If God Is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil

by Randy Alcorn

Every one of us will experience suffering. Many of us are experiencing it now. As we have seen in recent years, evil is real in our world, present and close to each one of us.

In such difficult times, suffering and evil beg questions about God--Why would an all-good and all-powerful God create a world full of evil and suffering? And then, how can there be a God if suffering and evil exist?

These are ancient questions, but also modern ones as well. Atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and even former believers like Bart Ehrman answer the question The existence of suffering and evil proves there is no God.

In this captivating new book, best-selling author Randy Alcorn challenges the logic of disbelief, and brings a fresh, realistic, and thoroughly biblical insight to the issues these important questions raise.

Alcorn offers insights from his conversations with men and women whose lives have been torn apart by suffering, and yet whose faith in God burns brighter than ever. He reveals the big picture of who God is and what God is doing in the world–now and forever. And he equips you to share your faith more clearly and genuinely in this world of pain and fear.

"As he did in his best-selling book, Heaven , Randy Alcorn delves deep into a profound subject, and through compelling stories, provocative questions and answers, and keen biblical understanding, he brings assurance and hope to all."
-Publishers Weekly

Genres: Christian, Theology, Christianity, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Religion, Faith

528 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Randy Alcorn is the founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM), a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching biblical truth and drawing attention to the needy and how to help them. EPM exists to meet the needs of the unreached, unfed, unborn, uneducated, unreconciled and unsupported people around the world.

"My ministry focus is communicating the strategic importance of using our earthly time, money, possessions and opportunities to invest in need-meeting ministries that count for eternity," Alcorn says. "I do that by trying to analyze, teach and apply the implications of Christian truth."

Before starting EPM in 1990, Alcorn co-pastored for thirteen years Good Shepherd Community Church outside Gresham, Oregon. He has ministered in many countries, including China, and is a popular teacher and conference speaker. Randy has taught on the part-time faculties of Western Seminary and Multnomah University, both in Portland, Oregon.

Randy is a best-selling author of 50 books including Heaven, The Treasure Principle and the 2002 Gold Medallion winner, Safely Home. He has written numerous articles for magazines such as Discipleship Journal, Moody, Leadership, New Man, and The Christian Reader. He produces the quarterly issues-oriented magazine Eternal Perspectives, and has been a guest on more than 650 radio and television programs including Focus on the Family, Family Life Today, The Bible Answer Man, Revive Our Hearts, Truths that Transform and Faith Under Fire.

Alcorn resides in Gresham, Oregon with his wife, Nanci. The Alcorns have two married daughters, Karina and Angela.

Randy and Nanci are the proud grandparents of five grandsons. Randy enjoys hanging out with his family, biking, tennis, research and reading.

Taken from the Eternal Perspective Ministries website, http://www.epm.org

Reviews

[Tom Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the outset, let me say that though I have (justifiably) given this a rare five star review it is not faultless. It is too long, clunky in its writing in spots, relies perhaps too much on logic, uses a variety of Bible versions, and leans calvinistic in places. But having said all of that, it is an utterly fantastic work. Alcorn has done massive amounts of homework, philosophically, logically, scripturally, and personally and it shows. He is logical but still cites hundreds of scripture passages. It is leavened throughout with numerous stories and quotes that illustrate his points. He put serious time not just into the academic side of the subject, but in interviewing people who know what it is like to suffer. These all make the book richer. Additionally, he is not afraid to tackle head on the objections that come our way as conservative, bible-believing people.

I picked it up thinking it was a theology of suffering. It isn't. It is an apologetic on suffering. But it is simply outstanding. Deep and wide, heartfelt and scholarly at the same time. This is both impressive and edifying. Worth the hours thinking/reading your way through it. Most worth it.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read all of Randy Alcorn's book and must rate this as one of his top ones. Since I received it from the publisher, I wanted to read it in a timely fashion and then review it. As I started out, I found myself taking notes - then I just decided to plunge right into it and tag or highlight sections that I wanted to go back to!
Each chapter takes you into a different question about the attributes of God and questions most people have (but might not admit to have). I found certain sections of the book painful to read - because they touched some of my own deep emotions. The period of time that we are currently living in is rife with suffering and what many of us recognize as evil. I have always believed that we personally go through suffering and bad times so that we may be able to use what we learned and felt to help someone else going through the same sort of thing.
For a person seeking a relationship with God, this book offers a very structured question/answer type of format. It may be a little deep for some; however, I would definitely recommend it to anu believer - there are many times we need to be reminded of the part we play in suffering and evil in addition to why we need God during these times.

[Dkovlak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Randy does a great job of backing up most of his key points with Bible verses. He does a very thorough job of covering most issues. This book is an encouragement for anyone that is going through a major trial in their life. ( I guess that includes everyone!). I definitely recommend this book.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

The longer I read and follow Randy Alcorn the more I respect the man. Alcorn’s If God is Good is written with Alcorn’s typical style: patient, comprehensive, deep but accessible. If you are struggling with the question of suffering or walking alongside someone who is, this is an excellent resource.

Alcorn’s 500 page book is laid out into 11 sections and the list of those sections will give you a sense of the scope of the book:

1) Understanding the problem of Evil and Suffering
2) Understanding Evil: Its Origins, Nature, and Consequences
3) Problems for Non-Theists: Moral Standards, Goodness, and Extreme Evil
4) Proposed Solutions to the Problem of Evil and Suffering: Limiting God’s Attributes
5) Evil and Suffering in the Great Drama of Christ’s Redemptive Work
6) Divine Sovereignty and Meaningful Human Choice: Accounting for Evil and Suffering
7) The Two Eternal Solutions to the Problem of Evil: Heaven and Hell
8) God’s Allowance and Restraint of Evil and Suffering
9) Evil and Suffering Used for God’s Glory
10) Why Does God Allow Suffering?
11) Living Meaningfully in Suffering

While any reader will benefit from reading Alcorn’s book straight through, the book is written so that you can approach the aspects of suffering and God that you are particularly struggling with. If you wonder how Jesus relates to the problem of suffering, then section 5 stands on its own as a helpful guide. If you have been dabbling with writings from atheists who utilize the problem of suffering as a defeater for Christianity, section 3 is helpful in considering how the problem of suffering is a problem for non-theists as well. If you wonder how to live well in the midst of suffering, the final section takes you through that.

Alcorn loads his book up with lots of true examples and stories that he has collected, including the suffering he has walked through.

The book is far too long to try to summarize each of its arguments, so instead, let me give you a sampling of some of the wisdom found in it:
• “The problem of evil lies at the very heart of the biblical account and serves as the crux of the unfolding drama of redemption.”
• “The Bible never sugarcoats evil.”
• “’Not the way it’s supposed to be.’ Evil is exactly that—a fundamental and troubling departure from goodness. The Bible uses the word evil to describe anything that violates God’s moral will.”
• “If we come to see the purpose of the universe as God’s long-term glory rather than our short-term happiness, then we will undergo a critical paradigm shift in tackling the problem of evil and suffering. The world has gone terribly wrong. God is going to fix it. First, for his eternal glory. Second, for our eternal good.”
• “To address good and evil without gazing upon God is fruitless. Good flows from the life connected to God. Evil flows from the life alienated from God. “Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God” (3 John 11). To embrace good and turn from evil, we must see God as he really is. We must not simply believe in God, but believe what is true about God. Diminishing God not only fails to solve theological problems, it dishonors him and becomes idolatry. When we see God as he is, we will see ourselves as we are, leaving him in his rightful place and us in ours.”
• “The assumption that a good being must always eliminate evil as much as possible doesn’t work as well as it sounds. If it were true, for instance, God would not have been good to allow Adam and Eve to keep living after doing evil.”
• Spurgeon wrote, ‘There is no attribute of God more comforting to His children than the doctrine of divine sovereignty. On the other hand, there is no doctrine more hated by worldlings.’”
• “God, like a father, doesn’t just give advice. He gives himself. He becomes the husband to the grieving widow (Isaiah 54:5). He becomes the comforter to the barren woman (Isaiah 54:1). He becomes the father of the orphaned (Psalm 10:14). He becomes the bridegroom to the single person (Isaiah 62:5). He is the healer to the sick (Exodus 15:26). He is the wonderful counselor to the confused and depressed (Isaiah 9:6).”
• “Our birthright does not include pain free living.”
• “Suffering, as sin’s consequence, points us back to sin’s ugliness. How horrible should we expect suffering to be? As horrible as sin. No less.”
“Suffering and evil exert a force that either pushes us away from God or pulls us toward him.”
“God often uses in direct proportion to suffering.”
• “On the other side of death, the Bible promises that all who know him will fall into the open arms of a holy, loving, and gracious God—the greatest miracle, the answer to the problem of evil and suffering. He promises us an eternal kingdom on the New Earth, where he says of those who come to trust him in this present world of evil and suffering, “They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:3–4).’”

If God Is Good isn’t an academic book, so if that is what you are looking for you might be disappointed, although even then, Alcorn does a good job of approaching academic arguments from a lay perspective. I encourage you to read this excellent book wherever you are, whether you are a Christian or a non-Christian, whether you are walking through suffering or not, this book will serve and prepare you well.

For more reviews, see www.thebeehive.live.

[Laurel Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb study of the meaning of suffering. Highly recommended.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most people who have ever read, talked, or thought about the existence of God often wonder about the bad of the world. Why would God allow droughts, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, tornadoes… the list can go on and on.

What about the baby diagnosed with cancer or the young adult killed in a car wreck? This is a lot of suffering in the world, and this books tries to address some of the questions that have plagued people for centuries.

Randy Alcorn’s book is divided into sections, to deal with different issues. Because the book is almost 500 pages, I chose to pick a few sections to read that I was most interested in.

One of those sections was God’s Allowance and Restraint of Evil and Suffering and another wasWhy does God allowing suffering.

In the first section I mentioned above, Alcorn points out that we have no idea the amount of evil God may protect his children from. Every day we hear about atrocities, but what percentage is that of the possible evil of the world? He points out guardian angels or events in which a miraculous escape occurs. How many times have you had a close encounter and realized the tragedy that could have happened?

The truth is that humans are always going to want more and blame whoever they can when something happens. Alcorn reminds us that we are all selffish, it’s an innate part of what it means to be human and therefore, not really preventable.

Also, people all over the world have different stories. What might be suffering to you might seem like a dream come true for someone on the other side of the world.

The second section reminded me of something I truly believe: God uses suffering to draw us closer to him. When I think back to a time in my own life where I was struggling with the day to day junk, I found myself relying on God more and more. It was one of the few times in my life that I can truly say I walked daily with God and leaned on him. Reading my Bible and praying daily were the only hope I had of making it through a really tough time.

I’m not ashamed to admit that I don’t always fall back on God when times are hard. It’s very easy for my anxious personality to freak out rather than just letting God handle my problems.

Alcorn reminds us that suffering builds character. Show me a man who has lost everything but still firmly believes in God and I will want to be that man’s friend and pick his brain. Just as much as admire those who serve in the military and their spouses/families, I admire the men and women who lose a family member in a tragic way, but still lean on God.

It’s too easy to turn our backs on him when tragedy strikes, but I think that by reading this book, people might gain a better understanding of why suffering does exist and God’s role.
I received a free copy of this book for review purposes only. My opinions are my own.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm going to submit my review now, although unfinished because this book is going to take me a while to get through. It's about 500 pages of very slow reading that needs to be thought about and absorbed. Although I'm only a fifth of the way through, I will review now and update as I go along should my opinions change.

