Why Does God Allow War?

by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Does God care about the sin and suffering in the world today? Why doesn't he bring an end to war and violence? When our lives seem shattered by personal tragedy, is there any answer? Is there any place to which we can turn to find hope and peace and true happiness whatever our circumstances? The ringing affirmation of this book is that there is indeed an answer-an answer that is rooted in the reality of God himself, and in what he has done and will do for those who know and love him. Dr. Lloyd-Jones wrote this book at the outbreak of the Second World War to a people on the brink of despair. It's message, however, is universal and remarkably relevant today as we seek to understand the crises of our own times. Yet readers will find that the truth it contains is a help for those in the midst of any tragedy, whether personal or national.

Genres: Theology, Christian, War, Christianity

128 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1986

About the author

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a Welsh Protestant minister, preacher and medical doctor who was influential in the Reformed wing of the British evangelical movement in the 20th century. For almost 30 years, he was the minister of Westminster Chapel in London. Lloyd-Jones was strongly opposed to Liberal Christianity, which had become a part of many Christian denominations; he regarded it as aberrant. He disagreed with the broad church approach and encouraged evangelical Christians (particularly Anglicans) to leave their existing denominations. He believed that true Christian fellowship was possible only amongst those who shared common convictions regarding the nature of the faith.

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones was married to Bethan Lloyd-Jones

Books about D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: https://www.goodreads.com/characters/...

Reviews

[Peter Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of sermons preached in 1939 as World War II got off the ground. But as is often the case you don't need to be in a war for these sermons to be helpful. The basic questions is: Why does God allow bad things to happen to us? Why does He not answer our prayers when we pray for our sons to come back from war or the cancer to be gone or that relationship to be restored? Lloyd-Jones' oddities are still there. But he makes some excellent points and anyone going through a difficult time would benefit from reading them.

[Leopold Odah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great addressing the reasons why God allows Wars. From all 5 chapters, the last 3 chapters answer the questions

[Bendick Ong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always wonder what it means to be in a war; and what it means to preach during a war. It must be a terrible feeling. Yet again, what is a better reminder on the temporality of life than a context of such?

On another level, was thinking can we effectively share on war and for that matter, the problem of evil (ie. to put it painfully simple, why does God allow evil), if we haven’t gone through war ourselves?

There’s a difference I suppose – the same way most people would agree that C S Lewis’ A Grief Observed is better-written than his Problem of Pain.

And this book is different in that it does not see its theme as a cold academic subject, but written before the outbreak of the second world war, is an address to anxious minds and worried hearts, with the writer himself facing the same uncertainties and preaching with background of the sounds of nazi bombers.

And it starts differently, answering the question posed on the book cover only in the fourth chapter. The first chapter talks about unanswered prayers, the second about our reactions to unexpected circumstances in life (quoting a seldom-expounded Judges 13:22-23), the third on the mystery of God’s providence, the fourth addressing the problem of evil direct (from a Christian perspective, ie essentially, sin being the chief cause of everything) and the fifth, Roman 8:28.

To some, it might be a roundabout way of answering the question; yet I guess to many, there is no other way that is more direct. Eventually a reader who really reads this book with a keen eye is not struggling with an intellectual question like what I always do. He is fighting with unanswered pleas and unexpected difficulties in his life. Think in that sense, this book serves such a bitter and doubtful soul well.
And that’s why I like books written by D. Martyn Lloyd-jones. He has a way of expounding bible verses and applying them to life without diluting doctrines. (For that matter, his Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure is one of the most uplifting books I’ve ever read.)

And his sermons too… Anyway this is one of his shortest books if one cannot really find time to read. 126 pages and of very comfortable font-size, it is a nice book to read over a cup of coffee on a lazy afternoon.

[Mark A Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although war is certainly dealt with, the main theme of Lloyd-Jones’ work is the larger scope of sin and suffering. He encourages Christians to adjust their perspective on the affliction in not only their own lives, but the world around them, and to focus on God’s glory and trust God’s design – even when it is not strikingly obvious. Lloyd-Jones uses his trademark blend of candor and clarity to bring much-needed light to an often dark subject.

[Chris Bundy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and informative. Dr. Jones brings to mind the Nature of Man and how that plays a part of the world in which we live. I recommend this.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

V interesting. Early in DMLJ's ministry at Westminster Chapel, a series of five sermons preached September 1939 at the outbreak of WW2.
There is a marked difference between his preaching here and his mature ministry later, and yet you can see it in embryo here, a passing reference to the Puritans, a focus on logical argument, and yet quite different from say, the later Romans preaching.
His preaching here in Sept 1939 reminds me a little more of G. Campbell-Morgan's preaching which he overlapped with in the 1930's.
I particularly wanted to read this in the current coronavirus crisis, dealing as he did with a national emergency. Interesting.

