Larry Waters - Why O God ?: Suffering and Disability in the Bible and the Church

It has been said that suffering is the most common denominator among humans. Whether you are one of the 660 million people worldwide affected by disability, or your suffering takes another form, youve probably asked the question, Why, God? Here is a book that addresses the difficult issues surrounding suffering and disabilities. I commend Waters and Zuck, and the other contributors, for powerfully calling the church to provide a biblical response to suffering and to point people to Christ.

Steve Bundy, Managing Director, Joni and Friends Christian Institute on Disability

This is the most comprehensive biblical theology on the mystery of human suffering I have ever read. Illustrated by deeply moving experiences from the lives of many of its authors, it can easily be adopted for effective public teaching.

David C. Cotten, Pastor of Senior Adults, Edmond Faith Bible Church; Retire Vice President for Student Services, Professor of Pastoral Ministries, Dallas Theological Seminary

Sadly, ministry to the disabled within our churches is a much-neglected area. This book rightly identifies it as a priority that demands our thoughtful response. Yet, never before has a single book combined such a rich harmony of insights from scholars across so many disciplines, ranging from biblical studies to the medical field. It reminds us, too, that disabled believers have an important ministry to the nondisabled in the church as bearing witness to the grace of God, who redeems all our sufferings with a loving purpose. This book will serve as a valuable resource in churches, colleges, and seminaries for years to come.

Gary Cook, President, Dallas Baptist University

Who doesnt ask why ? It is the question we all consider. I am grateful for this biblical and personal approach to suffering, which will minister love and healing to the body of Christ.

Jack Graham, Pastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano, Texas

The question as to why righteous individuals suffer is as old as the days of Job, a contemporary of Abraham. Why, O God? first faces the problem biblically, searching the Scriptures to find Gods perspective on suffering. Then it faces the problem experientially, as many who have seriously suffered share their stories to show the sufficiency of Gods grace and what they learned from their sufferings. A study of the first will provide a foundation for understanding suffering, and a study of the second will be an encouragement to all who suffer, because they bear testimony of the grace of God. This balanced approach provides a work that will answer many questions as to why the righteous suffer, and is highly recommended.

J. Dwight Pentecost, Distinguished Professor of Bible Exposition, Emeritus, Dallas Theological Seminary

What a wonderful book! Waters and Zuck have uniquely addressed the problem of suffering through the testimonies of those who have suffered and the lessons God has taught them. The wisdom of these fellow pilgrims is thoroughly buttressed with profound biblical studies by seminary professors, giving us needed insight into the question why . Any pastor or counselor will benefit from reading thismost of all, anyone who suffers or who knows someone who does. Highly recommended!

Joseph Dillow, former President, BEE World

Why, O God? Suffering and Disability in the Bible and the Church

Copyright 2011 by Larry J. Waters and Roy B. Zuck

Published by Crossway

1300 Crescent Street

Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law.

Cover design: Studio Gearbox

Cover images: Veer and iStock

Interior illustrations: Dawn Waters Baker

Interior design and typesetting: Lakeside Design Plus

First printing 2011

Printed in the United States of America

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked nasb are from The New American Standard Bible. Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked niv from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978,1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. The NIV and New International Versiontrademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica. Use of either trademarkrequires the permission of Biblica.

Scripture references marked nkjv are from The New King James Version. Copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.Used by permission.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the authors.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-2580-3

PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-2581-0

Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-2582-7

ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-2583-4

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Why, O God?: suffering and disability in the Bible and the church / edited by Larry J. Waters and Roy B. Zuck; foreword by Randy Alcorn.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-4335-2580-3 (tp)

1. SufferingBiblical teaching. 2. SufferingReligious aspectsChristianity. 3. People with disabilities Biblical teaching. 4. Church work with people with disabilities. I. Waters, Larry J. II. Zuck, Roy B.

BS680.S854W49 2011

248.8'6dc22

2011001940

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Randy Alcorn