Are the Bad Things That Happen In This Life A Part of God’s Will?

Are the bad things that happen in this life a part of God's will? That's just one of the questions we'll be answering on today's edition of CORE Christianity. Hi, this is Bill Meyer, along with Pastor Adriel Sanchez, and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day.

And you can email us with your question at questionsatcorechristianity.com. First up today, we have a good news story to share with you. When a young woman in Texas learned that her dad's small business was struggling during the COVID pandemic, she made a heartwarming plea on Twitter asking people to help. Giselle Avalos tweeted this, I wouldn't normally do this, but my dad's taco truck business is struggling.

He only sold $6 today. If you could retweet this, I'd appreciate you so much. Well, Giselle's tweet worked, and by Sunday night a week ago, that post had produced around 2,000 retweets. When her dad arrived at his food truck at 8 a.m. the next morning, there was already a line of customers waiting for him. In fact, business was so busy, the food truck had to close down twice, once to restock and again when they were completely sold out.

He even recruited his daughter to help with the orders. Well, that story warms my heart, especially because I think taco trucks everywhere need to be supported, and I'm happy to invest in that. I think our families could support a taco truck, just the two. Yeah, I think that you're right. Honestly, I think I could probably do it on my own, Bill.

I don't even know that I need you. Well, let's get to our first question of the day, and John emailed us and said this. Which would prevent us from becoming members there. We're struggling to decide whether we should go to a church where we don't feel as comfortable, or to one that we can agree with theologically. Do you have any advice for us? Yeah, John, I love these questions because they're so practical, and I think many of us, we wrestle with the same question as we try to decide which church to go to. I remember when I first moved from San Diego, where I was living at the time in high school after I'd come to the Lord, to another area of Southern California. Having to find a church and calling all the churches in the area, trying to figure out what do they believe, what is the worship style like, and visiting them.

It was just a difficult decision. I remember as a young man, what I ended up doing was just going to two different churches, which I also wouldn't recommend right now, but that was what I did back then. So I think that this is really important. I would say the priority has to be on the doctrine. What is it that is being taught in the church?

That's more important than the worship style. I think about Acts 2. I love going back to this passage when we're talking about this issue, where the early churches described Acts 2, verse 42, they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship to the breaking of the bread and the prayers. And all came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles, and all who believed were together and had all things in common.

Now, the focus there is just that first part of the text. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, John. We all have to ask ourselves, is the church that I'm in devoted to the teaching of the apostles? Now, you think about what the apostle Paul said. I purpose not to know anything except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I placarded Jesus before you.

I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received. And then he gives the gospel in 1 Corinthians chapter 15. The apostles, what they're focused on is Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Is the work of Jesus Christ to forgive our sins and to sanctify us? Now, let me ask you, is the church that you're in focused on that too? That's what the apostles were focused on, and that's what the early church devoted themselves to. That message and the worship that was handed down by Jesus and the apostles, the fellowship, the breaking of the bread, that's probably a reference there to the Lord's Supper. The prayers, I mean, they're gathering together as God's people to have communion and to hear doctrine, the truth of God's Word. And so I would say, John, that has to be the focus. Now, a lot of times I get it. We focus primarily on those things that are more circumstantial to worship, you know, the style of the music.

What kind of programs do they have? Is it too early of a service? Well, I don't want to go to that one.

I'm going to go to this service because it's later, and that's more comfortable for me. The first question we have to ask is the focus on the apostles' teaching. And I'm not saying that the other church, you know, with the classic hymnody and the more traditional style that you're used to, that they're not doing that. I mean, I don't know what the doctrinal differences are, to be quite honest with you, that you're referring to, but I would just say, man, even if it's a little bit uncomfortable, if the worship style is different, if they're preaching the true gospel and they're doing that faithfully, and they're faithful to worship the Lord as Jesus instituted, where you think about these ordinances that he gave, baptism and the Lord's Supper, the worship style, that's more of a circumstance of worship. That really does not get to the heart of what worship is.

