It is inevitable that people will call God into question when tragedy strikes. No one is appalled that sinful humans get to breathe air they don't deserve today; but everyone is appalled when God removes His restraining hand and allows evil humans (all of us) to act out the evil already in their hearts. Unless Jesus comes soon, this will not be the last time an evil gunman (or terrorist) acts out his or her wickedness. We must be ready to suffer well and we must be ready to love suffering people well. I think each and every Christian needs to have a "theology of suffering." By that, I simply mean that every Christian should understand the Biblical teaching on suffering.
Thus, here are some of the best resources to help us build Biblical categories for suffering:
1. How Long, O Lord? Reflections on Suffering and Evil by DA Carson
2. Suffering and The Sovereignty of God by Piper and Taylor
3. The Message of Evil and Suffering by Peter Hicks
4. When God Weeps by Joni Eareckson Tada
5. Far as the Curse is Found: Human Suffering and the Hope of the Gospel (audio CDs)
2 comments:
Thanks, Justin. Your opening thoughts offer an extremely important perspective.
Please pray for me. I will be leading a Bible Study at a local public high school tomorrow on "How to Respond to Suffering" in the wake of the Virginia Tech massacre.
We just started going through "Suffering and the Sovereignty of God" in our equipping classes. Its really good. I am learning so much.
"Trusting God-even when life hurts" by Jerry Bridges is good too. I read that right after Dallas' dad passed away suddenly. I was 8 months pregnant and Dallas went on a missions trip to Russia for 14 days- and we had no contact! It was good to read that book and to trust the Lord- and His goodness, even when it is hard- and even when life events make no sense to us at all.
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