Randy Alcorn, the best-selling author of Heaven, addresses one of Christianity's most frequently asked questions in If God Is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil.

"It's a question many people have—mostly from a distance—regarding evil others endure and commit," he told Christian Retailing. "But then there's a point in everyone's life when it's a question they have to face on a personal level—now it's their spouse crippled as a result of a stroke, they've undergone a divorce, abandonment, abuse—and their life is crumbled."

The book was somewhat inspired as a response to some of the arguments proposed in books by the so-called "New Atheists," such as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, regarding not only the existence of God but also His nature. Alcorn writes about Antony Flew, the British atheist who converted to theism.

"He really felt the arguments for atheism had been effectively rebutted by arguments of Intelligent Design," Alcorn said. "But that's not the whole story—he hadn't come to faith in Christ. He had simply become someone who believed there was a God, but it's the problem of evil that kept him from believing in Christ."

Alcorn doesn't target ardent atheists; instead, his book is aimed more toward Christians who struggle with understanding God's ways.

"To some people, there's a God who says He simply doesn't have the power, and some Open Theists think God doesn't have the knowledge (to overcome evil), that He doesn’t know the future," he said. "It's an attempt to take God off the hook."

After reading more than 100 books that dealt with the problem of evil and suffering, Alcorn said he found "remarkable" the number of Christians who profess faith, yet embrace "viewpoints that offer a solution that is dependent on limiting God."

Although the book addresses the problem of suffering and will appeal to those who are experiencing pain, Alcorn suggests it's also a good read for believers who want to help those struggling with such questions. It also discusses truths that are important to hold onto in crisis moments.

"We need to learn before we get into situations," he said. "You need to be more prepared because it's inevitable that it's coming."

For more information, visit www.randomhouse.com/waterbrook, or to order, call Random House Customer Service at 800-733-3000.

• Prev
• Next