For me, this book does not flow well, it's thoughts are disjointed in the fact that there is no real storytelling to pull it all together. There are parts with real life examples of evil and struggles that Alcorn's parishioners or friends have faced. This I like. Unfortunately, thus far, there is very little of it. It is basically a collection of scripture and quotes by religious figures to back up the book's title - "Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil."

To me, the book has not actually addressed the topic of finding and leaning on your faith when faced with painful adversity, to the point that I nod my head in understanding. I thought it would be more of Alcorn's opinion as to this mystery of the world rather than just a reiteration of what the different books of the Bible say about it. Not at all what I was hoping for, however I will continue reading until the end, hoping for a change in my opinion.

[Kathleen Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a challenging book and very thought provoking. I found it encouraging and I definitely recommend it, although with some caveats: I don't think it's appropriate to read if you are in the midst of great pain and grieving. There are a lot of comforting words here, but there are also some hard truths, and sometimes stark truth when we're in deep pain isn't helpful. Also, there is a lot of discussion of philosophy, atheism, and different Christian perspectives. I wasn't expecting that, and while I found it interesting, it also seemed to be a little too academic at times.

[Tammy Jata · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very thorough book, complete with anecdotes and scripture for all of the points the author writes about.

Alcorn deals with a lot of issues in this book. It’s really too many thoughts and points of discussion to publish under one title. At times this book gets very academic. I personally think Alcorn belabors each point too long. When he begins each section, his points are fascinating and give food for thought, but when he’s still saying the same thing 30 pages later it gets redundant and even frustrating.

I’m not sure if I would recommend this book. It slogs down into some very deep philosophy and undertakes some huge topics. Though Alcorn thoroughly covers his topics and is convincing, if you are a baby Christian this book is not the one you want to read. If you are wondering why God is permitting your suffering, I think you would find this book to be laborious. With over 500 pages, this book is better read and studied by believers who are Bible exegetes and who come to this book with years of learning behind them and years of experience in walking with Christ.

There would be easier books to read to answer the question “if God is good then why does He allow suffering”. Books by Elizabeth Elliott and Joni Erickson Tata deal with this very issue in thought provoking ways, but in a less complicated and more relatable format.

Randy Alcorn’s book would be excellent reading for an in depth Bible study or even for a college course.

[Kenneth Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alcorn, Randy: If God is Good… Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil

This is a book that should be read before you experience great suffering in your life if you have the opportunity. This is a read that will prepare you to suffer when inevitably you face some trials that all of us do. Randy Alcorn has provided a helpful book that will speak to a wide audience. In one sense it speaks to all because almost everyone will experience some leveling of suffering and this book deals with that issue, but those who will be most interested are Christians and those who are doubting there is a God because of evil and suffering in the world. A great help in the book is that Alcorn does the service of both answering the skeptic and growing the Christian comforting or preparing him for suffering.

The book has some very difficult concepts in it but is written in a way that any motivated reader can understand. The book has many stories of the authors own life and many others who have suffered, these stories mixed in with biblical teaching really allow one to keep a steady pace in reading this nearly 500 page book. At many times the stories may bring you to tears. Although I haven’t ready any Randy Alcon novels you can tell he is a talented writer in that style as well. While the stories make for a good read the real help of the book is in my opinion the strong emphasis on understanding suffering and evil through the gospel of Jesus Christ and the sovereignty of God. Although you may not agree with every nuance of Alcorn’s view of sovereignty of God and free will, his approach is balanced and helpful for understanding the issue of suffering. Knowing that God is in control even over our suffering is key to coming to grips with it.

One difficulty with the book may be its length for some. Although this is hard to change considering the subject being covered. Also I’m sure as I did some will have some minor differences of views with some of his thought especially in regard to God’s sovereignty and man’s free will. Overall this is a very helpful resource that many would benefit from, but don’t wait until you suffer to read this prepare yourself for what will happen in your life whatever it may be.

Publisher: WaterBrook Multnomah
Year: 2010
Pages: 512
Boards: Hardback
Binding: Smyth Sewn
Dust Cover: Yes
Scripture Index: Yes
Topical Index: Yes
Bibliography: No

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If God is Good is an excellent God-focused, Scripture-based book. It gives a comprehensive and balanced look at what the entire Bible says about evil and suffering. If you have any question about why an all-good, all-powerful, all-knowing God allows evil and suffering, this book thoroughly answers it. Some parts got a bit heavy and a few chapters weren't as convincing as others (like chapter 20), but most of the book was excellent and very easy to understand.

The major drawback to this book is it's sheer size. Five hundred pages is daunting enough for the average reader. When I realized that the small font makes this book equal to about 850 normal pages, I began to wonder just who the target audience was. Most people I know wouldn't have the time or interest in reading such a large book, no matter how good the material. This is too bad since the information is excellent.

However, part of the length problem is that there was a lot of repetition. In each section, he answers the question of evil and suffering from a slightly different angle and often repeats previous material in the argument. Yet you can't skip any part without potentially skipping the bits of excellent new material woven into it.

If you get into debates about evil and suffering and need to know all of the possible questions and answers, this is an excellent book to read. If you want to understand the idea of free will better, this is an excellent resource. If you're a pastor or ministry leader, you owe it to those you lead to read this book.

However, if you're suffering deep sorrow, I'd suggest reading "Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow" by Nancy Guthrie. It gives many of the same points in a sympathetic, caring manner and with much fewer words.

