-OBJECTION: I’ve experienced too much tragedy and can’t believe in a God who permits evil and suffering!
-RESPONSE: First and foremost, I don’t know what has happened in your life, but I’m truly sorry for the pain you’ve experienced. Seriously. There’s good in this world, but there’s a lot of bad, too. When evil and calamity come, it can be seemingly unbearable. Second, if you’re open to hearing about the supposed dilemma regarding God and evil, I’d be happy to share a brief explanation?
The problem of evil (theodicy) is an ancient and common one. It usually goes something like this: “Evil does exist. If God is good, then He is either (a) incapable of doing anything about the evil or (b) unwilling to do anything about it.”
I’ll address this matter practically, logically, and biblically.
PRACTICALLY. Suppose God were to rid the world of all evil in the next 15 minutes. If God were to maintain His character and truly do something about all evil, wouldn’t He have to do something about you and me as a matter of necessity? While you and I may not have committed heinous societal infractions, every sin we’ve ever committed was an affront to the character, nature, and instructions of our Creator. This makes us evil, too. So, God addressing all evil would require that He address all of His creation, not merely the ones we think are worse than us.
LOGICALLY. Part of the issue is that the problem of evil, as it’s usually understood, is a false dichotomy for it assumes (from a human vantage) there are only two options (a & b from above). There are actually additional options. If God desires for men to have meaningful choices as responsible moral agents, then good and evil must be present simultaneously. With this thought in mind, it is possible for God to be all-good (omnibenevolent) and still permit evil as a necessary and subsequent result of human choice.
BIBLICALLY. If one is to understand evil from God’s vantage, then they must examine it based on His revelation to man: the Bible. Even our definition of evil must come from the Script. As such, evil can be defined as that which is against the prescribed will of God (or sin; 1 Jn. 3:4). Often, we resist such a definition because it declares each of us guilty, however, a biblical definition is the only way to fairly investigate and assess this topic.
The Bible is clear that God is good (Ps. 100:5), has no evil within Himself (Ps. 5:4), controls all things (Eph. 1:11), and yet, He is never blamed for evil (Jms. 1:13-14). The Bible is also replete with examples of God’s involvement with human actions, but men are given blame for the evil. Wayne Grudem, in his Systematic Theology textbook addressing evil, says, “All the actions of all participants in the crucifixion of Jesus had been ‘predestined’ by God. Yet the apostles clearly attach no moral blame to God, for the actions resulted from the willing choices of sinful men. Peter makes this clear in his sermon […] (Acts 2:23).”
Finally, I admit this response may not be satisfactory to you. In fact, the Script teaches that the unconverted person cannot grasp certain truths apart from God’s intervention (1 Cor. 2:14; Rom. 1:18-19). However, if God is truly God, then we meet Him on His terms, not the other way around. Please know that I’ll be praying for you, that you might find healing for your pain and that you might find understanding according to God’s grace through Jesus Christ. Check out NeedGod.com for more information on the Christ’s work to save you.
NOTE: I’ve largely ignored “suffering” in my response. That’s because suffering such as famine, drought, plagues/disease, and pain are results of the Fall of Man as indicated in Genesis 3, which was the result of Adam’s (evil) act of disobedience.
#MMApologist #SolusChristus #Salute
So, you are saying that because Adam disobeyed God over 2,500 years ago, that this loving God still punishes people not even born yet into eternity with famine, drought, plagues, disease, etc.. What kind of “loving” God would do that?
Thank you for your comment, John.
That’s not quite what I’m saying. God is not simply “punishing” mankind for the wrong an individual did thousands of years ago. Man (Adam) rebelled against a holy God, and he and his offspring are reaping the consequences, consequences for which he received forewarning. All of creation is now fallen, broken, and subject to hardship, disease, and ultimately, death. In the end, every man will pay for his own sin, as death is payment (wages) for sin (Rom. 6:23). Yet, the same verse proclaims that Jesus Christ is the gift of God. Christ is the precious gift that remedies this death.
Anyway, I believe at the heart of the matter is the reality that God’s love can’t be divorced from His holiness/justice–and that’s the part we often forget.
-Van