What are people asking God today?

Theologians, apologists, church leaders have long been speaking out on the effects of the postmodern turn on the church’s mission, especially how she presents the gospel. Lesslie Newbigin was one of the first to speak on how the church ought to change its manner of engaging the world in a post-Christian, post-Enlightenment, post-colonial, post-modern society. Now there is a plethora of theologians, pastors, philosophers, cultural critics writing, preaching, and advancing these matters esp within emerging and missional church circles. Much has been said about how the gospel ought to be presented differently b/c the questions people are asking today are not the same questions people are asking a generation ago. Apologetics, preaching, ministry, theology ought to posture itself to address contemporary questions if it seeks to advance the mission of the church. A student of mine who does campus ministry at a community college in the midwest recently conducted a poll of questions people have of God. Here’s the list she came up with:

“Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do you take away people we love when we need them the most? Why is there so much pain in the world? What about scientific evidence? What’s heaven like? What is the right religion to follow? Why do little babies die? When will you come back to earth? Are you pleased with my service? Why is there war, and why are all people killing each other? Why is abortion legal? Will forever feel like a long time, or will it just feel like normal? How did the Creation happen? Why are people so mean to each other? How come there are many religions and there is only one god? What is the purpose of cancer? What do you want me to do with my future? What more can I do to help others follow you? What drove you to make the earth with all its problems? Why aren’t we given enough proof for God for everyone to believe? If I were to die today, would I go to heaven? If God is omnipotent, why evil? Why do his followers seem so closed-minded? Why does sin exist? If equality is so ideal, why is everyone different? Is there a heaven/hell? What happens when I go to heaven? What is the meaning of life? Why are people so evil? Where do you want me to go after college—what about my future? Am I doing all I need to? When will the world end? Why do the innocent suffer? What about religious pluralism i.e. Islam and Judaism which have roots in the Old Testament? Why do people commit sin? Why do we have to have wars to figure things out? Why can’t you make everyone’s life in the world a better life? How did the first human get on Earth? Why create controversy if people won’t learn from it? How will we be judged? Why create people who won’t believe in you? What do you have planned for me? Why do others have so much to live for? What are simple ways in our everyday life to get other people to find God? Why did you take my friend? Why can’t everyone go to heaven? How long will my mother live? What was I put on earth for? What will become of me in the future? When am I going to die? How can we be absolutely positive we know what happens when life ends?“