[Pastoralmusings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of all of the books that I've read related to Christian living, If God Is Good ranks near the top of the list.
Randly Alcorn not only tells us how to live in the midst of grief, heartache, hardship, disappointment, and disillusionment, but he does so with a very Biblical approach. He also does so with amazing wisdom and compassion.
For the person who struggles with death, pain, suffering, and other forms of evil, Alcorn compassionately addresses these issues from a biblical perspective and comes up with the right answers. He does the same for those who wish to comfort their troubled loved ones.
The strength of the book is not only its biblical approach, but its balanced approach. Alcorn blends compassion with wisdom, biblical truth with the insight of experience, and takes difficult philosophical issues and presents them in an understandable form.
Through the years I've read many different apologetic texts as well as texts that address the problem of evil. Counseling texts, I have read, too. This book combines the best of each of these forms and gives to us an amazing theodicy, but also a great discussion of evil and how to deal with it.
This book has something for practically every person who struggles with the problem of evil. Does one wish to read a theological discussion? It's in the book. Does one desire to consider various philosophical approaches to the problem of evil? It's here in this book. What about how to deal with evil and how to help those who are suffering? Alcorn covers it.
I highly recommend this book to everyone who wrestles with the problem of evil, or who wishes to help someone who is struggling with pain and suffering.

[Jeff Holton · Rating 4 out of 5]

don’t know how many times I have heard people say, “If God is so good then why does he allow suffering and pain?” but it is a lot. I think it is a good and valid question and is not easily answered. There are a number of books out today that deal with this question and as far as I am concerned most of them are not very good. They spend so much time making excuses for God or use philosophical analogies that don’t necessarily pertain to the trueness of God. However, when I picked up Randy Alcorn’s “If God Is Good…” I found this book to be one of the best, most comprehensive and honest books on the issue of suffering and evil. Alcorn brings a fresh and biblical perspective to these issues and does so in an easy to read format that is loaded with scripture references to back up his findings. He also uses many examples of men and women throughout history whose lives have been affected greatly by pain, suffering and evil and still have a faith (although challenged at times) that remains stronger than ever.
“If God Is Good…” is an excellent read for anyone who is struggling with the question of why God allows suffering and pain. It is also a great companion for those in the midst of suffering and trials in their own lives presently. It’s not a light read as it is nearly 500 pages but is worth the time investment.

[Laverne Ombadykow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by Randy Alcorn is exactly what I needed to read at this time. It clearly addressed the questions some of us have regarding evil in this world. Much scripture was used to show what evil looks like and where it started and what caused it and how God uses pain and suffering to mold us into mature Christians.

As a resource, it is so valuable, because it went into detail regarding the various solutions men have used to resolve the question of why bad things happen to all of us and also responded to those various solutions with God's answers from the Bible. The book gave examples of people who have dealt with evil and how it changed their lives, including the author's own fight to save pre-born children and what it cost him and his family.

Finally, there is some great information for how to walk with another person who is dealing with pain and suffering at this time. This section was very helpful to me.

I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

[Karen Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the type of book that you can use as a reference. The author frequently poses questions that he then works towards an answer. For example the big question of this book is: Why talk about the problem of evil and suffering? He sites many examples of people who have defined this as a crucial question to answer because it is often a barrier to belief. The book has 11 sections that each attempt to look at a different aspect of this complex question. Section 10 was the reason I first picked up this book. " Why Does God Allow Suffering?"

I liked the way he broke each idea down into smaller parts and the vast array of people he quotes from all walks of life and thought. Frequently as I read a new question I would think, " I was wondering about that too." It is a very detailed analysis of this question. It is a very thoroughly researched book.

To spend time expanding our understanding of evil and suffering will also deepen our faith because it helps us understand more about the character of God. I will keep this one on my shelf!

[Jeremy Appelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read. Packed full of well based arguments and citations. The section breaks make it much easier to read and understand topics as well. Challenging topic but discussed with a great biblical perspective.

[Emily M. McConkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Answers questions on suffering, and how a good God can allow it.

[MC · Rating 4 out of 5]

We in the affluent West seem to have a nasty habit of forgetting that we are *not* the fulfillment of history, and are not really all that unique. What we cherish as our special institutions and ideas were a long time in developing. We even think that our negative traits, such as our "logical" arguments against the existence of God Himself are unique to us. Really, the "problem of evil" is almost as old as evil itself. David Hume was nothing special, for men have desperately asked a Just and Loving God about why evil exists for all of history. Or at least all of history since the Fall.

Randy Alcorn makes this and other important points in his book, *If God is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil*. The use of evil as an objection to God's existence is the one most often cited by skeptics. As Alcorn puts it early on, people use this objection almost smugly like a "trump card" to end the discussion. But is it that simple? The answer is that no, it is not. Alcorn invites us to journey with him as he examines the issues of evil and suffering by way of history, logic, philosophy, and most importantly of all, *Scripture*.

If I intended to go into deep detail on all of Alcorn's points, this review could likely stretch on for a good long time. I will instead look at the few weaknesses and many strengths of the book in order to give readers an ACCURATE view of the work, and why they should read it.

There are only really two weaknesses that stand out to me I read the book. The first is that Alcorn attempts to use logic in the same way that his inspiration, CS Lewis did. I say inspiration even though Alcorn never mentions this, because if you read enough of Acorn's books, he is most prolific in his Lewisian quotes and ideas. This is not bad, in my opinion, because I share that high opinion of Lewis, who is my favorite author. However, I am wise enough to know that I am not Lewis, and my argumentative style is somewhat different. When I try to mimic him, I'd better be as smart, witty, and logical as he, or I will not succeed at all.

Alcorn attempts to be Lewisian in his approach to the issues. Indeed, this volume at first seems almost like an homage to *Mere Christianity*, *The Problem of Pain* and *A Grief Observed* all rolled into one work. I suppose I would just say that the result is not, well, Randy Alcorn, so it falls flat at first. Very quickly though, the text gets infused with heavy doctrine and use of the Scriptures, and more of a folksy tone. In other words, the "real" Randy Alcorn shows up and saves the book. From that point on, the book goes from awdward, yet compelling, to gripping and a true joy to read.

