Shaun Groves
Depending on who you ask, one fourth to two thirds of students at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas wouldn’t identify themselves as “Christian.” So I walked onto the stage at chapel with bible in hand and a simple message: God is good.
God is good.
Isn’t that the cornerstone of faith that headlines and cynics and doubt shove against? Isn’t this the truth God’s enemy whispers his lies against first and most often?
See the mother with breasts depleted by malnutrition? See her sobbing over her listless baby? God isn’t good.
See the boy kidnapped and taught to train his rifle on the innocent? See the girl pleasing sweaty strangers for pennies until her life is stolen by disease? God isn’t good.
See the statistics? 24,000 under the age of five dead today from poverty? God isn’t good.
Parents divorcing, pastors cheating, Christians condemning. God isn’t good.
It is easier to believe God isn’t good than to admit that I’m not.
God is generous and it is my greed that robs mothers of their babies.
God is compassionate and it is someone’s twisted ambition and my apathy that imprisons children in armies and brothels.
God is good. Why would anyone believe differently? Me.
Like Israel, the way I live shows “the nations” (and college students in Kansas) what God is like. Have I given them good reason to believe He’s good?
2 Corinthians 9:11-12 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
Denise says:
Truth…at times hits smack dab between the eyes and travels fast to the heart.
Lies confuse – cause pain – hurt. Lies leave people hungry, hurting, dead.
Truth seeks to transform. Leaving here, right now, changed.
Charity says:
Powerful. Very powerful. Thanks for the challenge.
Mike Brouillette says:
I found very little reason to not believe that God is good as I listened to stories of your unpretentious life and generosity. Thank you for teaching this robust nation Hillsboro -more specifically me – about daily bread.
Aimee says:
Love this, Shaun. Thanks for the reminder!
Aaron says:
I’m 100% on your side Shaun, BUT, what do you say when your unbelieving students say: 18,000 killed in Japan by a tsunami?
Shaun Groves says:
The world is broken. I am broken. But God is not.
In this temporary brokenness we mourn with those who mourn, and love them – not with words but with action and in truth.
Aaron says:
Yes. Sometimes I think we need to learn the lesson of Job. God does not give Job an answer to his suffering, He simply says: “I am God and you cannot understand my ways, please just accept them”.
Part of the problem is that this requires faith. We can see that God is good in so many ways. We can see that much suffering is self inflicted and that turning to God to embrace Him (in action as well as belief) can help alleviate some suffering and the rest we just have to entrust to God’s wisdom. For those who do not have faith, this is not an option.
“They have Moses and the prophets… if they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead!” (Luke 16:29 & 31)
Kristina says:
Well said.
Alia Joy says:
Love this. God is good and as those who love Him we should be practicing goodness. It should be in our core that we hate injustice and that we strive to also be generous, compassionate, and good.
Alex Green says:
Amen and amen.
Shaun, I love the humility of your writing, thanks.
Zoë says:
Thank you, Shaun. This has made me think.
There’s the story about the drowning man who prays for God to rescue him, along comes a boat and he refuses to get on board because he has prayed for God to rescue him, same thing happens again, and again, and eventually he drowns. “God, why didn’t you rescue me?” He asks when he meets his Maker. God replies that He sent three boats.
Sometimes we have to recognise that the ‘boat’ is God’s response to our desperate pleas (His answers are often not our answers); sometimes we have to recognise that we need to be the ones in the boat doing the rescuing. Sometimes it’s only in the darkness that we understand the brilliance of the light.
shayne says:
The heart. It aches.
Thank you for once again straightening up my glass so I can see a little more clearly.
Rose-Marie says:
Thank you.
Roshelle says:
Reminds me of “The Problem” by Downhere. My 6th grade class just acted this song out in a “human video” at our spring program. It is powerful stuff.
Tynan says:
I thought you did a great job on Monday when you spoke at our chapel. God is so good and sometimes we need to be reminded about his goodness. Speaking of God’s goodness, He is doing amazing things on this campus. I find it a little dishearthening that you stated only one fourth or two thirds of our campus would not consider themselves as “Christians.” I believe that statement is not true. I have been attending TC for three years now and have seen God work in this place and change and transform many lives on this campus. Therefore, yes.. God is good.
Shaun Groves says:
Oh, gosh, I hate that this post was disheartening in the least, Tynan. Great to have another perspective (and opinion) on that number too. The number doesn’t matter. (So perhaps I shouldn’t have included it huh?). The point is that there are non-Christians at Tabor. A great thing!! So I left wondering if I’d shown them the goodness of God. Thank you for taking the time to encourage and add your two cents!
Tynan says:
Your welcome. And I agree, TC is a huge mission field for us as believers. God is doing great things through speakers like you. Thanks again.
Whitney says:
You are right, God is so so good. And I really appreciated your encouragement to our students, and by proxy to us as staff, to give of our left overs.
As an admissions counselor at Tabor here is my two cents on the numbers:
About 99% of our applicants would claim to have a relationship with God in some way or another. Only 1% of our applicants claim no belief in God or a belief in another religion. However, many more than 1% probably do not actually have a personal relationship with Christ. I would say, if I had to put a number on it that it would be about 20% that don’t have a relationship with Christ. However, we gladly open our doors to people of all religious backgrounds because of people like Marcus Manny, who came to Tabor because of football and had no relationship with Christ, but through his time at Tabor was transformed, accepted Christ and tragically died during his fifth year here but left a legacy that continues to touch our campus. The important thing about Tabor, that Shaun doesn’t see or at least doesn’t talk about is that regardless of the students religious beliefs lives are being transformed at Tabor all the time and it is for no one but God to judge the hearts of our students.
Whitney says:
Praise the Lord that He is good, and He alone is our judge.
Shaun Groves says:
I may be misreading your comment, Whitney – please forgive me if that’s the case – but you seem upset with me. Thank you, if that’s the case, for coming to me and allowing me the opportunity to respond.
I spent the day with your chaplain – GREAT guy – and spoke with numerous students and faculty. I certainly saw the great things God is doing on your campus in the lives of students. But that wasn’t the point of the post. The point was MY responsibility to show God as good to students (regardless of their numbers) who do not yet trust in Christ. The post was judging whether I did that well, not judging the wonderful students and faculty at Tabor. I regret that my words, hastily written in the Wichita airport before leaving, weren’t more carefully chosen to make that clear. Forgive me?
I knew there were non-Christian students at Tabor because concerned students and faculty talked to me about that. How wonderful to be at a Christian school that accepts all people but is concerned (grieved even?) that not all have yet trusted Christ.
Whitney says:
Thank you for your further explanation. I do recognize that your main point was not about the life of Tabor, but the goodness of God. However, by bringing it up and not mentioning the positive side of things, as an alumnus and employee of Tabor I was hurt and felt our school was misrepresented. I simply wanted others to know of God’s transforming work at Tabor, which happens as a result of our faculty, staff, and students, as well as influential guests like yourself. Thank you for your response and apology. I do forgive you.
Shaun Groves says:
Thank you for grace.
But…
I don’t understand why the number (whatever it is) of non-Christians at Tabor would be perceived as a negative? Yet you interpreted it that way. Can you explain why?Offering a first-rate education to all students, regardless of faith, is great. And who knows how many will taste and see that God is good in the process.
Lori Mills says:
We may never know the extent of God’s fruitfulness through our efforts. We are called to remain faithful to His service and faith-filled that His plan is Good. He is Good. His plans are just. His good purpose will be fulfilled. Our Hope is always in Him.
-Psalm 25:4-5
Without the Truth of His Word, life would be unbearable. May each one who calls Christ, Savior, continue in faithful service.
Lori Mills says:
Thank you Shaun for faithful service.
Jason Cormier says:
Amen Brother