There is a school of thought in theology which tries to answer the question, ’ why do bad things happen to good people?’ It is a very tender topic for most of us, for almost everyone of us – theologian or otherwise – has had that moment that made us all that question. Today’s Holy Nougat is probably one of the earliest responses to that Theodicy question.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 NLT
All Means ALL
Most of us – directly impacted by or hearing of the multitude of wars, the increased evil actions of us humans toward the earth and each other, and the cataclysmic ‘natural disasters’ rolling in one after the other – have likely tried to unpack the theodicy issue. As believers and followers of Christ, it is sometimes hard to accept the lemons and strong vinegar life sends us. In those moments, our very Faith is put to the test, as we have to find the pieces, put them back together (albeit with some gaps), and determine whether we still believe in Christ Jesus.
As you ponder this issue, imagine Paul – not in his role as chief bishop in chains – offering a lecture to us based on his bestselling Letters to Rome series. He isn’t in Rome, obviously, but it’s at a university or house church near you. For, though this letter was written from Corinth, it doesn’t have to be presented to us from there. What is worth noting also is that at the time Paul wrote, Nero’s Persecutions has not yet occurred. Paul was not yet under house arrest. He was simply offering the converts in Rome a detailed lesson on Salvation.
When Paul offers the theological premise therefore that All things work together for good, we can presume that he is using his own story as part of the experience base governing his theory. A quick rehearsal – Saul, a devout Jewish scholar and apologist, was a staunch defender of his faith. He took it to the ultimate level of killing rivals in the faith, the People of the Way. Having been confronted by the Ascended Christ, Saul is profoundly challenged to strengthen the People of the Way in their faith.
Saul – the prayed for one – becomes more popularly known as Paul (the Humble one), as he made himself more accessible to the very people he once persecuted. His passion and zeal continued to thrive, now directed at building rather executing.
This is the Paul who invites us to consider what all means. For if God was able to use someone like him in spite of his past, one could see how things worked out for good in the long run.
You agree, yet still wish to all a question. For like me, you probably struggle with aligning the reality of child, domestic, workplace, and other forms of abuse, it is difficult to agree with Paul. The question is asked, and we await Paul’s response.
He reasserts the premise: All means ALL. Then he adds ‘It isn’t that all things are good; but that they all work together to accomplish God’s will for and in our lives as God’s chosen, who love God in return. It means that even the things that were not in God’s Perfect will for us, yet were in God’s permissive will (ie God allowed something to happen in alignment with God’s gift of free choice to humanity) find positive purpose in realizing God’s glory.’
Like me, you chew on this, attempting to absorb all the nuances of the explanation. A few incidents might have flitted through your mind. You start to process, bearing in mind the ‘work together for good, and in some (maybe all?) instances You see the impact. If your Faith still stands, tried and tested, shaken or strengthened, then that’s the answer. We can’t see the good realized by some situations, maybe the work isn’t complete as yet.
Me, I find some comfort in the fact that All means ALL, as it gives me Hope in these times of foment and crisis. How about you – did you have more questions for Paul? We continue to pray and ponder.
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May all we seek be found in Christ
