Marvin Olasky tells the story of a Russian officer marching several political prisoners to their deaths. The road was muddy and the officer was careful to avoid the puddles so as to keep his boots clean. The execution of these prisoners so disgusts him that on the way back he no longer avoids the mud puddles nor the condition of his boots.
Olasky relates this story to his father who was a first-hand witness to the atrocities of World War II, specifically the ones that Hitler and his followers inflicted upon the Jewish people and others. As a result, his father “lost his faith in God and, like the officer [mentioned above] no longer marched carefully through life”. [1]
The atrocities we observe in our world on a regular basis causes many of us to question whether God controls events in our world. As the minor prophet Habakkuk says:
O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?
Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save?
Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.
So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted. (Habakkuk 1:2-4 ESV)
Job has similar observations. He cursed the day of his birth (Job 3); he notes the wicked prosper (Job 21). And in the midst of his torment, he cannot find God (Job 23).
If God does exist, there musts be a reason why he hides himself (Isaiah 45:15) when our world so desperately needs him. Why has Christianity not addressed this question?
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[1] Marvin Olasky, “Tracing murders”, World Magazine, May 09-20, p. 72.