The other weakness is that he keeps giving homage to the argument of a belief system based on what answers our questions in the best way. I really think he means to say what can logically make the most sense out of our world as it is, but he doesn't word it that way. By his wording, he opens up his excellent arguments to attack, and it makes me blanch when I see the concept phrased the way he does.

Compared to the strengths of the book, these two weaknesses are minor and trivial. The chief strength would be his incorporation of Scripture and anecdotal evidence by stories. This is helpful for Alcorn whereas for others it may not work as well, because Alcorn repeatedly, in various ways, actually *admits* the evidence is anecdotal. His broader point being that if God could use suffering "in this case", when why can He somehow not do so elsewhere?

In the book, he puts to rest the idea that it is somehow "wrong" to lament and question God. There were individuals in the Bible who were still righteous despite questioning God, whilst still praising Him and accepting His sovereign control. Notice, I said, and Alcorn makes clear, "question" God, while still praising Him, NOT blaming, condemning, or otherwise blaspheming Him.

The concepts of sovereignty and free will are explored and explained in light of Scripture. While Alcorn explains what degree of each is Scriptural, he also admits that he DOESN'T KNOW for sure what the truth is. Why? Because we only can know what God has allowed us to know.

There are many more strengths and good points that I could list about this book, but I will close by simply praising the Lord for using Alcorn to make three (out of many) great points that I will highlight here. The first is that suffering can be used by God for our good to bless us even further, and the second is that depression is real. Sinning because of it is wrong, but having it is real. God can use it like any other affliction. We should seek help for it, but also recognize that it is a valid medical issue, and one God can use for His Glory, which always benefits us, His "image-bearers" as Alcorn uses the term. As someone who deals with such issues, this was a great comfort to me to realize.

The third strength to be mentioned herein is related to the previous two. Satan and our fallen world often hurt us, but even then, God can and DOES use it to better us and so many others. Remember that. The Voice reaching out to you to turn to God is His, and please accept and. listen to that Voice. The voice trying to tell you to harm yourself or others, sin, or do evil, is the Enemy. Don't listen to him, and look to the Father, as He turns the evil into good.

This book can not be rated highly enough. After reading this book, how anyone can have any doubt about their need for Christ's redemptive blood to wash their sins away and save them from Hell and a life of sin, is beyond me. Highly Recommended.

-----

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers via their BloggingforBooks program. I am obligated to read it and give a review on my blog and on a commercial web site such as Amazon.com. WaterBrook Multnomah emphasizes their desire for honest reviews, whether positive or negative, in order to help them create a better product. The opinions above are my honest viewpoint. I want to thank WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers for allowing me to review this book, and thank you all for reading this.

[Michael Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best-selling author Randy Alcorn, in his book If God is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil analyzes a subject that has vexed philosophers, theologians, and likely anyone who has been alive for any length of time, that of what is the purpose of suffering and who a loving and omnipotent God would allow suffering and evil to seemingly dominate life. Some philosophers and liberal theologians and certainly atheists continually point to the existence of evil and suffering as proof there is no God. After all, if there was a God who is supposed to be a being that loves and is omnipotent as the Bible claims, would He not love His creation enough to rid the world of evil and suffering?

The fancy philosophical and theological term for answering the question of why there is evil in the world is called theodicy. A theodicy is defined by Webster’s dictionary as “Argument for the justification of God, concerned with reconciling God's goodness and justice with the observable facts of evil and suffering in the world.” Answering the question of why there is evil and suffering in the world is what Randy Alcorn has decided to tackle in his latest effort. If God is Good is not the typical approach to answering this difficult question. While other books on this subject approach the discussion from a more philosophical angle such as works by Alvin Plantinga, John Feinberg, or even William Lane Craig, Alcorn formulates his discussion directly from Scripture, starting with an overview of why evil exists in the first place.

If God is Good is divided into eleven sections, each addressing a different yet related issue ranging from a basic understanding of what evil and suffering is, a discussion of how evil is rooted in our sin nature, issues that non-believers must respond to, possible solution to developing a sound theodicy, how evil and suffering are a part of the drama of redemption in Scripture, the issue of divine sovereignty, heaven and hell, why God allows suffering to take place, concluding with a practical discussion of living in a world where evil and suffering are a reality.

Each chapter is further divided into sub-sections identified by a bolded statement or question. These statements/questions are not the typical headings that can be skipped over as they frame the overall discussion and issues Alcorn addresses within that chapter. For such a massive book (approximately 500 pages in length), If God is Good is something that will not cause the reader to be overly bogged down. Each chapter is relatively short and very focused so the reader will be able to work through 2 or 3 chapters at a given setting without feeling as if they have been hit by an avalanche of information. Alcorn writes in a scholarly yet accessible style that will meet the needs of those who enjoy works of an academic nature as well as those who are not that familiar with theologically intense topics.

Some highlights from this book include the well-researched manner in which Alcorn presents the topics he discusses. It is clear he is fully aware this is a difficult topic that many learned scholars have addressed for centuries and he acknowledges that a complete answer may not be possible. With that said, his approach is rooted in Scripture even though he engages other scholars and their writings on this issue. Thus, in typical Alcorn style, this book is a great balance between theology and practicality. Alcorn does not become so engrossed in answering the question of evil and suffering that he ignores the fact there is no real answer to the question of evil and suffering. His purpose is not to find an answer, but conversely to help the reader understand where evil comes from, namely our sin nature. Understanding that, as well as the sovereignty of God, positions the individual to properly understand why evil exists and when they encounter evil, to properly look to God as being in full control of world events.

