There are certain things that are utterly predictable, to a fault. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. The tide comes in and then goes back out. We speak of God’s goodness, and someone takes offense
Believe me, that last item fits in the list just as consistently as the first two. Each time I write of the specific goodness of God, I receive a great many positive responses. But inevitably I also receive at least one negative response. It will go something like this: “Well how nice for God to be so good to you! You must be so special, seeing as how other people are hurting so bad!”
I do not answer back unkindly; I understand that many people are indeed hurting and I feel for them. But the response itself shows a huge flaw in logic, and in a person’s understanding of the goodness of God.
One of the rules of logic broken by the response above is stated as follows: “Evidence should be stated as fairly and completely as possible.” Another one is, “Emotion is not an acceptable substitute for proof.” If emotion were removed from the equation, and if all the evidence were fairly weighed, some things could be clearly discerned. Things that, by the way, provide for a proper understanding of the goodness of God.
To begin with, people who respond with the view I referenced above are failing to consider the larger picture – all of the evidence, stated as fairly and completely as possible). God may send a particular, undeniable blessing to me today while another is hurting, but next week they may be receiving the undeniable blessing while I am hurting. Should either of us, in our time of blessing, fail to say “thank you” or fail to be grateful? Should either of us, in our time of hurt, be envious of those who are not hurting?