Resources by Topic: Suffering and Evil

I research extensively and love doing it. While what follows isn’t comprehensive, it does contain many of the books I read while working on If God Is Good.

We value in story the conflict we avoid in life. What makes a good story? Interesting characters, significant conflict, the thwarting of desires, and a satisfying (if not triumphant) resolution.

I want to be ready to meet my Lord, and I want to help others get ready. That’s why so many of my books emphasize the realities of heaven and hell.

 Many people blame God for natural disasters. “How could he allow this?” they ask. But what if the Architect and Builder crafted a beautiful and perfect home for Earth’s inhabitants, who despite his warnings carelessly cracked its foundation, punched holes in the walls, and trashed the house? Why blame the builder when the occupants took a sledgehammer to their own home?

I highly recommend David Augsburger’s The Freedom of Forgiveness. Also, Philip Yancy’s What’s So Amazing about Grace?, which shows us how God’s forgiveness of us should result in our forgiveness of others. 

Q&A: Randy Alcorn and Pastor Greg Laurie at Harvest Christian Fellowship discuss Romans 8:28.

Q&A: Randy Alcorn and Pastor Greg Laurie at Harvest Christian Fellowship discuss the question,"Why is there suffering in the world today?"

In this video clip, Randy Alcorn answers the question, "Why did you write your book If God Is Good?" 

Passages regarding Spiritual warfare in Scripture, arranged by Randy Alcorn.

When you use this powerfully explosive verse (and you should use it), handle it with care.

God gave Lucifer a capacity of true free choice which involved the possibility of sin. It is possible for a being with free choice—even living in a perfect environment and without having some exterior temptation, such as Satan provided for Adam and Eve in the garden—to make a choice contrary to God’s will.

I believe you are quite correct to say that you are hesitant to “invite darkness” by pursuing a perceived demon. This is an area of spirituality that no one should ever “pursue” out of curiosity.

As for righteous angels, I’ll never forget driving too fast as a teenager, looking down at something that distracted me, and then looking up to see all yellow in front of me.

Some crises turn out well. The loved one recovers from the accident, the son comes to Christ, the daughter comes home. We may clearly see God’s hand in allowing the whole ordeal to happen. Other times the crisis ends in apparent tragedy.