Earthquakes, Tsunamis, & Other Human Suffering

The recent catastrophes in Japan and the appalling suffering they have caused have raised anew an old question: "What was the relation of God - the triune, one, true, and living God of the Christian faith - to these clamaties?"

Enemies of the Christian faith have argued that if God is good, He would not allow such suffering, but if He does not control the catastrophes, then He is not almighty. Either He is not good, or He is not almighty. In either case, He is not God.

Contemporary theologians, both Roman Catholic and Protestant, deny that God had anything to do with the evils that devastated parts of Japan. They deny that God is almighty. Thus they deny that He is God. Some respond to the pressing question about God's involvement in the suffering with the foolish answer that God (evidently helplessly) stands by weeping with suffering humans.

Reformed theologian David J. Engelsma, professor of theology emeritus at the Protestant Reformed Seminary in Grand Rapids, MI, will give the Reformed (and classic Christian) answer to the question about the relation of God and evils in a public lecture on Wednesday, June 8, at 7:30 PM in Redlands, CA. The lecture will be given in the auditorium of Hope Protestant Reformed Church, located at 1307 E. Brockton Ave., Redlands.

Speaker
Prof. David Engelsma