-natured creators. We are a spiritual being living inside a physical body. When the physical body dies, the spirit leaves the body (Jas. 2:26) and returns “to God who gave it” (Ecc. 12:7). Our immortal soul is infinitely more valuable than our physical body or physical life (Matt. 16:26). When Paul considered death, he saw it as “gain,” for “to depart and be with Christ…is far better” (Phil. 1:21-23). Have we considered that those precious little souls have been “taken away from evil” and have now entered “into peace” (Isa. 57:1-2)?
We grieve deeply for these families. We long for their comfort. But, let us not blame God! Tragedy and death is not His fault! Long ago, man chose to sin against God, and now evil exists in this world and brings horrible tragedy with it. Let us pray. Let us lean on God. Let us help others to turn to Him.
