“Pastor…?”

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

 Books have been written around this question. Much smarter people have wrestled with it. This question is as old as humanity and humans have tried to come up with the answer from the beginning.  Many times, it is more of an accusation than a question that wants an answer; more a conglomeration of questions and assumptions, than a single question.

  For me, the question of why the innocent suffer hovers over the filthy flood waters of Harvey as a doe and her fawn struggle to swim to safety.  It howls through the winds that rip away roofs and meager belongings of those who have no money and are helpless to outrun the storm.  This question rumbles and shakes the very foundations of the most impoverished districts of Mexico, decimated by an 8.1 earthquake.  It rages like wildfire through the homes and forests of our western states. It pierces like bullets the very heart of our nation when we are least suspecting it.

 I’ve got to admit that I push this question down as I go through my privileged day, only to regurgitate it when I see the results of hate, neglect, and violence in the media. 

It’s the question that I have the most trouble answering and the best one to start off this blog, because I want this blog to be about the important questions about life, God, the church….even when the conclusions aren’t complete and even when we might disagree.   This journey of faith and towards faith involves asking, seeking and finding. (Matthew 7:7) It also involves working out our salvation with–and through, and out of–fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12)

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

I’m pretty sure I’ll never have the full answer to this and other questions, at least not in this life.    I’ve come to some conclusions of which I’m confident; however, I may have to adjust those conclusions from time to time.  I invite anyone to struggle along with me, to ask your own questions—the ones that wake you up in the middle of the night…and the ones that you might even be using as a shield to keep the answers out.  I will try to sort through those questions with you using my experience as a Christian, a pastor, a mother, a fallible human saved by grace. 

So blessings to you in your questions, in your seeking.  Blessings and peace.  Pastor Jan