The problem of evil. Is it a problem?

Skeptics like to use the problem of evil argument against Christians because indeed, it is one of the hardest topics to debate. It is considered one of the best, if no the best arguments for the non-existence of God. But I think it fails on a couple of points, mainly because it assumes so much. The people who use this argument really don't have an understanding on who God is, what He wills and how His sovereignty works. In this blog, I will attempt to explain the problem of evil and answer some skeptical questions about it.

Before I start, I want to ask, why should God destroy evil? Is He obligated into doing any of this? God is good and the absence of good is evil. So when humanity sinned and sin separated humans from God, we got evil. Is God the one that has to clean up our mess? The answer to all of these questions is, no. But this still doesn't stop Him from fulfilling His will. There could be numbers of reasons He allows evil, and who knows, maybe if it wasn't for evil, God couldn't reveal His goodness to humanity. Also, I just want to say that the Christian God desires a relationship with His creation, no matter what the conditions of the world are. No where in the Bible does it say God want's a pretty little playground for His creation to play and have fun in. And if this is true, the reasons why He doesn't destroy evil might be correct. But let's take a look at one of the arguments concerning evil in the world a good God created.

The argument usually goes as follows:

"If God existed he would destroy evil. An all powerful God could destroy evil. Evil and suffering still exist, therefore, you're notion of a God can't possibly be as good as you say, or even exist."

Now, I like how they word this argument. "then your notion of God cannot be as good as you say". The reason why I think who ever created this argument worded it like this, is because it doesn't even logically follow, that if this argument is true, that God doesn't exist. Only our notion of God. In fact, none of the arguments concerning the problem of evil logically follows that God doesn't exist.


But, let me address one statement at a time:


"If God existed he would destroy evil".

Response: We as human beings are created with free will. God does not violate our free will. Adam and Eve chose to sin and then sin, death and evil entered into the world. Man continues to sin with his free choice. The result is an evil world. Besides, if God wanted to get rid of evil, He would have to destroy morally free beings, like us. But no, God gives us a chance to repent so that we may find peace with Him through Jesus Christ. He gives us a chance to have a relationship with Him and a chance to spend eternity with Him.


"An all powerful God could destroy evil."

Response: Indeed he could. But keep in mind, strength has nothing to do with it.


"Evil and suffering still exist, therefore, you're notion of a God can't possibly be as good as you say, or even exist."

Response: The Bible makes in clear in the first book why evil, pain and suffering exist. It is because of sin and man's disobedience towards God. Man has rejected God, and without God, our world is falling apart. It is not God's fault, it is man's. All of this is due to free will, something GOd gave us. God does not violate free will, so whatever happens, happens. But as I said above, power has nothing to do with it. Sure it would be easy to get rid of evil by using power. But in the process, He would have to destroy good and also destroy morally free creatures, like ourselves. But He doesn't. Instead, He gives us a chance to repent, so that we may get a chance to know Him and have relationship with Him. Now that's something amazing. We can't forget that God is also love. And because of this, He must reveal to anyone who seeks, His love, no matter what conditions the world is in.


Lets look at another argument that is brought up:

"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " - Epicurus

Response: God is both willing and able to prevent evil. Him being omnipotent has nothing to do with it, as I have stressed above.Everything I pretty much have said above can refute this argument. There could be number of reasons why God allows evil, pain and suffering in the world. So it doesn't follow that God is malevolent, this is only Epicurus' opinion. He then asks, "then whence cometh evil?" And I have already made it clear that the first book in the Bible answers why there is evil in the world.

Conclusion: God is both willing and able to prevent or destroy evil. But there are numbers of reasons why He doesn't.