Alcorn rightly notes “God says that through final judgment for evil doesn’t come here and now, he keeps track of all evil. One day he will judge it decisively. Therefore, no one gets away with anything. Eternal punishment will come. No one beats the system, not Charles Manson or anyone else. Justice delayed is not justice denied.” We can have confidence that in the end, all accounts will be settled and debts will be paid. Satan, sin, death, and the grave will be cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity and there will one day be no more sorry and no more pain. Understanding that should be at the root of any theodicy. God is fully in control and even though what we see happening across the globe, hurricanes, the slaughter of millions of people for seemingly no valid reason, wars, rumors of wars, tornadoes, earthquakes, cancer, car accidents, and on and on and on, we can have confidence this will one day end.

For many, this is a difficult pill to swallow. Those who are having difficulty with understanding evil and suffering in the world will find If God is Good to be a valuable resource. Alcorn does not sugarcoat the fact this is a difficult subject. He does not hide behind philosophical arguments nor does he try to explain away the fact that evil and suffering is an issue for believers to respond to. With that said, his responses to these and many other questions are rooted in Scripture and in the acknowledgement that God knows what He is doing. We can find comfort in the sovereignty of God as did the Psalmist. Suffering can often draw us closer to God where we can find shelter from the storms of life.

I highly recommend this book for pastors and layman alike.

I received this for free from Multnomah Publications for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Erin Laramore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book I inherited from my dad after he passed away a couple of years ago, so my reason for reading it was two-fold. My dad had underlined and made notes in the margins and I longed to "hear from him" a little bit in that regard, but the subject matter was also poignant as his death was one of the most difficult things I've had to deal with in recent years. This book had a lot of good information and was very intellectual in its arguments for faith and covered virtually any argument a person could come up with. But for that reason, this book was very long and very tedious. I wanted to throw in the towel more than once, but kept going simply because it was my dad's book. I'm really glad I did as it was very pertinent. I enjoyed the multitude of examples the author offered - from health issues to death of loved ones to the holocaust, he covered various types of suffering so that everyone could relate to his examples and his arguments for God's existence and involvement. This book felt to me a bit like a blanket that covered over some hurts and reminded me of things that I already knew about my faith, but were good reminders. I'd love to see a smaller, less tedious version of this book that I could then recommend to everyone. But I would definitely recommend this one to those who are questioning where God is due to the suffering they've either seen or experienced.

[Nick Gaviria · Rating 4 out of 5]

If God Is Good is a thoughtful and grounding read that honestly walks through the realities of suffering, evil, and the goodness of God. Randy Alcorn doesn’t shy away from hard questions, but instead he challenges readers to examine the definitions and assumptions we often bring with us when we struggle or doubt God’s goodness.

What I appreciated most is how biblically rooted the book is. Alcorn consistently points back to Scripture while also engaging opposing viewpoints with clarity and fairness. Rather than dismissing objections, he interacts with them directly, which adds real depth and credibility to his arguments.

Overall, this book is both challenging and encouraging. It doesn’t offer shallow answers, but instead helps reframe suffering through a biblical lens, strengthening trust in God’s character even when life is painful. A solid and easy read for anyone wrestling with tough questions about faith and suffering.

[Stephen Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those rare books; I'm talking about the kind of book that has the ability to change your life (and the change it for the better).

I never thought a book on suffering and evil could be so incredibly intelligent while simultaneously being earnest and deeply personal.

If you are willing to take the deep (and I mean deep) dive into an age old topic that EVERY generation has wrestled with, this book will not disappoint.

It has made me want to trust the sovereignty of God as not only universally good, but personally good for me.

It's a must read.

One caution: I do not recommend this book to people who are in the immediate and acute stages of grief. It does not pull punches and the raw soul may find it too painful to digest.

[TIffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed and long! Normally, it takes me no more than a week to complete a book, but I really enjoyed and really studied and valued each moment and each section of this book! I enjoy the journey but happy to be finished. Highly recommend.

[Paul Shireman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must say that I am glad that I have chosen to listen to the audio version of this book (I’m having to read this for school). I say that because I would not be able to sit down and read this repetitive book, the arguments that he engages with are obviously old and heard hundreds of times; however, it’s the answers that Rand Alcorn gives that are bland and superficial. His desire to not take hard line stances on the attributes of God, for the sake of not “arguing about secondary matters” as he put it in reference to the omniscience of God in his lackluster refutation of open theism. Therefore, it is my opinion thus far (I’m only 50% through this book) that he gives no new insights to the subject matter. The reader is always left wanting more, especially exegesis of Scripture, and less opinion of the countless others he quotes. He is basically setting forth his understanding of the attributes of God in very remedial manner. To much filler and not enough substance. So far I cannot recommend this book.

[Nikole Hahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Randy Alcorn thoroughly dissects the question of, “Why bad things happen to people?” It’s a tome of knowledge and comfort. Not all of his words are what we want to hear, but I didn’t find anything unbiblical about his explanations. It took me several months to finish this book, but it’s very eye-opening.

He asks, “What if suffering is God’s invitation to trust him? And to hope for a better world,” on the back cover copy. Suffering isn’t always fair. Sometimes, we have earned suffering as consequences to a bad decision, but other people’s consequences make us suffer, too. A drunk driver hit a family and a young woman had to learn how to walk and talk after being in a coma (see Tyndale’s Jenny’s Story). Instead of the young woman blaming God, she sang hymns while in a coma and when she came out of it she became an inspiration for many.

I am reminded of a friend who told me of the value of long-suffering and how many flee from it. What if something is difficult and we could have stayed and made a difference? Are we fleeing the situation without seeing if God wants us to stay? Ministry is tough and nowhere near comfortable. Yet, there’s a strange zeal in my heart at staying and working away at people’s hard shells; praying for them. Life isn’t comfortable and the consequences of someone else’s actions could have driven me to a new church or a new town; instead, I stayed. If I hadn’t stayed, I wouldn’t have grown, become a better person, and learned endurance. That’s the benefit of long-suffering.