That has to do with our personal preferences. And so I would say, so long as those elements of worship are there and the gospel is faithfully taught, commit yourself to a church where sound doctrine is going to be upheld and where you can be nourished by the truth every Sunday when you gather together and with the people of God as you grow together throughout the week. So hope that that encourages you, Jon. Adriel, we chose our church because they have a taco truck after service. Yeah, that's right. Now, that's the best of both worlds. You know, give me like the sound doctrine and the carne asada tacos after service. And that's just like, man, we're almost at the New Jerusalem.

That's awesome. This is Core Christianity with Pastor Adriel Sanchez. And let's get to another question. Claire posted this on our Facebook page.

She says, if God exists, does that mean we have to assume that everything that happens is what he wants to happen? Yeah, wow, Claire, that I mean, that's a really good question. And I'm I wonder what is behind that question. You know, I want to be sensitive to this because I know that there are a lot of people who they experienced some pretty, pretty difficult things, horrible things in life.

And they wrestle with where was God? Was that God's will? I mean, that just seems so cruel. And so I know that this is a very sensitive topic. And I don't know, as I said, why, why you're asking it or what's going on in your life. But I want to encourage you, you know, there are there are two ways typically, that we distinguish between the will of God. And this comes from the Old Testament passage Deuteronomy chapter 29, verse 29, says the secret things belong to the Lord, our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Historically, many Christians have differentiated between what we call the the secret will of God, the will of God's decree, what he decreed from eternity past, and the precept of will of God, the revealed will of God, which is really summarized in God's law, how God wants us to live. And that law is summarized in what Jesus said, you know, that we love God perfectly, and we love our neighbor as ourselves. Now, in one sense, we know, Claire, that everything that happens is happening not outside of God's sovereign control or oversight, but that it happens as a part of his sovereign decree.

The psalmist said in Psalm 115, verse three, our God is in the heavens. He does all that he pleases. Paul said in Ephesians chapter one, verse 11, in him, we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. All things according to the counsel of his will. That would be, I think, referring to that will of decree, the fact that God on his throne sovereignly decreed everything whatsoever comes to pass. Now, does that mean we have to assume that God delights in all the things that take place in the sense that maybe you might be thinking? I mean, I think of Ezekiel chapter 18, verse 23, where the Lord said, Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?

Or Peter? In 2 Peter chapter three, verse nine, the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. God is absolutely sovereign, but he doesn't will everything in the same exact way. I mean, you think about the evil and terrible things that happens that God permits to take place. They're happening not outside of God's decree, nothing can happen outside of God's decree, and yet we wouldn't want to say that the Lord delights in those things, that his law that he's revealed to us, his good law, what he calls us to live by. And I think that's what we have, and that's what we cling to, is we cling to what God has revealed to us, to me and to you, Claire, in his word about God's will so that when, say, evil takes place in the world today, while it's in line with what God has decreed from eternity past, God does not delight in it because God is not cruel and God is not himself evil. And there's a mystery here in terms of how this all works, but at the center of the mystery is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. I just read from Acts chapter two, if you just turn a little bit later in Acts chapter four, I think this is the passage, really, where we get to see this so clearly. It's in Acts chapter four, verse 27.

This is a prayer. And listen to what the disciples were praying. They said, For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

Wow. You mean those horrible things that took place there at the crucifixion of Jesus, you know, the spinelessness of Pontius Pilate, the murder of the Jews and the Romans, that sin somehow had all been decreed? It was a part of God's plan? Well, yes, but at the same time, they're responsible. They're guilty for their sin, and they're the ones actually who are active in sinning.

It's not God who's active. God has allowed this, and they're going to be held accountable. And yet, somehow mysteriously, in God's sovereign decree, what God is doing is orchestrating the redemption of humanity through these horrible events, through the sin of people. You know, I think also of that beautiful passage in Genesis chapter 50, verse 20, where Joseph tells his brothers, Hey, you meant what you did to me. You meant it for evil. They sold him into slavery.

They abandoned him for dead. But God meant it for good. What wicked people do and mean for evil, somehow God in his grace and in his providence and in his power is able to use it for good. And that's precisely what the Lord has promised each of us. Romans chapter 8, Paul said that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. And so in one sense, we need to rest in this mystery, knowing that God is good, that God is not cruel, but also that God is all powerful and that whatever happens, whatsoever comes to pass, happens in line with his sovereign decree, and yet he's orchestrating all things for the good of his children, for our good, for your good, Claire.

