If I were God, I'd end all the PAIN

Fixing fallacies

IF I WERE GOD, I'D END ALL THE PAIN
(Struggling with evil, suffering and faith)
By John Dickson
Matthias Media. 64 pages. £4.00
ISBN 1 876326 37 9
Distributed in the UK by The Good Book Company (www.thegoodbook.co.uk)

Despite losing his father in a plane crash, Australian author John Dickson does not claim to be an expert on the problem of pain. Instead, in his new book, he attempts to confront some of his doubts about the God who allows personal suffering.

Dickson begins by looking at the other world religions. Sharing insights from Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam, he demonstrates that each of these faiths has a distinctive and simplistic view of suffering. In contrast, the Bible is full of intrigue and beauty, offering no easy answers to life's difficult questions.

Drawing heavily on the anguished cries of Psalm 22, Dickson shows that God, deeply moved by the world's troubles, invites honesty in the face of suffering. And we are assured that justice will prevail. The author's intention is to re-move misconceptions, thus enabling the reader to explore the Bible more openly.
If I were God, I'd end all the pain is well written, reads easily and provides many biblical insights. My only concern is that the discussion of other religions could serve to confuse young Christians, or those experiencing profound personal suffering. But for those seeking an introduction to the subject area, this book is worth reading.

Stephen Tucker,
South Birmingham

© Evangelicals Now - May 2003
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Main Articles

• Faith on the front line
  Other stories about the war in Iraq
• Society figures?
  Some of the implications from the recent Census results
• The changing face of Christian engagement with Muslims
• WWII and Iraq
• The jogger and the gospel posters
• Real wisdom for dads
  A look at Judges 13
• Empire and Spurgeon
  Defending the preacher's honour
• The reality of wrath
  Towards a true understanding of God and the gospel
• Monthly column on the arts
  A brave new digital world
• Monthly column for youth leaders
  Tribalism
• Monthly column on student work
  With the National Union of Students
• Monthly column on hymns and songs
  The Lord's day

Other articles

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• The Pianist
• Forgiving Hitler - The Kathy Diosy story - first part
• The Guide to Revolutionary Forgiveness
• Access:d - Live worship in the key of D
• Children in the heart of God
• Anxious Christians - Psychological problems and Christian faith
• The only hope: Jesus yesterday, today, forever
• Worship in the melting pot
• Ministering like the Master - Three messages for today's preachers
• The 'What would Jesus eat?' Cookbook
• Bringing home the prodigals
• The next Christendom
• Mining for wisdom
• Walking with God
• A first class mob - Children in revival: 300 years of God's work in Scotland
• If I were God, I'd end all the PAIN - Struggling with evil, suffering and faith
• The art of preaching Old Testament narrative
• Deconstructing the Dutch Utopia - Sex education and teenage pregnancy in the Netherlands
• Leading a local church in the age of the Spirit
• A man's influence