“I only mean that although my experiences brought me genuine pain, with the passing of time and gaining of perspective, they no longer do. The same is true of several years of lawsuits, job loss, and uncertainty my family experienced two decades ago. Oh, I remember that we experienced pain, I remember some of the feelings, but what I am left with now is the joy of what God did for us in those days. Similarly, many women remember the pain of giving birth, yet today can recall those times without the suffering reccurring. (They can tell the story without reaching for a pain reliever.)” – Pg. 203

We have become a culture of church-hoppers, situation-leavers, or people who, rather than work through something, would rather run away before the situation rips open the wound to reveal something in us that needs to change. In his book, Randy explains thoroughly erroneous theology, Adam and Eve, and various other things as he explores evil in this world and why God would allow suffering. Suffering is a strange thing to call a blessing, but when I look back I see some of the whys of my suffering. It enables me to look in the mirror and know the person I began as in this world is not who I am now; for that I am thankful. Without the suffering to rub away the selfishness, coldness, and pride, I would not be able to love as much as I imperfectly do now.

I gave this book five stars. It’s essential for anyone who questions God’s love through the difficulty of their circumstances and for a seeker who wants more than feel-good music in his life to direct him to God, but the meat from scripture to strengthen him through life. This book provides a lot of answers and inspires still more questions. But what is God without mystery? Who has all the answers?

No one I know.

[Karen Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

If the Creator of the world is good, why is there evil? Randy Alcorn tackles an age-old question with unique insight and logic. I have asked “Why?”many times. Like Job, never an answer to the question, but a refocus on the greatness of God. Alcorn writes:

"Grace and forgiveness, both expressions of God’s eternal character, are moral goods, but without evil they wouldn’t have become clearly evident. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit don’t need compassion, mercy, grace, or forgiveness. These qualities could only be fully expressed to finite and fallen creatures."

Perhaps that is why the angels desire to look into the Gospel, 1 Peter 1:12,; the angels in Heaven have not sinned. They see God’s compassion, mercy, grace and forgiveness, and that prompts them to desire to look into the Gospel.

Alcorn also reminds readers that we cannot understand God’s ways or thoughts. He suggests that maybe an explanation from God for the reason of evil and suffering might lead to greater misunderstanding.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9

I appreciated the pithy subtitles. I frequently reread them, highlighted them and tweeted them.

True-to-Scripture, If God is Good was filled with stories of people who suffered greatly and, yet, said that their faith in God was strengthened in their time of testing. For some of the people Alcorn wrote about, their great trial was over and they understood why they had gone through the trial. For others, there was no answer, but there will be an answer in heaven.

Alcorn claims that the “Health and Wealth Gospel” perverts our understanding of evil and suffering. He acknowledges that God still miraculously heals people from sickness and that God uses doctors and medicine to heal people. Sometimes, God does not heal miraculously or through medicine. Sometimes, God has a better plan.

"When you pray only for healing, what are you praying to miss out on? Christlikeness? Shouldn’t we learn to pray that our suffering causes growth, that God will give us little glimpses of Heaven as we seek to endure, and that He would use us?"

When I had fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, I thought that I was to shine for God through my pain, and I believe that was my purpose in that season. Two years before God miraculously healed me, God impressed upon my husband and me that He would heal me. Two years of praying for the promised healing. Two years of consuming the Scriptures and Christian books on healing, all the while, asking what God had for us to learn.

My fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue were a gift from God. God’s healing was also a gift. God has given me little glimpses of Heaven through each of these gifts, directing this life’s path on an unexpected adventure that unfolds the great goodness of God.

Footnoted and hefty, If God is Good, is a resource for those who have endured suffering or evil and for those who are in the midst of suffering or evil … in other words, this is a resource for everyone who asks “Why?”

This book has been a great blessing to me … a gift from God.

Thank you, Randy Alcorn, for your diligence and commitment to this subject.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

[A.C. Cuddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Every one of us will experience suffering. Many of us are experiencing it now. As we have seen in recent years, evil is real in our world, present and close to each one of us.

In such difficult times, suffering and evil beg questions about God--Why would an all-good and all-powerful God create a world full of evil and suffering? And then, how can there be a God if suffering and evil exist?

These are ancient questions, but also modern ones as well. Atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and even former believers like Bart Ehrman answer the question simply: The existence of suffering and evil proves there is no God.

In this captivating new book, best-selling author Randy Alcorn challenges the logic of disbelief, and brings a fresh, realistic, and thoroughly biblical insight to the issues these important questions raise.”

If God is Good, then… that is the question that has perplexed so many of us for centuries. It is the one question that has caused so many to turn away from any belief system. It is the most asked and most difficult question to answer. Yet we keep asking it, looking for that answer… hoping to find the answer, to find assurance that what we know in our hearts is what is real and true – that God is Good.

If God is Good – Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil by Randy Alcorn sets forth to answer that question. With stories and personal accounts, the author takes us through understanding the problem of evil and it’s origins, nature and consequences to dealing with extreme evil to Heaven and hell to God’s allowance and restraining of evil and suffering. He then takes us through evil and suffering being used for God’s Glory and how to live meaningfully in suffering.

This is a huge book. Not just in the amount of information and insight the author provides, but also in size – 500+pages. It is not a weekend read. It is a book that, in my opinion, will require another read and some study time.

Note: Sensitive readers need to be aware that as part of answering the tough questions, there are graphic retelling of stories of human suffering, mass mutilations and death of both adults and children. This is not done in a gratuitous manner. I found it disturbing and had to skip pages here and there.

For more information about Randy Alcorn go to: http://www.epm.org/

Click here for a sneak peek at Chapter One of If God is Good: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/wp-con...

