Do you know what the biggest barrier to our kids’ faith is? 
 
I didn’t. Not until I was researching for CHRISTIAN PARENT/CRAZY WORLD‘s recent series on Gen Z. I was prepping for my interviews with Dr. Jonathan Morrow (episodes 54 & 55), and I ran across this statistic from Barna Research:

“Asked about barriers to belief, 29 percent of Gen Z members said it’s because ‘I have a hard time believing a good God would allow so much evil or suffering in the world’.”

I’ve got to hand it to Gen Z, that is a tough one. It is a very hard topic to address. I suspect it is an obstacle in our faith as well.

 If God is all-powerful, then why is everything such a mess down here?

To address this question, I called upon one of the greatest apologetic voices of our day. Dr. Douglas Groothuis is the author of 17 books, including Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith, which was the massive 752 page text for my Intro to Christian Apologetics course at Colorado Christian University, btw.

It is an exhilarating/nerve-wracking afternoon when you get to interview the author of one of the most authoritative texts defending the Christian faith today. Yes, Dr. Groothuis has an astute mind that is fully capable of addressing any and all questions about our faith. So I knew that he was the right person to address this precarious question for us and our kids.

But the most striking aspect of this interview is Dr. Groothuis’ testimony of applying that faith in the midst of great personal suffering. Dr. Groothuis’ wife, Rebecca, was a certified genius with a Mensa Card in tow from the official international high I.Q. society, but she was diagnosed with a rare form of early-onset dementia.

Watching the vibrant, brilliant love of your life lose their mind far too young is quite the test of faith. Indeed…

How can a good God allow so much evil and suffering in the world?
 
This question doesn’t get wrapped up with a neat and tidy bow, Moms and Dads. But every worldview must wrestle with the problem of evil and the questions that surround our suffering. 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.”  To hear this powerful and poignant conversation with one of the great apologists of our day,  check out episode 66 of CPCW. You can listen on Life Audio by clicking on the image below:

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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