The “Problem” of Evil

The Question is Posed in Several Ways:

“Why do bad things happen to good people?”

“Why does God allow sufferring?”

“How could a good and all powerful God allow for evil?”

It’s important to know where the person is coming from:

Are they asking this out of a place of pain and suffering?

Are they asking this as a smokescreen?

Are they asking it from a place of honest interest?

2 Types of “evil”:

Human evil: When a person sins against another person.

Natural evil: Pain and suffering caused by natural means (natural disasters, disease, famine, etc.)

Several Reasons for the presence of Evil:

1. The presence of evil is a result of mankind's choice to sin.

God gave one restriction to Adam. And there would be a consequence for breaking that restriction. Gen. 2:17

Genesis 2:17 ESV

but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

The Fall: When Adam and Eve chose to sin. Gen. 3:6

Genesis 3:6 ESV

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

What type of evil was this?

A radical shift occurred in the universe. Gen. 3:18-19

Genesis 3:18–19 ESV

thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Work would now be a struggle, and our physical bodies would die.

What type of evil would this be categorized as?

God created us with the ability to act and make choices: To worship and love him, or not: Deut. 30:19-20

Deuteronomy 30:19–20 ESV

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

Holman QuickSource Guide to Christian Apologetics The Problem of Evil Redefined

For God to destroy evil would ultimately be evil itself since it would take away the greatest good—the ability to love God.

We have all chosen to sin. Rom. 3:23

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

There are consequences for our sin.

It hurts ourself.

It hurts others.

It hurts our relationship with God.

Holman QuickSource Guide to Christian Apologetics Why Doesn’t God Destroy Evil?

The answer may have to do with our moral character. Because we are made in the image of God, human beings have the ability to make choices that have a moral dimension to them. We can choose to do or say things that would be right or wrong.

The point: We are each responsible for the evil in this world.

2. The question of the “problem” of evil points us to the reality of good and evil.

Someone can only say that something is good or evil if they have a standard of which to compare it to.

Where does that standard come from?

If it is arbitrary and subjective, then it’s not really good or evil. It’s just an opinion.

This is what many people are arguing for these day:

“There’s no such thing as objective right or wrong.”

As you know I try to convince them otherwise.

But if someone is raising the question “How could God allow evil?” The question itself assumes that fact that there really is objective good and evil.

Where did that standard come from? It comes from God.

Holman QuickSource Guide to Christian Apologetics The Problem of Evil Redefined

to say something is evil is to say that there is an objective, transcendent, personal being whose will is being violated or whose order is being disturbed. In short, to say something is evil is to claim there is a God. In fact, the existence of evil is one of the most powerful evidences for God. Without the existence of God, the idea of evil becomes unintelligible. As a result, the problem of evil is not a problem for the Christian. Rather, the problem of evil is a problem for unbelievers.

3. God will use evil that is done for some greater outcome.

In order to help others: Ex. Joseph Gen. 50:20

Genesis 50:20 NIV

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

In order to bring about his divine will: Ex. Judas Mark 14:43-46

Does God Control Everything? The Ordination of Evil

Judas’ treachery was part of the divine providence in God’s plan for redeeming the world. Judas could not have delivered Christ to Pilate apart from the providential decree of God. We know that this was the predetermined counsel of God, and yet God did not put evil into the heart of Judas.

In order to help us grow and mature: Rom. 8:28-29, James 1:2-4

Romans 8:28–29 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

James 1:2–4 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Sometimes it is for outcomes that we will never understand in this lifetime: Ex. Job Deut. 29:29, Is. 55:8

Deuteronomy 29:29 ESV

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Isaiah 55:8 ESV

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

4. The presence of evil makes us long for our eternal home with Christ.

We will be in the presence of God (Rev. 21:3)

There will be no more tears, mourning, crying or pain. (Rev. 21:4)

We will have new, healed bodies .(Phil 3:21)

What Are You Afraid Of? Facing Down Your Fears with Faith Disasters Teach Us to Remember God’s Promise

Disasters remind us that God doesn’t intend for this fallen earth, with its death, disaster, and corruption, to be our permanent home. As the old spiritual says, “This world is not my home; I’m just a passin’ through.” The calamities we experience here are only temporary phenomena. Each disaster reminds us that a disaster-free eternity awaits us and inspires our hearts to long for it.

5. Jesus is the solution to the problem of evil.

Jesus overcomes your evil: Jesus took the punishment for my evil. 2 Cor. 5:21

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus overcome human evil done against you.

Either by his sacrifice on the cross.

Or by his judgment over their sin.

Jesus overcomes natural evil. Rom. 6:9

Romans 6:9 ESV

We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.

John 11:25 ESV

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,