God bless you. Adrian, isn't it true that sometimes we won't even see that good until eternity? For example, something so evil happens, child abuse. We can't really find any redemptive reason for that. It's just pure evil. We may never see a positive that comes out of that during this lifetime, but I'm guessing you would say that in eternity, we will understand God's purposes.

You know, Bill, I'm really glad that you brought that up. And I think it's really important for us when we encounter people who are suffering, when we're thinking of our own suffering, that we don't just try to give this sort of easy answer. Well, you know, like, this is why that happened. You know, it must be for your good, that kind of a thing. That's a very cruel way to respond.

You're right. The fact of the matter is there are horrific things that happen, sinful things that happen. We sin, but we're also sinned against in these horrible ways, and we have to be so careful that we don't just try to give people these answers and say, oh, well, you know, everything should be fine.

I mean, this is all going to work together for your good. No, we don't always know how God in his sovereign decree is orchestrating these things or why God has allowed these things, and we lament. We can cry out to the Lord and say why with grief, even with anger. I mean, that's what the psalmist does over and over again throughout the book of Psalms. And so we can be honest with God and say, God, I have no idea why this happened.

I have no idea why this happened, and I can't see any good, none at all. But I'm going to cling to the fact that you have promised that you are good, that you are good and that you are able to take even the darkest things and somehow, somehow work them together. And so I'm clinging to your promise.

God, help me. And you're right. Sometimes, you know, we won't ever see why it was that God allowed such and such to take place, but we cling to him by faith and we hold fast to what he has revealed in his word about who he is. And that he's good and that he loves us and that he cares for us. This is Core Christianity with Pastor Adriel Sanchez, and we want to tell you about an excellent resource that we're offering today and kind of ties in with some of the things we've been talking about.

Yeah, I mean, especially coming off of a question like that, and I know that many of you have had that same question and maybe still, you know, you're wrestling with this. Well, we have a resource over at corechristianity.com called Is God Great and Good? I mean, it's a Bible study that really deals with this issue of the problem of evil. I mean, how can we say that God is good when we look around us at the world today and there's a lot of pain, hurt, evil, sin?

Or we look at the things that have happened to us in our own lives and we're wrestling with how to make sense of them while the Bible says that God is great and good. And so if you've ever had that question or you know someone who has that question, get a hold of this resource over at corechristianity.com forward slash offers. It's yours for a donation of any amount. It's called Is God Great and Good? It really will help you understand how we can trust God with all of our hearts and our minds and our strength.

And you can call us for that resource at 833-843-2673 to get that offer or any one of our offers. Again, that number is 833-the-core. Let's go to another question, Adriel. This was an email that came in from Silas. Silas says, How do you understand Revelation 18 verses 11 through 13? I've seen this section of scripture floating around and people saying that it teaches that the Bible is against slavery because it associates the end of slavery with the fall of Babylon. Does this passage condemn slavery? And if so, how do you make sense of the Bible allowing for slavery in the Old Testament? Yeah.

Wow. Silas, thank you for that question. I just opened up to Revelation 18 here. And this is what it says, beginning in verse 11. The merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her. As you mentioned, they're mourning for Babylon. Since no one buys their cargo anymore, cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented woods, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron, and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves. That is human souls.

I don't know about you, but I read that and it almost sends, just shivers down my spine. What this is talking about here in the context is the people that are mourning because these goods are no longer coming from Babylon. And here I take Babylon to be primarily, I mean, the primary referent being probably the Roman Empire and its fall. And while I think this highlights the terror, the horror of slavery, of trafficking human souls, people, I think part of that is a condemnation of slavery, certainly a condemnation of Babylon here. But all of scripture, when you just think about the fact that we are made in God's image and as image bearers, we are due dignity. We are made in the image of God. We ought to be respected.

