Book Review: If God is Good
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I’ll admit: I’ve struggled with this issue of theodicy for several years. And I, like most people, will probably continue to struggle with understanding it for the rest of my life. It’s not because it makes me question God’s existence or even His goodness, but I really have a problem wrapping my head and my heart around how God uses pain, suffering, and evil to ultimately accomplish His will. I know He does. I just don’t understand how.
All that being said, If God is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil, by Randy Alcorn, is a tough book to read. It’s not a bad book. In fact, it’s very good. But it’s tough to read. Of course, when you’re having an honest conversation about the problem of evil and suffering and pain, you can’t expect to have it wrapped up in a neat little bow in just a few sentences. If someone does try to wrap it up in just a few sentences like that, they’re probably being disingenuous.
Alcorn does not attempt to tie things up in a neat little bow, using simplistic, pat answers in an attempt to cram God into a box that is easy for us to understand. “Packaged theologies seek to neatly account for everything,” he says, “but as Job, Psalms, and the prophets repeatedly demonstrate, that’s not how life works” (page 335). Alcorn deals head-on with some tough issues, using a mixture of scriptural examples and contemporary stories to help us get a better grasp on the answer to why an all-knowing, all-powerful God would create a world that included evil and suffering – and why He continues to allow it today.
I especially like the chapter where he discusses our lives as a story that God is telling. I think he hits the nail on the head with this point and I wish he expounded upon that just a little bit more.
If God is Good, and other books like it are important to read because if you’re not going through a time of suffering, you will. It’s part of the human experience. Reading a book like this will help solidify your foundation when things do ultimately come crashing down. Alcorn suggests that “Before difficult times come your way, develop habits of studying God’s Word, listening to Christ-centered teaching and music, and reading soul-nourishing literature, both nonfiction and fiction. Daily fill the reservoir from which you can draw when facing difficult times – and helping others face their fears” (page 460). Although it takes a while to get through and can be difficult to read at times, If God is Good is a great resource to keep your reservoir full.
If God is Good is available in hard cover, audio, and eBook formats.
If you want to take the book out for a test drive, you can read the first chapter here.
Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Blogging for Books program. I received this book from Waterbrook-Multnomah in exchange for an honest review.
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