Kate Bowler Tells Us Where We're Wrong on Suffering

Jan 31, 2024

Historian and author Kate Bowler, who has personally experienced grief and suffering, joins Russell Moore to discuss her new book and explore the vulnerability of being human. They delve into the theology of suffering, the impact of the prosperity gospel, and the power of acts of kindness in times of trial.

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INSIGHT

Christian Life Embraces Precarity

The state of precarity means life is fragile and contingent, not inherently bad but a Christian reality.
Living honestly in precarity can shift our spiritual outlook and language about faith and life.

ADVICE

How to Support the Suffering

When comforting someone suffering, start by simply saying you want to help and are on their side.
Match your approach to your personality whether practical, spiritual, humorous, or conversational to best support them.

INSIGHT

Theology of "Even So"

Kate Bowler sums her theology as "even so," affirming God's presence despite suffering.
This reframes faith from guaranteed cure to assured love and presence in brokenness.

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For historian Kate Bowler, grief and suffering are more than just a topic of interest. She’s intimately acquainted with pain herself as someone who was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer, faced a small chance of survival, and lives with chronic pain. As she puts it, “I spent a long time almost dying.”

On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Bowler shares words of wisdom honed from her research and her personal life. She and Moore talk about her new book Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day!: Daily Meditations for the Ups, Downs & In-Betweens and discuss the vulnerability of being human. They explore the anxious tenor of the modern era in a historical context and talk about the ways people discuss (or avoid discussing) hard things. They consider what it looks like to keep the faith in times of trial and how powerful acts of kindness and tenderness can be in seasons of suffering. Their conversation covers theology, Christian history, and the specific ways that the prosperity gospel has shaped evangelicalism.

Tune in for an episode that is as rich and resourceful as it is enjoyable and encouraging.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Kate Bowler
Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day!: Daily Meditations for the Ups, Downs & In-Betweens by Kate Bowler
No Cure for Being Human (And Other Truths I Need To Hear) by Kate Bowler
Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved by Kate Bowler
Dorothy Day
Reinhold Niebuhr
Beth Moore
Timothy Keller
Richard Hayes
The Moviegoer by Walker Percy
Reynolds Price
“How Do People Actually Change?” by Simeon Zahl
“Tears” by Frederick Buchner

Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to questions@russellmoore.com.

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“The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today

Executive Producers: Erik Petrik, Russell Moore, and Mike Cosper

Host: Russell Moore

Producer: Ashley Hales

Associate Producers: Abby Perry and McKenzie Hill

Director of Operations for CT Media: Matt Stevens

Audio engineering by Dan Phelps

Video producer: Abby Egan

Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton

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