Valerie G. Rempel - Why Do We Suffer and Where Is God When We Do?

Herald Press

PO Box 866, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22803

www.HeraldPress.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Rempel, Valerie G., author.

Title: Why do we suffer and where is God when we do? / Valerie G. Rempel.

Description: Harrisonburg, Virginia : Herald Press, 2020. | Series: The Jesus way: small books of radical faith | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020000276 (print) | LCCN 2020000277 (ebook) | ISBN 9781513805672 (paperback) | ISBN 9781513806167 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Suffering--Religious aspects--Christianity. | Suffering--Biblical teaching. | Theodicy.

Classification: LCC BT732.7 .R46 2020 (print) | LCC BT732.7 (ebook) | DDC 231/.8--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020000276

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020000277

WHY DO WE SUFFER AND WHERE IS GOD WHEN WE Do?

2020 by Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22803. 800-245-7894.

All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020000276

International Standard Book Number: 978-1-5138-0567-2 (paperback); 978-1-5138-0616-7 (ebook)

Printed in United States of America

Cover and interior design by Reuben Graham

All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in whole or in part, in any form, by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission of the copyright owners.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture text is quoted, with permission, from the New Revised Standard Version , 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

24 23 22 21 2010 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

T he Jesus Way is good news for all people, of all times, in all places. Jesus Christ is before all things, and in him all things hold together in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell (Colossians 1:17, 19). The Jesus Way happens when Gods will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

But what does it mean to walk the Jesus Way? How can we who claim the name of Christ reflect the image of God in the twenty-first century? What does it mean to live out and proclaim the good news of reconciliation in Christ?

The Jesus Way: Small Books of Radical Faith offers concise, practical theology that helps readers encounter big questions about Gods work in the world. Grounded in a Christ-centered reading of Scripture and a commitment to reconciliation, the series aims to enliven the service and embolden the witness of people who follow Jesus. The volumes in the series are written by a diverse community of internationally renowned pastors, scholars, and practitioners committed to the way of Jesus.

The Jesus Way series is rooted in Anabaptism, a Christian tradition that prioritizes following Jesus, loving enemies, and creating faithful communities. During the Protestant Reformation of the 1500s, early Anabaptists who began meeting for worship emphasized discipleship in addition to belief, baptized adults instead of infants, and pledged their allegiance to God over loyalty to the state. Early Anabaptists were martyred for their radical faith, and they went to their deaths without violently resisting their accusers.

Today more than two million Anabaptist Christians worship in more than one hundred countries around the globe. They include Mennonites, Amish, Brethren in Christ, and Hutterites. Many other Christians committed to Anabaptist beliefs and practices remain in church communities in other traditions.

Following Jesus means turning from sin, renouncing violence, seeking justice, believing in the reconciling power of God, and living in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Jesus Way liberates us from conformity to the world and heals broken places. It shines light on evil and restores all things.

Join Christ-followers around the world as we seek the Jesus Way.