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group – Blogging for Books bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa... : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Christian Book, Deeper Shopping, Goodreads, and to be featured on my blog at http://titus3.wordpress.com

[J.D. · Rating 2 out of 5]

My rating obviously reflects my opinion, however I also want to explain also that I believe that I am not specifically his target audience.
My biggest qualm with the book as a whole is that it, like many others of similar disposition, gives answers that are too easy for topics far too difficult. While he certainly does take time to acknowledge that hurt is not merely a weak reaction or an indicator of "weak" faith, he still ends up at the same place as others. While this may bring comfort and truth to the "faithful," I can't help but think how short these words fall for those that are truly trying to understand how a God that so many claim to be good could make such evil possible. Not until the end does he begin to dig into something I believe he could have spent a larger portion of his time on(rather than quoting endless sources without always getting helpful insights from them). This being the fact that we do not handle suffering very well. Since most of his audience(this may be a hasty assumption so feel free to correct if this is unfounded) would be those in the western church, it is an even larger point that really could be highlighted. He speaks to this some at the beginning when he says that people only think of God negatively when negative events happen in life rather than reversing these points to think positively. I believe that this greatly cripples us(myself a white American with a college education) as we seek to understand a life seeking after God's will. One that tells us to take up our cross and follow Him. Easy answers does not aid this along and I really wanted this to be a more messy book(because of its topic), but it came out neat and tidy overall with the same answers you here for everything. I believe Philip Yancey has done a great service in seeking to grapple with the problem of evil. I can not recommend him enough.

For those that are in the more conservative camp, who he seems to aim for, I believe there are some insights here that may be new and for this I cannot give it a lower score. While I certainly would not claim to understand God, etc. better than more conservative folk, I believe this is a topic that has been largely avoided with even easier answers(I have a history in the conservative church, so I'm not speaking from inexperience). I believe each pocket of the Christian body has much to give to others, and I am grateful that this message is starting to seap into the conversation. This is a topic worth wrestling over, not simply accepting as life.

While this book may be more eye-opening and helpful for others, I found myself amazed that the amount of material covered really needed to be spread over 500 pages. As I mentioned before, the quotations from other sources were extremely lengthy and not always necessary to further a point. I believe more editing could have served this book well.

[Kishah · Rating 4 out of 5]

“When we consider the best and the worst things that have happened to us, we often see a startling overlap” (236.)

“God gives us choices to test us. If loving God really means something, then the choice to follow him must be real and meaningful” (245.)

To be truthful, I was a little reluctant to read the book after I realized how thick it was. Always for a challenge, I decided to find out what its many pages contained. When I opened and started reading it, I could not put it down--many of its points spoke to me and yes, after many debates in my mind, I found it comforting.

I have always wondered about the goodness of a God who allows His people to suffer. After the Haiti earthquake in January, where I lost loved ones, that question became even more prominent in my mind. If God is good, then why does he allow perfectly innocent people to suffer evil? Why does a good God who is omnipresent allow such evil things to happen in a world He claims to love unconditionally? This is the first time I have ever read a Randy Alcorn book. Because the author chooses to back up each point with sometimes painful and frustrating real stories, I found it hard, at first, to call this book somewhat comforting. However, as I continued to read, I appreciated that Alcorn chose to write in such a way. Do not expect any lists or step-by-step ways to help one believe that God is good. Through stories of triumph, pain, and survival, the reader will eventually come to that conclusion.

As a human, I still wondered if the answer of the goodness of God was fully answered in the book. Does God create suffering in order for us to see His goodness? How can goodness be seen when one is suffering? How can one find God in suffering? The main point of the whole book is summarized in the last section of the book: “Evil is temporary; God’s goodness and our joy will be eternal…God doesn’t only promise to replace our grief with joy, but to turn it into joy” (449, 452.) But why can’t this joy be now; why can’t we choose joy over evil naturally? Truly, as Alcorn stretches, if God protected us from every decision, poor or good, He wouldn’t be protecting us; because there wouldn’t be no free-will, no us. As a Christian, it is easy for me to accept nearly everything Alcorn chooses to share with its readers. Everything is backed up with scripture. If one accepts the bible as authority, then, this book will match one’s beliefs.

This book is not for everyone--if you are a non-believer/non-Christian, this will be another book you roll your eyes at. But if you are Christian, or in search of some comfort for suffering, read Randy Alcorn’s masterpiece. It will not be a waste of time nor a bore.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last thing anyone needs is one more person's opinion about the thorny subject of why God, if he exists, would allow suffering. Fortunately Randy Alcorn gives us something entirely different, something that we do need. In this well considered book, Alcorn gives us a survey of prevailing, and in some cases historical views of the issue, along with carefully considered, biblical arguments either for or against each belief or system of theology represented.

Not that Alcorn doesn't share his opinion at all. Throughout the book, he is very clear about what he believes personally, and why he believes it. At the same time, Alcorn injects a refreshing transparency into his discussion of his beliefs. Several times he tells about theological points that he has difficult with personally, even as he is presenting evidence for a particular theological viewpoint. When grappling with a subject this difficult and important, it's comforting to know that you are not alone.

It took me quite a while to read this. Not because it is hard to read. If anything the opposite is true. Considering the difficulty of the topic, and the complexity surrounding some of the more difficult theological topics, Alcorn has done an admirable job of making the material accessible.

Still, the topics discussed present difficult obstacles to those who don't believe in the God of the Bible, and the topics are difficult as well for those that do profess to believe in Him. Alcorn cites several examples of people that have chosen to either change their beliefs in response to this issue. A subject with that kind of impact demands more than a casual reading.

I have never read a book on this subject that I would recommend to others. Until now. I've been recommending this one to anyone who will listen.

I received a copy of this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway.