Sermon Central
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Questions On ...
Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008 (message contributor)
QUESTIONS ON SUFFERING
Steven Curtis Chapman is one of the best known singer-songwriters of contemporary Christian music. Over the last 15 or 20 years, his songs have blessed millions of people. Recently tragedy struck the Chapman home, and Michelle Malkin wrote about it:
“Steven Curtis Chapman’s five-year-old adopted daughter, Maria Sue, died Wednesday when her teen-age brother accidentally ran over her as he backed the family’s car out of their driveway. Chapman’s music and life have been inspired by, and centered on, faith and family.
His oldest daughter, Emily, encouraged Chapman and his wife to adopt after having three of their own natural-born children. The couple adopted three beautiful girls from China. They performed missionary work in Chinese orphanages and established a charity named after their first adopted daughter, Shoahannah. At the time the accident occurred, the family ’was celebrating the engagement of the oldest daughter Emily Chapman. And were just hours away from a graduation party marking Caleb Chapman’s completion of high school. Now, they are preparing to bury a child who blew out five candles on a birthday cake less than ten days ago.’ Maria Sue had just graduated from church preschool."
We wonder why, but that’s O.K. Randy Alcorn explains, “The Bible itself raises this question. It never backs away from it. The problem of suffering and evil is in Habakkuk, Jeremiah, Job and many of the Psalms. God does not condemn people for asking such questions. For instance, Jeremiah 12:1 says, ’Righteous are You, O Lord, when I plead with You; yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?’ Many of the Psalms ask, ’Why, O Lord do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? Why are the heavens silent when I ask for help? Why do the good suffer? Why do the evil prosper?’ Anyone who tries to gloss over or minimize the problem of evil doesn’t get it.
(Source: “How Could a Good God Allow Evil and Suffering?” - by Randy Alcorn - A presentation given April 9, 2001, at Mount Hood Community College, sponsored by Campus Crusade. From a sermon by Rick Crandall, "What Will You Do With Jesus?" 7/16/08)
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