#1 Most Asked Question About God

According to the Barna Research Center the most asked question about God is, "Why does he let us suffer?" This is also the most common reason given by non-Christians as to why they do not believe in God.

There are answers to this question about God, suffering and evil, but there is no ANSWER. People get hurt because of sin, life in a fallen world, stupidity, Satan and sometimes God himself disciplines us. These are reasons why evil happens, but it still does not answer our question exhaustively. God must have a morally justifiable reason we do not understand. If some guy came ripping by you on I-25 honking his horn because you were going too slow, you would likely get angry. If you later realized his daughter was in the back seat dying and that he was heading to the hospital, you would understand him much differently. You would believe he was justified in honking at you and speeding.

If you are an atheist then suffering is random and meaningless. If you are a pantheist then evil and suffering are just an illusion, which does not sell very well when you are in pain. Other options make God weaker, less knowledgeable or unloving. To me, the best option is Jesus. He did not give answers to all of our questions about why we suffer. Instead he entered into our suffering on the cross and showed us how God transforms suffering into something we will all, one day, say is worth it.

For more on this topic join us Sunday at Restoration Community Church (www.restorationcc.us).