Why Does It Have to Hurt?: The Meaning of Christian Suffering

by Dan G. McCartney

Why Does It Have to Hurt? The Meaning of Christian Suffering

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

144 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 1997

About the author

Dan G. McCartney (PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary) is professor of New Testament interpretation at Redeemer Seminary in Dallas, Texas. He previously taught at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia for more than twenty years. He is the author of Let the Reader Understand: A Guide to Interpreting and Applying the Bible and Why Does it Have to Hurt? The Meaning of Christian Suffering. McCartney also revised J. Gresham Machen's New Testament Greek for Beginners.

Reviews

[Eric Chappell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as part of the requirements for CCEF's Dynamics of Biblical Change course. Honestly, I don't expect much from P&R books, but this one was a great resource on an issue all of us face: suffering. McCartney seeks to biblically answer some of the common questions concerning suffering, as well as provide a brief explanation as to the Why of suffering. The three primary scriptures he engages are Genesis 3, Job, and 1 Peter. The book served not only as a helpful model for pastoral ministry, but I think would also be a great resource for those in the midst of suffering, be it death, disease, loss, persecution, or indwelling sin.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent - especially the last two-thirds of the book.
Really gives clarity to the purpose and "why?" of Christian suffering from a biblical perspective. I came away with a deeper understanding of the significance of suffering as a follower of Christ, and how our suffering unites us to Him.

[Ranelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll keep this one easily accessible to refer back to time and time again. Appreciated how he addressed several common fallible reasonings that are often given for the existence of suffering and why God allows it.

[Matt Kottman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise and clear book on suffering. Well worth reading. McCartney gives a good basic understanding of a theology of suffering and finishes by walking the reader through some Psalms as a practicing to see how we engage with God's word in our sufferings.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this as one of the requirements for CECF's Dynamics of Biblical Change course. It's a good basic primer on suffering, nothing groundbreaking but clear and comprehensive.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book on suffering is a risky endeavor. I thought this book balanced the fine line of quick-fix minimizing and never-fix despairing.

The author repeatedly points out that God’s ways are beyond our ways many times we are in the moment of suffering. And yet, he pushes us to call to mind the truths of God and fix our hope on God despite any present sorrow or distress.

Christianity doesn’t minimize suffering. It doesn’t offer a quick path out of it. It drives purpose into it - that a sovereign God will one day make beauty out of the ashes. If you want a short read on a topic all people should dwell on often, I’d recommend this book.

[Melissa Chong · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good summary of the problem of pain, but would say it's not as well-written as some others I've read.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book on a difficult subject. There were some things that sat uncomfortably with me but overall and helpful read

[Simon O'Mahony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for a CCEF course.

Generally very good. My main criticism is that he was very unclear at times when speaking of the "suffering of God" (see p33-34).

[C.H. Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biblically faithful (and powerful) perspective on suffering. Highly recommended.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good biblical exegesis on suffering with practical take aways for walking in faith through suffering although many examples are outdated

[Joy Clymer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most helpful book I have read on Christian suffering. He doesn’t pretend to have all the answers and is willing to sit in mystery where it exists. He shares insights that are very helpful in shaping our understanding of why we suffer.

[Michael Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

[Matthew Rawlings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief but thoughtful, tonally appropriate, exegetical. I would highly recommend this book. It focuses more on Christian suffering specifically than suffering in general, and it is more pastoral and preparatory than apologetic — the discussion on union with Christ was especially good.

My dad had me read D.A. Carson's "How Long, O Lord" in high school so that I would have a pre-experiential framework on which to hang suffering. This might be the book I would give to my own kids.

[Alison Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Like many reviewers, I read this as part of CCEF's Foundations of Biblical Change course.)

Weaknesses: This attempts to be a treatise on suffering in 130 pages. The beginning breezes through philosophical/big-picture Bible principles of suffering that need more than a couple short chapters to address with any clarity. It wasn't very engaging. The end tries to answer "how should we suffer?" primarily with the psalms, but again, barely scratches beyond the surface. This book is nearly 20 years old and contains a high proportion of references to AIDs as examples of suffering, and most other examples are from news stories or books. I felt that the author handled suffering with a bit of a detached academic perspective, instead of the tenderness in making connections to real life that I have observed in writers whose background is counseling/pastoral.

Strengths: The center of the book, Chapters 4-8, are the meat of the book that delve into the title area - "The Meaning of Christian Suffering." McCartney shines in expounding what the Bible tells us about why we still experience suffering as Christians, which is guaranteed to be something all of us will wonder. He spends a chapter on Job, and uses 1 Peter as the foundation of the rest of the section. Chapter 5 on how suffering connects us to Christ was particularly good and helpful to me. I'd love it if the book dropped the beginning and end sections and expanded the middle! "The Meaning of Christian Suffering: A Study of 1 Peter" (with Job as an intro).

[Natalie Print · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really helpful, honest and hopeful look at suffering from a Christian perspective. McCartney faces some of the big questions people ask in suffering such as 'is God all-powerful?' and 'is God good?' head on. I think this book does the hard job of addressing suffering without minimising the experience of it or giving glib answers. We are encouraged to lift our eyes to look to God and the truths found in His word even when our feelings tell us not to.

[Mike Banh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book for my counseling course. It was a decent, short read (~130 pgs.) on the topic of suffering, particularly the suffering a Christian faces. While the author was pretty comprehensive in his reasoning for suffering, he did not exhaustively explain each reason. Thus it left me wanting, but it's a good primer for the subject of suffering.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful book, applicable to all who suffer, which means all of us. It started a bit slow, I felt, but if you stick around the chapters on Job and 1 Peter and the Psalms are worth every page. Good approach by explaining the truths of Scripture and why they are difficult and what God is doing in Christian suffering. Remind me to read this one every couple years!

[J. J.]

Not bad. It's difficult to lay as much of a foundation as it regards this most challenging of topics in such a short book. Considering that, our author does well. However, I can't help but think that Carson's or Keller's treatment of suffering would serve you better if you were to only read one book on suffering…

[Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting much from this book, but then I had the privilege of having Dr. McCartney as a professor. His knowledge of the Word blew me away and it led me to read this book. It was a great biblical exposition on suffering and he addressed the hard questions. Much like the laments that are echoed through the psalms.

[Andy T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solidly biblical, gospel-grounded interaction with the issue of Christian suffering. McCartney speaks to those in the trenches of pain with a pastoral bluntness of truth, without shirking from asking very hard questions. This will be one to refer back to.

[Douglas Fyfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice book on suffering. clear, concise, and some really thoughtful reflections on Scripture as one would expect from someone coming out of Westminster (next to CCEF).
would definitely recommend this to others to read before they experience suffering.

[Chris Comis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little cheesy at times, but still useful.

[Jared Mcnabb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful read. Nothing terribly new.

[Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not impressed and disagreed with a lot of the theolgical approaches. I was honestly expecting a lot more from this book.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on Suffering and its purpose and meaning.

[JEM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Straightforward, clear read on the meaning of Christian suffering - I read this for my CCEF course

[Mark Benedict · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful though somewhat same old answers, Dan.

[Hamid · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book to understand what is Christian suffering, why God lets it happens, and how he uses it for His Glory and Kingdom. Highly Recommended.