Life should be cherished. We cannot objectify another person made in God's image and that be pleasing to the Lord. I think a lot of times when we think about slavery and the slavery of the Bible, our minds immediately go to the sort of American slave trade. As horrific as that was, you know, Exodus chapter 21 verse 16 says, whoever steals a man and sells him and anyone found in possession of him shall be put to death. There was this sort of institution of slavery there under the old covenant, certainly under the Greco-Roman Empire.

I mean, you think about what Paul says to the Ephesians, that the household consisted of your family, your children, but also your slaves, your doulois, the servants, the slaves in the household. And yet there was something distinct about Israel under the old covenant, about the church in the New Testament that I think ultimately led to the abolition of slavery, despite the fact that there were many Christians throughout the history of the church that appealed to the scriptures in order to justify the objectification of people, making them slaves and slaving them. You know, in Exodus chapter 23 verse 9, God told his people, you shall not oppress a sojourner.

You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. The people of God, the people under the old covenant, the people today, we know in one sense the horror of slavery, the people then coming out of Egypt, they had been enslaved to the Egyptians. The story of redemption, the story of scripture is the story of being called out of slavery. So to use the Bible to justify slavery, or to say it's okay for me to objectify another person on the basis of their race or something like that, is to twist the scriptures to your own destruction.

That's absolutely horrible. We have to just take the Bible as a whole and see the fact that God is the one who delivered his people from slavery and who called them to be gracious, merciful, kind to the sojourners, to the aliens, to the outsiders, because they knew what it was like to be enslaved. Now we also have to remember that, especially in the days of the Old Testament and in the days of the New Testament, this is in a historical context. In the ancient Near East, slavery was a very real thing, and yet Israel had these commands, these laws, I think, that treated people better than the way in which the pagan nations around Israel treated them, and all of that was rooted, I believe, in the doctrine of the imago Dei, the fact that we recognize that people are made in God's image. And I would just say, Silas, God has never intended for man to enslave man, for us to objectify one another. No, we rule over the creation, but we don't sinfully, wickedly rule over each other. And so you do have these concessions there in the Old Testament, but ultimately, I think it's the teaching of scripture, the teaching of the imago Dei, of what we see ultimately in Jesus Christ being brought into Christ, the fellowship of the church, that gives us the tools for abolishing slavery, for recognizing that it's objectively wrong to treat someone with dishonor, with disrespect on the basis of their race or their ethnicity. They're made in God's image.

We're fellow image bearers. And so I think that we have to take all of the scripture together, understanding the concessions that were made because of human sin, and then recognizing the fact that God in the new creation intends for us to be one, united in love, and that that new creation is already breaking in. Right now, we can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Bible upholds the dignity of humanity, that we of all people should be those who fight for things like the abolition of slavery or who fight for things like the protection of the unborn.

Why? Because of what God has said about human life. You're listening to Core Christianity with Pastor Adriel Sanchez, and we have time for one more question.

Carolina posted this on her Instagram page. What does Hebrews 1222 mean? Did that church have a vision of heaven or something? Every church, when we gather together, believe it or not, is given a vision of heaven.

We're meeting. This is what the author of the Hebrews is saying. He's saying, when we gather for worship, here's what's happening. We're coming to Hebrews 1222, Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to innumerable angels in festal gathering, to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. But we have to recover today, brothers and sisters, in our worship, this view of the meeting of heaven and earth. When we come together to hear God's word preached, to receive bread and wine in the Lord's Supper, to experience baptisms, these kinds of things that Jesus gave to us, it's as if heaven and earth are meeting. We're hearing God speak to us from heaven. We're joining all creation, the angels, even the believers who have gone into the presence of the Lord around the throne of God right now, we're joining them to worship the Lord.

Man, do you believe that's what is happening when you go to church? That's what Hebrews 12 says is happening, and most of all, we're coming before Jesus, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Abel's blood cried out from the ground because Cain had killed him, and it condemned his brother, Cain. The blood of Jesus cries out too, except it cries out a better word than the blood of Abel. It doesn't cry out, Father, condemn. It cries out, Father, forgive. When you contact us, please let us know how you've been encouraged by this podcast, and be sure to join us next time as we explore the truth of God's word together.