Question:  Dear Greg,

            This is not really my name, but I do not want even my first name to appear on the screen.

            I was involved in a car accident a few months ago and was given a ticket.  The accident resulted in extremely serious injuries to people in a second vehicle who were struck by a third vehicle.  The third vehicle was not given a ticket, though no one knows how fast he was going except by his word, which could be true.  Of course, there are “legal consequences”, as a lawyer was hired while the injured were still in the hospital.  There is permanent disability involved.  My insurance will have to pay out maximum benefits and that is still not enough to take care of things.  A lawyer has advised that I consider bankruptcy in order to protect our family home in which we have a bit of equity, having lived in it 25 years of a 33-year mortgage.  He tells me that this can be done at any time, even after going to court.  My husband is the one who has put most of the money into paying for this house and he is now 73 years old.  I do not feel that he should have to worry about losing the house and starting over.  I have about 5 more years until the customary age of retirement. 

            It goes without saying that I am grieved that this happened.  However, there are some factors involved such as terrain, road conditions, etc., etc. that are out of anyone’s control.  God has been good to me in that he has given me a lot of peace of mind about this, however I do not understand why he let this happen.  That is one of the major questions I will have for him when we meet.

            What is your opinion as to what a Christian should do (besides pray) in such a situation?  I may ask our minister, but right now would rather not.

            Thank you for reading this.

            “Martha”

Answer:  Dear “Martha”,

            I am reminded of the recent tragedy involving a small plane carrying missionaries in Peru being shot down by the Peruvian air force.  Apparently the small plane mistakenly was assumed to be transporting drugs and drug smugglers.  A missionary’s wife and child were killed, while a few others survived the emergency landing of the plane.

            Your question is real—profound—and immediate.  Your question is important and relevant—not just for you, but for many.

            Our problem begins in such cases with a mistaken idea or belief of what God will do, and what he promises to do.  We Christians are not immune from accidents, time and chance, crime, and war.  Beyond that, we have been, and are being persecuted and killed for our faith (in China and Sudan today, among other places).  There have been are are Christian martyrs who die for their faith.

            The founder of our faith, our Lord and Savior, is acquainted with our grief.  He was a man of sorrows; he went to the cross for us.  He asks us to take up our cross and follow him.  He loves us—yes—but he does not give us a promise that we will not experience sorrow and grief in this life.  He gives us the more abundant life—but that life is life eternal, not in the here and now.

            We are relieved that you have sought legal counsel, for such matters as the one you are facing can be complex and delicate.  We have a book that we will make available to you, free of charge.  It is extremely helpful in addressing this spiritual issue in a way that time and space prevents me from doing.  If you would like a free copy, please provide us with a mailing address to which you would like it sent.

            May God be with you.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht