God's Response to Creation's Greatest Evil

Introduction: Defining Evil

Definitions of Evil:

Moral deficiency in a person. The tendency of people to do what is contrary to the will of God, including the actions themselves.

This definition is interesting, because it realizes the participation of mankind in the problem of evil whereas other definitions see evil as a manifestation of God’s absence.

Profound immorality and wickedness, especially when regarded as a supernatural force.

Here in this definition, we see that no one individual is responsible for the existence of evil, but rather there is a force [who should be combatted by some other force] that is responsible for evil.

David Hume’s argument against God as based on the existence of evil:

Lexham Survey of Theology The Problem of Evil

(1) given the biblical God’s all-good and all-powerful nature, God could not know and care that there is evil in the world yet at the same time fail to act powerfully in order to stop it coming about. Yet, (2) there is evil in the world, (3) therefore an all-good, all-powerful, and all-knowing God cannot exist.

An earlier philosopher, Epicurus, stated it this way, “Is [God] willing to prevent evil, but not able? then is he impotent. Is he able, but not willing? then is he malevolent. Is be both able and willing? whence then is evil?”

The problem of evil is often used to propose a good reason for atheism.

Barth Ehrman, a very brilliant scholar, who was a committed evangelical left Christianity because of the problem of evil. He stated, “The problem of suffering has haunted me for a very long time. It was what made me begin to think about religion when I was young, and it was what led me to question my faith when I was older. Ultimately, it was the reason I lost my faith.”

The issue we commonly find ourselves facing is the fact that evilness is personified in ways we cannot truly measure. Evilness is often presented in the form of theft, lies, murder, racism, etc.

The Real Problem of Evil

The true problem of evil, however, is inclusive of all the other things we have mentioned: theft, murder, lies, manipulation, etc. If we truly consider the root of the problem of evil, we can conclude that it is a matter of broken relationships. Because relationships are broken we have a problem of evilness.

Broken relationships between God and man.

Broken relationships between man and man.

Supporting premises:

Man is responsible for evilness.

Idolatry leads to immorality.

Immorality leads to bad behaviors.

Bad behavior leads to evil.

One of the most detrimental behaviors of mankind is that of separation and division.

Genesis 4:1-15 “1 The man was intimate with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have had a male child with the Lord’s help.” 2 She also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but Cain worked the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? 7 If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” 8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord s…”

Genesis 6:1-8 “1 When mankind began to multiply on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful, and they took any they chose as wives for themselves. 3 And the Lord said, “My Spirit will not remain with mankind forever, because they are corrupt. Their days will be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men. 5 When the Lord saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, 6 the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved. 7 Then the Lord said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.” 8 Noah, however, found favor with the Lord.”

God’s Solution

In response to the evil of the world, God repairs the relationship between God and man. He then repairs the relationship between man and man—allowing mankind to exist as a unified family.

Colossians 1 seems to prove both of these issues:

The creation is centered on Christ who is the sacrifice for our sins.

Since creation is centered on Christ and the sacrifice of our sins,

A new family is created in Him.

This means we are not judged on any of the other matters that distinguish us. Therefore, we are not to be divided by these things as long as we are in Him.

Relationships between God and man are restored in and through Christ.