Smart Christians do a dumb thing with this verse

(click on the pic to listen to it) When it comes to bad things happening to people, this is one (Romans 8:28) of the most misquoted verses in the Bible. Not only do many Christians misuse this verse but many non-Christians who have some knowledge of the Bible quote (more often misquote)  it more than all the other verses combined, I believe this is the worst verse to use when someone has just walked through a tragedy or was just diagnosed with cancer or some life debilitating disease.

In the Shakespearan language of the KJV, you get an idea of how people in 21st century would interpret this verse. (KJV) Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” On the surface, what you are telling them when you use that verse is that everything that happens is a part of God’s greater plan, that life is like a jigsaw puzzle that will make sense once all the other pieces are in place and given enough time, everything that happens will prove to have been good and necessary. The lie Christians and even non-christians believe is that God causes everything to happen in our life and it is good and necessary. Not everything happens for a good reason. 

It was not part of God’s plan for Adam and Eve to take a bite of the apple. It was not part of God’s plan for the world to become so evil he had to destroy it by flood. It was not part of God’s plan for the twin towers to fall. It was not part of God’s plan for Japanese bombers to destroy 1000’s of lives at Pearl Harbor. It was not part of God’s plan for 6 million Jews to be slaughtered by an evil dictator. It is not a part of God’s plan for people to get cancer or any kind of disease. God didn’t cause anything of those things to happen … he allows to them to happen … but he didn’t cause them to happen. They happened because there is also evil in the world. 

Why would a God who wants to prosper us and give us a hope and a future then give us cancer or some other debilitating disease? Why would God who wants us to live life to the fullest make tragedy a part of His greater plan in our life? God is the author and perfector of our faith – but is not the author of cancer, he is not the author of tragedy. He is not the author of evil acts. 

The way a lot of people interpret this scripture is that everything that happens to you is good. They say things like, “God has a purpose for this.” And say other things like, “God is good so this must be good for you.” Something evil happening to you is not good. Let’s stop trying to make evil a good thing. Evil is not a good thing. Evil is a bad thing. Evil destroys lives. The scripture actually teaches us to weep with those who weep and mourn with those who mourn, and hurt with those who hurt. Not everything that happens to you is good . It is not a part of God’s greater plan that someone should get cancer or that part of God’s plan for your life is for you to have to go through a tragedy.

This is why we get so angry and disappointed with God. We think that he is going to work out everything for our good. Meaning, God’s going to make everything better. God never promised that he would make everything better… he only promises that despite the evil that might happen to you, if you continue to love him and follow him – he will work everything out for your good. Good meaning – he will make you more like His son (vs. 29).

The truth is: not everything that happens to you is good. The truth is: God is at work in all things, even in the things that were meant for evil and harm. Disease and tragedy is not the direct action of God.  If getting a disease or walking through a tragedy is an expression of God’s goodness who would want to be in a relationship with a God like that?

The truth is

• God is at work in the midst of dreaded diseases.
• God is at work in the midst of a terrible tragedy.

The New Living translation helps us understand this verse a little better.

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.

In other words, even the enemies best shot can’t thwart God’s ultimate plan. God can and will accomplish his good purpose no matter what. This is a far cry from saying that everything that happens is somehow good and necessary. It is also a far cry from saying God caused it to happen.

The story of Joseph in Genesis is a great picture of how God is at work even in the worst moments of your life. He was auctioned off by his brothers into a world of slavery, falsely accused of rape, jailed, primed for early release but was forgotten, and finally brought before pharaoh to interpret a bizarre dream. When Joseph was in power and his brothers eventually came and asked him for mercy, he said these famous words, “you intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” What we need to notice is that Joseph didn’t call his brothers evil actions good or necessary. I’m fairly confident that Joseph would have rather not be thrown into a cistern, sold as a slave, thrown into a prison and forgot about. Joseph didn’t say all this happened for a reason. He simply pointed out that God was at work despite their evil intent. As you read the story you simply get to see how God works these evil actions into something good. But we must also understand that Joseph loved God and Joseph remained a faithful follower of God despite the things that happened to him.

God kept his promise to Joseph because he loved God and he remained faithful.

These are two key things – things that we most of the time over look.

This verse is not a promise for everyone. It’s not even a promise for every person who calls them self a Christian. One must love God. One must remain a faithful follower of Jesus. In other words, your friend who has an interest in spiritual things and just recently found out that he has cancer. God does love him. He has a preferred future for him. He wants to give him a hope and a future. If and when he turns to Jesus. Romans 8:28 has nothing to say to him unless of course he pursues God. It also leaves out that nice neighbor who lost his house because of the recession. Assuring that God must have something better in mind may make both of you feel better. But it’s wishful thinking. God makes no promises to anyone who refuses to follow Him. That promise to work everything out for your good.

But …. He is a loving God! ….. yes …. You are right …. God loves them both – but there is nothing he can do for them unless they have relationship with Him. He only works it out for the good for those love him and remain faithful followers. 

Larry Osbourne (an author and pastor) shares a story about the parents of a pregnant teenager who came into his office to figure out how to best handle the situation. At one point they said, “We’re not sure why God let this happen, but its good to know he has a reason.” Larry didn’t say anything but thought to himself, “unless we’re dealing with another virgin birth, God probably didn’t have much to do with her getting pregnant.” God didn’t let this happen….. the bottom line is a girl had sex with a boy and a boy had sex with a girl … when that happens a lot of things can happen. They knew their daughter shouldn’t had been sleeping with her boyfriend. I’m sure she knew it too. But now that she has repented, broken off the relationship, and turned back to God, he must have something good up his sleeve.

No … God has nothing up his sleeve. He is not a magician that will make everything disappear and make everything better. He does promise, now that she is back into a relationship with Him, that he will work behind the scenes and turn this disobedient act into something good.

Something good does not mean he is going to make everything better.  Something good does not mean he’s going to remove the consequences of our wrong decisions or sinful acts. Something good means He is going to work out those things to shape and mold you into His image. He is going to use those things to make you more like Christ. 

In other words…….
He will turn your mess into a message.
He will turn your disaster into a defining moment.
He will turn your tragedy into a triumph.

But he will do this for those who love Him and keep following Him.

The beauty and promise of Romans 8:28 is that those who love God and remain faithful to him is that no matter how bad things may get, God’s ultimate and eternal purpose in life won’t be foiled. His eternal purpose is found in vs 29 – he will use it to shape us into the image of His son.

Do you love him? Do you love more than your spouse and kids? Do you love him than a parent loves a child.  Do you love more than your paycheck? Do you love him more than your cell phone, your car, or your house?

When you love someone or something that intimately it changes the way the way you think. It changes the direction of your life. It changes the thing you do.

Are you following him? Like a parent follows and trusts his parents? Like a disciple that follows and trust His master?