If God was such a good and all-powerful God…(con’t)

 

 

 

If God is such a good and all-powerful God, why does he allow the innocent to suffer?

 

My answer depends on the motive in asking the question.

If the question is asked out pure curiosity and desire to know, or if it is asked out of the anguish that comes from suffering or seeing someone suffer, my response is: “Let’s work on it together.  Let’s break it down in bits and pieces, because it is not a simple question and the answer is definitely not simple!”

There are some questioners, however, to whom my first response to the question is:

“Do you really want to know?”

Because this question, the way it is phrased, is a challenge to basic Christian beliefs.  Now, honest unbelief and/or ignorance of the Christian understanding of God makes the question valid.  Rebellion against belief and proud unbelief is another story.

If this question is asked in staunch, proud unbelief, then the conclusion from this questioner’s point of view is already answered—there isn’t an all good and all-powerful God.  If the question is asked out of rebellion against belief, well then, the questioner is trying to justify the choices he or she has made.

In either case, no answer from me will change your mind, although I suspect that God is working and will work on that throughout your life—I’m a staunch believer in prevenient grace (God’s grace that brings us to the point where we can believe).  I was once you; there was a time when I did not believe and I was proud of it…

Love has a way—many times through suffering—to break down rebellion and unbelief.

So, to these questioners, I hope you keep reading. You are in the hands of an all-powerful and good God who loves you with an everlasting love and longs to be in relationship with you.  If at some point in your life you begin to question your unbelief, don’t be surprised. God has been there all along.