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The Problem of Pleasure: Why Good Things Happen to Bad People
The question we are often prone to ask in our day is, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” But Dr. Gerstner draws our focus to the proper “Why do good things happen to bad people?” The presence of evil and suffering in this sinful world should not surprise us. What is truly surprising is there is so much pleasure in this fallen world. In fact, why is there any pleasure at all? God is kind, says the Scripture, to evil and ungrateful men. Why? That He might lead them to repentance! Why should sinners know anything pleasurable in this life? Why does anything at all feel good? It is because God is a good God, and has given us all things richly to enjoy. This booklet will help you gain perspective and ask the right questions about life. This primer is also contained in the book, Primitive Theology, published by Soli Deo Gloria.
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Published January 1, 2002
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About the author
John H. Gerstner
68 books20 followersJohn Henry Gerstner was a Professor of Church History at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Knox Theological Seminary and an authority on the life and theology of Jonathan Edwards.
He earned both a Master of Divinity of degree and a Master of Theology degree from Westminster Theological Seminary. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Harvard University in 1945. He was originally ordained in the United Presbyterian Church of North America, then (due to church unions) with the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and the Presbyterian Church (USA). In 1990, he left the PCUSA for the Presbyterian Church in America.
Gerstner counted among his students, noted author and preacher, R. C. Sproul, founder of Ligonier Ministries, Dr. Arthur Lindsley, Senior Fellow at the C.S. Lewis Institute, and Dr. Walter (Wynn) Kenyon, Professor of Biblical Studies and Philosophy; Chair of the Philosophy Department and Division of Ministry and Human Services at Belhaven University.
In addition to the books Gerstner had written, he also recorded several lengthy audio courses giving a survey of theology, church history, and Christian apologetics, which are distributed through Ligonier Ministries. Gerstner was non-dispensationalist.
In 1976, a Festschrift was published in Gerstner's honor. Soli Deo Gloria: Essays in Reformed Theology included contributions by Cornelius Van Til, J. I. Packer, Philip Edgecumbe Hughes, John Murray, R. C. Sproul, John Warwick Montgomery, and Roger Nicole.
He earned both a Master of Divinity of degree and a Master of Theology degree from Westminster Theological Seminary. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Harvard University in 1945. He was originally ordained in the United Presbyterian Church of North America, then (due to church unions) with the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and the Presbyterian Church (USA). In 1990, he left the PCUSA for the Presbyterian Church in America.
Gerstner counted among his students, noted author and preacher, R. C. Sproul, founder of Ligonier Ministries, Dr. Arthur Lindsley, Senior Fellow at the C.S. Lewis Institute, and Dr. Walter (Wynn) Kenyon, Professor of Biblical Studies and Philosophy; Chair of the Philosophy Department and Division of Ministry and Human Services at Belhaven University.
In addition to the books Gerstner had written, he also recorded several lengthy audio courses giving a survey of theology, church history, and Christian apologetics, which are distributed through Ligonier Ministries. Gerstner was non-dispensationalist.
In 1976, a Festschrift was published in Gerstner's honor. Soli Deo Gloria: Essays in Reformed Theology included contributions by Cornelius Van Til, J. I. Packer, Philip Edgecumbe Hughes, John Murray, R. C. Sproul, John Warwick Montgomery, and Roger Nicole.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 5, 2025
This is a must read for sure!!
Suffering exists. Sin exists. God is good, sovereign, and holy. If suffering exists, it is because of a punishment. A punishment is the result of sin. Sin exists. Everybody sins (just look at the 10 commandments). A good God must punish sin. A sovereign God makes sure every sin will be punished justly. A holy God should not accept sin in His sight. This good, sovereign, and holy God has not yet punished all of the evil abounding on earth. The problem is that joy exists. God has no need or obligation at all to show grace. But this loving God actually does. God sent His Son to punish Him for our sin. Therefore we are free. This time of joy on earth gives a chance to either find everlasting joy in Christ or build more and more reason for just punishment in hell. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
Suffering exists. Sin exists. God is good, sovereign, and holy. If suffering exists, it is because of a punishment. A punishment is the result of sin. Sin exists. Everybody sins (just look at the 10 commandments). A good God must punish sin. A sovereign God makes sure every sin will be punished justly. A holy God should not accept sin in His sight. This good, sovereign, and holy God has not yet punished all of the evil abounding on earth. The problem is that joy exists. God has no need or obligation at all to show grace. But this loving God actually does. God sent His Son to punish Him for our sin. Therefore we are free. This time of joy on earth gives a chance to either find everlasting joy in Christ or build more and more reason for just punishment in hell. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
March 31, 2017
We’ve been sold a bill of goods. For years we’ve heard the question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”. That question is all wrong. What we should be wondering is why there is so much joy, pleasure, prosperity, and peace enjoyed by human beings who stand in rebellion against their Creator?
“Wait just a minute!” you may object. “There’s suffering everywhere around the world and people have been enduring it for thousands of years!” This is true and Dr. Gerstner agrees. But what he argues in this little booklet is that compared to the suffering we deserve because of sin, the suffering we experience this side of eternity is nothing compared to what is to come for those who are not in Christ. And, conversely, any joy and peace we enjoy are completely and utterly undeserved given our status as sinners.
If we truly understood our state before God as His enemies (Rom 5:10; Col 1:21), deserving only His wrath in this life (and the next for all eternity) we would see our lives here, even as non-Christians, as full of joy, peace, pleasure and fun. Not because they are always like that, but because they are ever like that for one second!
The real problem is pleasure. Dr. Gerstner does a great job of unpacking the why behind the problem. Is God just fattening us up for slaughter? Or is He doing something else? I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book and find the answer yourself. It will clearly establish the Biblical teaching on God’s holiness and man’s sinfulness and humble you as you read it.
“Wait just a minute!” you may object. “There’s suffering everywhere around the world and people have been enduring it for thousands of years!” This is true and Dr. Gerstner agrees. But what he argues in this little booklet is that compared to the suffering we deserve because of sin, the suffering we experience this side of eternity is nothing compared to what is to come for those who are not in Christ. And, conversely, any joy and peace we enjoy are completely and utterly undeserved given our status as sinners.
If we truly understood our state before God as His enemies (Rom 5:10; Col 1:21), deserving only His wrath in this life (and the next for all eternity) we would see our lives here, even as non-Christians, as full of joy, peace, pleasure and fun. Not because they are always like that, but because they are ever like that for one second!
The real problem is pleasure. Dr. Gerstner does a great job of unpacking the why behind the problem. Is God just fattening us up for slaughter? Or is He doing something else? I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book and find the answer yourself. It will clearly establish the Biblical teaching on God’s holiness and man’s sinfulness and humble you as you read it.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews