If God is such a good God…
God is all good and all powerful; why then does God allow the innocent to suffer?
I left out the “if”.
It’s all in the asking of the question—being aware of motive and attitude—because there is no “if” when it comes to whether God exists, or whether God is good and powerful. Of this I am certain.
In matters of faith, “If” can be the word the devil whispers when we see and experience things we don’t understand. “If”—asked as a word of challenge to God—prefaces the evil that attempts to erode away all that is good and hopeful and holy.
“If God” was there in the garden with Eve and the serpent.
“If You are…” was Satan’s challenge to Jesus in the wilderness.
Does leaving out the “if” in the original question shut down honest inquiry? No, it just keeps this questioner honest about what I believe as I seek out answers to difficult questions.
James 1: 5 NRSV
5 If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. 6 But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; 7, 8 for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.