Five Excerpts from Keller's "Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering"

1. Life for our ancestors was filled with far more suffering than ours is. And yet we have innumerable diaries, journals, and historical documents that reveal how they took that hardship and grief in far better stride than do we. (p. 15)
2. [S]ecularization thins out traditional beliefs . . . . And this secularized belief in God, or this residue of Christianity, may be the worst possible preexisting condition in which to encounter suffering. (p. 58)
3. If an all-powerful and all-wise God were directing all of history with its infinite number of interactive events toward good ends, it would be folly to think we could look at any particular occurrence and understand a millionth of what it will bring about. (p. 101)
4. If there is no Judgment Day, then there are only two things to do—lose all hope or turn to vengeance. (p. 116)
5. [I]t is even more likely that this kind of betrayal [one of four types of suffering that Keller presents] happens simply through a personal relationship going sour. When someone perceives that they have been wronged by you, they may embark on a program of trying to hurt you or damage your reputation. Often someone you thought you knew well can turn on you and attack you because it furthers their career or interests. Personal betrayals are particularly horrific, and this sort of trial can tempt you to give in to debilitating anger and bitterness. While the first kind of suffering requires that you learn repentance, this kind of suffering will entail that you wrestle with the issues of forgiveness. The temptation will be to become bitter and to hide your growing hardness and cruelty under the self-image of being a noble victim. (p. 210)

Buy the book.

(HT:  Andy Naselli)

An Acute Sense of Fairness

This is the best video you'll see today.

"That's not fair!" I probably hear that about 50 times a day from my kids. They have an acute sense of fairness and justice. Turns out monkeys do too. Hilarious.

Reflecting on a Challenging OT Passage

R.C. Sproul Jr.:

Among the countless nuggets of wisdom I have received over the years from my father is this bit of gold- when you are reading your Bible and you come across something that makes you uncomfortable, resist the temptation to simply move on to something else. Where the Bible makes us uncomfortable is precisely where we need to slow down. It is compelling evidence of a specific weakness. When our thoughts or feelings bristle under God’s Word, He is right and we wrong. 

That said, it is understandable that so many would recoil from God’s command that every living person in Canaan would be put to death as His people conquer the land. No mercy for those women and children, no compassion on the aged, God’s instructions were as clear as they were brutal. 

Many outside the faith have planted their flag here, arguing that our God is immoral, monstrous. Many on the fringes of the faith perform sundry exegetical gymnastics to wiggle out from under the account. Many faithful believers are simply puzzled and embarrassed. The God we worship, however, the true and living God, did in fact give this command, and rightly so. If we would rightly worship Him, even here we would praise His name. 

There are at least two reasons why God did this. 

Read the rest.

How To Respond When Your Guitar is Stolen

Aaron Gray writes a helpful post that helps us think through how to respond when we are injured, violated, or sinned against.

Praying Justice and Mercy for #Gosnell

Great reflection here from Stephen Altrogge.  How we handle this issues exposes a lot about what we believe is at the center of Christianity.

Framed and Facing Life in Prison: A Story from International Justice Mission

Joseph was accidentally shot when a riot broke out in his neighborhood in Kenya. But later, at the hospital, a police officer pinned the violence on Joseph. There was no proof — he was innocent — but there was nothing Joseph could do.

Before he knew it, Joseph was arrested, charged and facing life in prison. Surrounded by dangerous criminals, he feared for his life. But worst of all, he feared for his pregnant wife and five children at home.

Joseph desperately needed help. An advocate could change everything. Watch his story now and see how this innocent father was finally set free.

A Prayer for #Gosnell, #Boston, and #Waco

Marshall Segal:

Lord, our hearts are weak with grief, despair, and anger. Now, and with every atrocity, we will ask a thousand questions and wonder how you could possibly be at work in these evils. Strengthen our hearts according to your promises. Give us patience to wait upon your final act of justice, when everything will be made right. In that day, we will watch as you make terror the victim, a story never to appear on another front page.

At the darkest moments of our lives, we can have strength and hope in you because at the darkest moment in history you guaranteed the end of the violence and perversion that fills our news now. As we ask how you could allow nails to take an 8-year-old boy’s life, remind us that you looked on in infinite love for us as nails pierced your precious Son. It was at his cross that you defeated the devil’s hold on this world, ransoming your children from our own wickedness and promising the eradication of all evil. All injustice will be punished, either in Jesus’s wounds or by his sword.

Read the rest.



Recommended resources: 

• Suffering and the Sovereignty of God 
• When God Weeps 
• Suffering and the Goodness of God 
• How Long O Lord?

Where Was God When...?!?!?

John Piper spins this usual question on it's head and gives some need perspective.  This is a very important read.

As this year ends, the question I am asking is: Where was God when so many good things happened this past year?

How can God be a God of justice, yet allow so much good to happen to people who dishonor him by disbelieving in him, or giving lip service to his existence, or paying no more attention to him than the carpet in their den, or rejecting the kingship of his Son, or scorning his word, or preferring a hundred pleasures before him?

How can God be righteous and do so much good to us who are so unrighteous?

Read the rest.