Ukrainians are largely atheistic. They are religious in many respects, but they combine religion and atheism in one package that doesn’t contain God. They go to the Orthodox church and light candles and don’t see any need for theology of any kind. One question we dealt with often was, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” In light of recent events, I would think that this question hangs over the hearts of Ukrainians echoing back through the bombed out buildings, vacated by the inhabitants whose lives have been so violently wrenched from any semblance of normalcy. Certainly, they must really be questioning the existence of a God who could allow this to happen, Right?
The will of God stops where our will starts. What I mean by that is that most bad things that happen (to good people or bad) occur because God made mankind with the ability to choose between right and wrong. When we make wrong choices we can cause harm to others. There is no such thing as a victimless crime. When you are in a position of influence, like the ruler of Russia, the bad choices you make wreak havoc on innocent people.
Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles? Isaiah 45:9
Can we judge God? Sometimes we might feel like shaking our fist at him, and crying out “You messed up!”
The reality, however, is that Christ suffered deeper then anything we can comprehend. He took on death in our place and took away the sting of death. (Romans 8:2)
How is the war in Ukraine making Jesus feel? Does He feel his blood being trampled on over and over again by the war crimes committed in Ukraine? Does He feel the constant disdain for the sacrifice that he made for those who continue to carry out these atrocities on the Ukrainian people? The suffering of Christ is so much deeper. Every life that is lost, He takes personally. Every child traumatized by the horrors witnessed, Christ suffers with them. He listens to those prayers uttered from beneath the rubble of a building that has collapsed. He must feel anguish beyond anything we can understand.
Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? Hebrews 10:29
Vengeance is His.
Bad things can and do happen to good people, but remember the only one that can really be called good, Jesus Christ, suffers far greater then anything we can ever imagine.
Back to the question I asked above: have these events magnified the apathy of an atheistic people? I don’t know the hearts of all people, but all I have seen is the calls to pray for Ukraine, and not criticisms of God. I have seen the thanks to God for those who survive or escape, not hatred on behalf of those who haven’t.
We will not know the extent of what he does for those who suffer in seemingly impossible circumstances, but He hasn’t relieved us of responsibility. Those of us who wrestle with these questions, have an obligation to choose, by our free will, to respond to those around us that are suffering. God can cause good to come out of bad and bring those that would have been dead spiritually, to repentance.
“having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” – 1 Peter 2:12
If there were no acts of war being committed, acts of heroism would go unnoticed. Honor the blood of Jesus by doing good, loving others, and as Jesus required, “praying for those who hate you and spitefully use you” Great is your reward in heaven. Be a light that draws men to Him.