How Can A Good God Allow So Much Evil and Suffering in the World? (w/ Dr. Douglas Groothuis) - Episode 66

July 17, 2023

00:00 01:02:55

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According to recent Barna research, reconciling a good God with an evil world is the number one barrier to the Christian faith for the next generation. As parents, if there is an obstacle to our kids’ faith, we need be prepared with some answers.

Catherine’s special guest for this episode is eminently qualified to help us reconcile any difficult question concerning the Christian faith. Dr. Douglas Groothuis is one of the great apologetic voices in the world today. He is the author of 17 books, including Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith, Walking through Twilight: A Wife’s Illness—A Philosopher’s Lament, and most recently, Fire in the Streets: How You Can Confidently Respond to Incendiary Cultural Topics. He is currently a professor of philosophy and the head of the apologetics and ethics program at Denver Seminary.

Dr. Groothuis has a brilliant mind that he has employed for God’s glory and the good of the church for many decades. But most striking in this conversation is not only how this masterful apologist ponders the great perplexities of life through the lens of our faith, but also how he has employed that faith in the midst of great heartache. Dr. Groothuis shares his own deeply personal experience with suffering in the loss of his late wife, Rebecca. His thoughts are deep, and his journey is powerful and poignant.

Every worldview must wrestle with the problem of evil. The Christian worldview provides philosophical and theological answers that are rational and that resonate with the human experience. But most of all, our faith provides hope, meaning, and redemption in life’s heartache. As Dr. Groothuis says, “We can smelt meaning out of suffering.”

RESOURCES:

Dr. Douglas Groothuis website

Truth Tribe with Douglas Groothuis (podcast)

Dr. Groothuis speaking request

BOOKS REFERENCED:

Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith (2nd ed.) by Dr. Douglas Groothuis

Walking through Twilight: A Wife’s Illness—A Philosopher’s Lament by Dr. Douglas Groothuis

RESEARCHED REFERENCED:

Emerging Gen Z May Deliver Huge Blow to Religion in U.S. (Baptist News Global, 6/8/18)

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

Gen. 50:20

Isaiah 50:4

1 Kings 19

John 11:35

Romans 8:28

John 6:68-69

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Meet Your Host

Catherine Segars is an award-winning actress and playwright—turned stay-at-home-mom—turned author, speaker, blogger, and motherhood apologist. This homeschooling mama of five has a master’s degree in communications and is earning a master’s degree in Christian apologetics. Catherine helps parents navigate through dangerous secular landmines to establish a sound Biblical foundation for their kids. Author of the e-book Five Myths about Motherhood That Make You Feel Mere, And Why They're Wrong, Catherine is also passionate about helping mothers see their worth in a season when they often feel overwhelmed and irrelevant. You can find Catherine’s blog, dramatic blogcast, and other writings at www.catherinesegars.com and connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.