The Christ-Centered Mind: Evil... Suffering... Where is God?

The Christ-Centered Mind:Evil . . . Suffering . . . ?

Where is God?

The Problem of Evil

• Natural Evil

The Problem of Evil

• Natural Evil• Moral Evil

Ricardo, Frieda, Dan, and Sam Escobar

Explain Faith

AnswerQuestions

DefendAttacks

LIFE

APOLOGETICS

The “Problem” of Evil1.Both God and evil are realities that truly

exist

2.If God were all-powerful, He could destroy evil

3.If God were all-good, He would destroy evil.

4.Evil has not been destroyed.

5.Therefore, there is no all-good, all-powerful God.

Evil and Suffering:A Biblical Perspective

A view of the PAST: Free will/Choice

A view of the FUTURE: Time

The “Problem” of Evil1.Both God and evil are realities that truly

exist

2.If God were all-powerful, He could destroy evil

3.If God were all-good, He would destroy evil.

4.Evil has not been destroyed.

5.Therefore, there is no all-good, all-powerful God.

yet

Genesis 1-3Revelation 20-22

“In the day you eat from it, “There shall no longer be you shall surely die” (2:17) any death” (21:4)

Satan appears as deceiver Satan removed forever (3:1) (20:10)

“I will greatly multiply your “There shall no longer be pain” (3:16) mourning, or crying or

pain” (21:4)

“Cursed is the ground because “There shall no longer be of you” (3:17) curse” (22:3)

First paradise closed (3:23) New paradise opened (21:25)

They were driven from God’s “They will see His face” (22:4) presence (3:24)

The Existence of Evil:A Biblical Perspective

1.An All-Powerful, All-Knowing, All-Good God created the world.

2.God created a good world in which evil was possible and became actual and had a good reason for doing so.

3.Therefore, the world contains evil.

Evil and Suffering:A Biblical Perspective

A view of the PAST: Free will/Choice

A view of the FUTURE: Time

A view of the PRESENT: The Suffering of Jesus

The Problem of Evil:A Biblical Perspective

• God did not create evil but created a world where evil was possible.

• Evil/suffering are parasites. They are “good” that has been twisted and perverted.

• God chose to suffer the consequences evil.

• God will remove evil from existence.

He is Lord

I am the Lord, and there is no other.I form light and create darkness,I bring prosperity and create

disaster;I, the Lord, do all these things.

(Isaiah 45:6-7)

He is Lord

Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments,And his paths beyond tracing out.

(Romans 11:33)