November 20,2024 | Episode 6

Is God cruel? Many people struggle with this question, believing that God is a harsh, judgmental figure responsible for the pain and suffering in the world. In this episode, we challenge that view with logical arguments, cultural examples, and biblical truth to uncover God’s true nature.

We explore what it means to see God as a benevolent Creator, how His character is revealed through creation (Romans 1:20), and why the problem often lies in our own resistance to His sovereignty. Plus, we address the contradictions in our belief systems and how they influence our understanding of God’s goodness.

Show Notes

Summary

One of the biggest hurdles to believing in a “God” is that many people have been duped into thinking that He is cruel.  That God is this big bully in the sky waiting to judge people, crush their dreams, steal their loved ones, and the list of bad things goes on.

In this episode, I use logically sound arguments to address what is really going on.  Does a world with a misanthropic deity really make sense?  After using cultural examples and acknowledging the truth of our feelings, we dig into the Bible to see what it really says about God’s character.

If God is evil, who is our hero?

When we view God as a misanthropic deity who created the world, we are staging ourselves in a miserable existence.  Our video games, comic books, and movies all have heroes.  If God is evil and the most powerful, does that mean we have weaker heroes?  Does that mean good ultimately loses on the Earth?  That’s what we are saying.  

I present a different argument and one that sorts out the contradictions between what people are saying and what we believe in our hearts.

A Benevolent Creator

The act of creating should give us a sense of joy and love.  When you sit down to draw, bake a cake, make a video, or design a t-shirt, are you filled with hate?  Maybe you’re doing it to cheer up or express yourself, but the work that we are most proud of is usually the product of love. 
Romans 1:20 claims that God’s power and divine nature can be seen in the creation of the world.  Julia Cameron, a spiritual writer (not Biblical) refers to God as the Great Creator in her book The Artist’s Way. If non-believers can see God’s goodness, the argument for a good God becomes stronger.

We don’t want to accept God’s sovereignty

Truthfully, the problem with most people is original sin.  We want to be our own gods, independent of an all-powerful God.  We see this in the growing New Age movement.  Satan’s first lie has proved his most powerful – “You will become like God, knowing both good and evil.”

I use real-life current examples of our contradictory belief systems.  Please use them when people talk to you about war and evil in the world, attempting to disprove that there is a caring God. 

Standing on the promises of God

I felt equipped to make this episode after my cat of 11 years unexpectedly died.  I don’t know how unbelievers deal with the pain and hardships of life.  No positive affirmations could have healed my heart.  Through my tears, I recited so many verses filled with the truth that God loves me and is with me in my pain.  

At no point in time did I believe God was the originator of my pain.  When we acknowledge that the world makes sense and sin has corrupted this Earth, we can powerfully live in God’s promises of love and redemption, through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Give it a try 💪🏽🤍

Learn one of the Scripture verses.  Know that God is love, so you feel confident to share with others where your strength comes from in times of suffering!

Resources

Scripture Verses

Jonah 4:2 | Deuteronomy 32:4 | Hosea 11:8-9  | Matthew 6:26 | Matthew 10:29-31 | James 1:17 | John 3:16