Articles
Are God’s Ways Not Fair?
“Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair?” (Ezekiel 18:29) Just like those of the house of Israel thought the ways of God were not fair, many today seem to think exactly the same way.
1. “It’s not fair that I cannot be married again.” God has always desired and required that husband and wife remain married for life (Rom. 7:1-3). God’s joining is to be taken so seriously that the Lord provided only one reason for divorce and remarriage – sexual immorality (Matt. 19:9). So many men and women have ignored, violated and rebelled against God’s marriage law, and then lament how unfair it is that they cannot marry someone else with God’s approval. God’s way is not only fair, but it is right and perfect.
2. “It’s not fair that I have to be baptized to be saved.” “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). God has made it possible for all men to be saved from their sins (John 3:16; I Tim. 2:3-4). However to be saved, we must obey the gospel (Rom. 1:16), which includes the command to be baptized (Acts 2:38; 10:48; 22:16). How ridiculous of men who cannot save themselves to resist so strongly to God’s way of salvation and call it unfair!
3. “It’s not fair that there’s only one true church.” Jesus only promised to build His church (Matt. 16:18). The New Testament teaches that there is only “one body,” “one church” (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). Jesus is Savior of the body, the church (Eph. 5:23). Therefore, an individual must be in His church to be saved (Acts 2:38-41, 47; I Cor. 12:13). Since Christ purchased the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28), why would it be unfair that His church is the only true church?
4. “It’s not fair that God would send a good person like me to hell.” I may very well be a good moral person, but I still must do the Father’s will to be saved (Matt. 7:21-23). Jesus is “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Heb. 5:9). “Those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord” (2 Thess. 1:8-9). If we reject God’s grace because we refuse to obey Him, then who’s fault is that (Eph. 2:8; Titus 2:11-14)?
As we read in the Book of Ezekiel: “Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair? Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies, says the Lord GOD. Therefore turn and live!” (18:29-32)
