01-23-10
Why Haiti (and other mind-bending, seemingly unanswerable questions)...
I am always amazed when people offer simple answers to complex questions. Why did Haiti suffer such a terrible earthquake? Since the only One who knows has not spoken directly to me, I will leave that question unanswered until I hear from Him. Until then, I am left confused and wondering about God's role in it all. I am left bearing the burden of making sense out of something that seems non-sensical. I am left feeling only pain and finding no relief. This can quickly lead to despair or apathy. Both of these responses carry dangerous consequences.
The problem of evil is one of the most frequently discussed issues. People want to know how a good God could allow such suffering to happen. After the devastating earthquake in Haiti, I knew this question would be on the front of many people's minds. Last week I was helped thinking through this issue in a whole new light. The blog I read didn't try to answer the question directly, but it did shed powerful insight into part of the reason why we wrestle with this question today more than ever. It also helps Christians understand how to cope with all the difficult news we see, read and hear on a daily basis without falling into apathy or despair.
I hope you are blessed, taught and challenged as you read.
Michael Patton is the author of this blog and it regularly speaks to important subjects that will help you grow in your faith. Bookmark it. He is also one of the creators of The Theology Program. This is a church based program designed to help the regular person in the pew learn more about God, the bible and faith. We have classes starting next month.