The Church of Pentecost UK - Nottingham

Abdullah entered a barber's shop to have his hair and his beard cut as usual. He began a conversation with Masoud, the barber who attended to him. They talked about many things and various subjects. Casually, they touched the subject of God when Masoud stated, 'Look Abdullah, I don't believe that God exists as you tell me.'

'Why on earth do you say that?' inquired Abdullah.

'Well, it's so easy; you just have to go out in the street to realise that God does not exist. Listen, if God existed, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't think of a God who permits all of these things,' pronounced Masoud.

Abdullah, not wishing to start an argument with his friend and barber kept silent, thinking. Masoud completed the hair and beard trim and Abdullah paid and left the shop. As he did so he saw another man in the street who had unkempt, long hair and beard and it was obvious that a long time had elapsed since he had his cut.

Smiling to himself, Abdullah returned to Masoud's shop. Once inside he said, 'You know what, Masoud, barbers do not exist.'

'What?' exclaimed Masoud, 'How come they don't exist? Here and I am and I'm a barber.'

'No!' Abdullah countered, 'they don't exist because if they did there would be no people with long hair and beards like that man over there in the street.'

'Ah, barbers do exist,' answered Masoud, ' what happens is that people do not always come to me for haircuts.'

'Exactly,' affirmed Abdullah conclusively. 'That's the point. God does exist, what happens is people don't go to Him and do not look for Him that's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world.'