[Louis Lapides · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a loyal fan of MLJones and anything he writes. While this title promises that Jones will spend the entire book on the subject of war and the Christian, only one chapter in the book deals with the subject. The other chapters are composed of sermons from the ministry of MLJ. There is some connection of these sermons to the main theme, but that connection is very loose. Since I enjoy anything Jones writes, I still recommend this book for great insights into a subject that must be rooted in a solid biblical theology.

[Dr. Jon Pirtle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lloyd-Jones, in this and each book I've read of his, takes thorny issues on. Head-on. And he does it biblically. But in so doing, he demonstrates the failures of other competing worldviews. In this book, e.g., he spends the first part talking about many people's misunderstandings of prayer, of our moral posture of prayer, of God's holiness and our sinfulness, etc. And Lloyd-Jones spends the balance demonstrating God's sovereignty, his holiness, his providence, and wisdom, and how these attrbutes are man's only hope. Otherwise, man is lost in the cosmos.

[Sergio Tapia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Expone las razones bíblicas de por qué el hombre cosecha lo que siembra en relación a su vida individual y como sociedad.
Los capítulos son:
1- el hombre en la presencia de Dios
2- enfrentando lo inesperado
3- los misteriosos caminos de Dios
4- ¿ Por qué permite Dios la guerra?
5- la respuesta final a todas nuestras preguntas

El último tema trata sobre el clásico texto de Romanos 8:28. Realmente es la mejor de la exposiciones que he leído hasta el momento. Doctrinal mente sólida, una detallada y lúcida explicación.

[Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Martyn Lloyd-Jones was the Pastor of Westminster Chapel during the World War II years. He is considered by many to be one of the finest preachers of the modern era. This book was written and first printed over 60 years ago and has had a strong revival of interest since 9/11.

It is not a simple book to read. Only 126 pages that are as chewy as thick peanut butter. The questions Lloyd-Jones set out to answer are; does God care about the sin and suffering in the world today and why doesn't He bring an end to war, violence, and terrorism?

I will not give away the answer (if you do not already know it) but this is a very thorough examination of God's own Word that may give you more faith, more resolve, and some peace of mind!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and punchy answer to the question of ultimate suffering. I already need to re-read it.

“We are not at all concerned about the holiness of God, or sin as such. Were we so concerned, we would ask him to prohibit all sin and to restrain all iniquity. We would ask Him to prohibit drunkenness, gambling, immorality and vice, the breaking of the Sabbath, and all the various other sins which men enjoy so thoroughly. But if anyone ventured to suggest that, a protest loud and strong would be registered immediately in the name of freedom. We boast of our free-will and resent any suggestion that God should in any way interfere with it. And yet, when, as the result of the exercise of that very freedom, we find ourselves faced with the horrors and troubles and sufferings of a war, like peevish children we cry out our protests and complain bitterly against God because He has not used His almighty power and forcibly prevented it!”

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most fascinating things Lloyd-Jones does in this book, is that he dodges the main question "Why Does God Allow War" for about 80% of the book, and instead attacks all the problems with our own messed-up thinking BEFORE tackling the main question - and the tactic is right on target. The truth of the matter is, is that we as fallen creatures have sideways thinking, and we need to address this wrong thinking before tackling the main subject matter of the book. Lloyd-Jones does a masterful job of it. It is a little heavy, even for such a short book; I found that sometimes I had to read paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 times to get it (might not say too much for my own twisted thinking!) It is a fantastic, beautiful read that requires much humility, and a willingness to say "oops....I've thought this way before, too!"

[Judith]

This series of 5 sermons Lloyd-Jones preached during WWII provides timeless answers to the questions that Christians continue to be asked today regarding a good God and a suffering world. The first, "Man in the Presence of God," taught me much about prayer. The second, "Facing the Unexpected," also considers our view of Who God is. "God is never capricious [, and He] is never unjust in His dealings with us," are two basic truths that I would do well to remember. I'm looking forward to the next three.

[Amy Trowbridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although intended for England during WWII, it applied to my every day life in the areas of trusting God and turning to prayer in every situation.

[Greg Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book explaining why bad things happen and the best way to understand them.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not only outstanding in addressing its specific subject, but is a superior answer to the question of why God allows suffering in general.