One time, in a discussion with a friend who is agnostic, asked me the above question among a series of questions
This is a question that I am not unfamiliar with. Typically, “You just have to have faith.” has been the answer of choice.
The reality? While faith is vitally important, there must come from those mature Christians a deeper understanding of the Word of God, there must be a better answer.
My answer to this friend….I don’t know. Yep, you read that right. I don’t know.
Now, don’t be confused, I know what I believe. I have experiences which reinforce my beliefs. I have studied the Bible and I have become persuaded of its Truth.
The problem is that my experiences are mine. I have faced those questions and been persuaded to trust God and His word. Therefore, it would be hard for any person to base their faith strictly on my testimony.
I have prayed, studied, researched, and I want to share with you what I have come across this far.
*The below is a mixture of an article from gotquestions.com, the bible, and my own thoughts*
The problem of evil is the appearance of a contradiction between an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving God; and the human experience of suffering and evil in the world. Especially, to those who are deemed innocent (meaning they didn’t ask for suffering or mistreatment). The truth is that the bible does not leave this issue unanswered. In fact, scripture not only refers to the problem, but there are several solutions to it (the problem of evil).
Let’s look at the Bible’s honest questioning of evil, God’s response to evil, and the scriptural solution to evil.
Evil is something God understands and acknowledges. God’s willingness to give us free will, the making of our own choices, does open the door to moral evil. Moral evil leads to physical evil. Evil is the absence of goodness. Even in this, God has consistently acted to soften the blows that evil and suffering bring to humanity, culminating in the provision of the one and only true means of making all things right, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God “slain from the foundation of the world.” And with that provision a great promise, evil and suffering will eternally be destroyed completely and fully.
- Scripture acknowledges the “Problem of Sin.”
The book of Job is probably the most notable in discussing the reasons why mankind experiences suffering even when we don’t seem to deserve it. Other scriptures offers several passages that reflect the problem of evil.
Habakkuk 1:2-4, Eccles. 4:1-3, Psalm 10:1, Psalm 22:1-2, Psalm 83:1-2, John 16:2-4, Romans 8:36, Revelation 6:9-10.
They show the reality that, as scripture states, “It rains upon the just and the unjust alike.” A deep personal awareness echoes from each writer. These men, these 66 books, and the stories within show a reality of evil. Yet, there is an echo from these writers which drowns out the “problem of evil”, a recognition and a trust in the goodness of God to make all wrongs right, someday.
2. Scripture frames the “problem of evil”
The bible makes it clear that evil is something that God neither intended nor created. Moral evil is a necessary possibility. If we are truly free beings, then we are free to choose opposite of God’s will, meaning we can choose moral evil. Yet, this choice is not without consequences.
First, we must understand that All God does is good! Genesis 1:31 and James 1:17 are clear in this.
Second, man was given the choice. Genesis 2:16-17 expresses this with a clear consequence should they choose wrong. This is an important detail. There was never any guessing what the consequences were, God was clear, “You will certainly die.”
3. Adam and Eve chose and the consequences were enacted. Genesis 3:17-19. From this one act, like a cancer, sin corrupted everything that God had made and called good. Disease, loss, pain, mistreatment, aging and physical death; all a direct result of Sin. Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned…
Scripture gives to us the contrast in several places. Proverbs 14:34, Proverbs 19:3, Matthew 5:3-11, John 9:1-3, Romans 1:18-28, Romans 3:23, Hebrews 2:2-3.
We suffer at times for our own sins at times, other times we suffer because of the sins of others, and in some cases we suffer from the natural order of cause and effect. Occasionally, we suffer for a special purpose. To bring hope or help and a warning to ourselves or others.
In all of this, we find that this world is not all there is. The mortal life is not all we have been made for. For the believer, this is why we can face loss or persecution and simultaneously look beyond the suffering to a greater hope!
This is another way God has revealed a remedy to dealing with the problem of evil that is rampant in the world. We have a “blessed hope” that ALL of this will one day all pass away and that which is light and Truth will remain forever!
3. Scripture opposes the “problem of evil”
Scripture shows that God did not create evil and does not promote it. God is described rather, as combating it. God limits its impact, gives warning of it, acts to stop the spread of it, gives us an escape from it, and some day soon will defeat it forever!
Genesis 3:21, Genesis 4:10-15, Genesis 6:5-8, Genesis 7:1-4, Deuteronomy 9:5, Deuteronomy 30:15-18, Jonah 3:6-10, Matthew 10:28, Matthew 23:37, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Colossians 1:13, 2 Thess. 2:7, 2 Peter 2:9, Revelation 19:11, Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 21:1-5.
God has actively and is still actively trying to limit its impact. He gives clear instruction to avoid evil and given spiritual power and authority to those who want to be freed from evil’s power.
4. Scripture resolves the “problem of Sin”
God could’ve watched from a distance, but He didn’t. He entered into our suffering and entered into the full experiences of evil. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came and lived in the power of the Holy Ghost, sinless.
Matthew 16:22, Mark 10:45, Luke 22:19-20, John 14:6, John 19:16-18, John 19:30, John 20:19-20, John 20:30-31, 2 Corinthians 5:1, Hebrews 4:15, 1 John 3:1, Colossians 1:21-22.
God, instead of creating us as robots, or deciding to doom us all because of Sin, or condoning it (It just is what it is), chose to supply to us a way out, a solution. How? By taking the punishment upon Himself.
He entered into this mess that we willingly created, lived among us, felt every emotion that we feel, scripture even states that He was tempted (tried) in all points as we are. He came down. He didn’t remain distant, unconcerned, or inactive.
Go with me for a moment. What did Christ take to his death? Betrayal, Being forsaken, degradation, shame, mocking, a crown of thorns, and the sin of the past, present, and future.
Upon that cross He was nailed and with it the curse of Sin and its power. He fulfilled what was needed to conquer it, so that we could conquer it.
Personally, I am thankful He did, because otherwise I would have no hope of anything better.
THE LAMPLIGHTERS PROJECT 