Is God unfair? Many people think God is unfair because of pain and suffering. Here’s a story to help answer this question in a simple way.
A long time ago, I was teaching in a language school in Quezon City. I had a Korean student who was very intelligent. Before our last class, I had not discussed religion but just let her know that I am a Christian.
In our last class, she started a conversation that I had been praying would happen. Here was our conversation as I remembered.
Why Is God unfair?
Student I think that God is running after me.
Me: Why do you say so? Does that mean you have been running away from Him?
Student: All my teachers have been Christians.
Me: So why would God run after you, and why have you been running away from Him?
Student: I do not want to believe in Him because He is unfair.
Me: Why do you say God is unfair?
Is God unfair because of suffering?
Student: Why does He allow suffering?
Remembering that I should teach English (and not preach) and encourage the student to practice speaking, I asked permission to answer her question.
She agreed.
Me: It is the result of sin.
Student: So why did He allow sin?
Me: He gave freedom, so there must be choices—good and evil.
Student: He knew man would sin. Why did He create man?
Me: God did not need humans for His existence, but He created man to have someone to show His love. To love man meant giving freedom of choice.
Student: Still, I do not want to believe in Him because He is unfair.
Me: Why do you still say so?
Is God unfair because of hell?
Student: Why is there heaven and hell?
Me: Having the freedom of choice would be useless if there are no consequences.
Student: I heard only those who choose to believe in God go to heaven. What about those who have not heard about God or Jesus Christ?
Me: In the Bible, Paul said the universe declares about the awesome God who made everything. So there is no excuse for not hearing about God and not believing in Him.
Student: I still say He is unfair.
Me: Again, why?
Student: If I believe in Him now, I will have to accept that my ancestors went to hell because they did not believe in God.
I suddenly realized that it was her real concern.
Many people worship their ancestors because they acknowledge that without them, they wouldn’t be here. They forget that without the Creator, their ancestors wouldn’t even exist.
... since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Romans 1: 19-23
Me: As I’ve mentioned, the universe declares there’s a Creator. They had seen the universe, so they must have thought about the Creator in their hearts even if they had not heard about God and His Son Jesus Christ. However, this is modern times, so I’m sure they had heard about God and the Son of God. Even when they were dying, I believe God had placed in their hearts the desire to be with the Great Someone out there.
You can’t do anything anymore about your ancestors. They had made their own decisions, but you can decide for yourself and your future generations. Don’t you want to make sure you and your next generations go to heaven?
Student: I still don’t want to believe in Him because I don’t want to think my ancestors went to hell.
God is not unfair: The student’s answer to the question
It was the end of the class and it was also getting painful to keep hearing that God is unfair.
Hence, I stood up, forcefully placed my two palms on the table, and blurted out, “Ok, God is unfair!”
Then, I saw that she got shocked by my words and reaction. Perhaps, she was surprised that I would suddenly give in to her position and give up mine.
Seeing her reaction, I took the chance.
Me: One last question: Aren’t you happy that even though you’d see or experience suffering, you were still given a chance to live?
Student (thoughtfully): I am.
Me: So is God unfair?
Student: No. When I go back to Korea, I will attend church and get to know God more.
The work of the Holy Spirit
I thanked the Holy Spirit, who promised to put words in my mouth. It was the work of the Holy Spirit to take us to that conversation. She was probably seeking truth, and God fulfilled to her a promise.
“As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, the lips of your children, and the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord. Isaiah 59: 21 NIV
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7: 6-8
More questions to answer
That’s the end of my story, but I would like to add more questions hoping that you’d be able to explain why God created man when he knew man would sin.
Why do most men choose to love and marry when they know there can be misunderstandings, fights, and even divorce? Why do most couples prefer to have children when they know there can be hardships in child-bearing and child-rearing, and children may sometimes be disobedient?
Now, here are my questions which I will answer to help explain that God exists.
Who placed in man the desire to worship? Why do most men worship someone or something? Why do most people ask what happens when he dies? Who placed in him the desire to know where he goes after his life on earth? Why do most people ask for help from someone out there when he knows he could be dying? Who placed in him the desire to go somewhere blissful when he dies, even if he doesn’t believe in God or heaven and hell?
God has placed in man the desires to worship, to live, and to be saved even after death. It’s because God is a revealing God, and He wants man to know He exists. He wants man to be with Him both here and in the afterlife.