Why is There Evil and Suffering in the World?

7/31/2019 Why is There Evil and Suffering in the World?

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If there is aGod, why is

there evil?

Why do bad

things happen


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to goodpeople?

Agnostics ask: If God is all-powerful and all loving, then why does He permit evil and suffering in

the world? Another agnostic asked, If there is a God, why is there evil? Why do bad things

happen to good people? Why is there so much needless suffering in the world, from natural

disasters and such? Why would a loving God do this? Numerous and various answers have been

given but permanently settling the issue is impossible because so many of our answers raise

further questions. Nevertheless, the lack of ability to answer the question perfectly does not

mean that we cannot offer solutions. Of course, I do not assume to be able to answer these

questions definitively, but I can offer some solutions.

I will begin by saying let us first consider the meaning of the word evil.

What is evil?

Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite ofgood. Definitions of evil vary, as does the analysis

of its root motives and causes; however, evil is commonly associated with conscious and

deliberate wrongdoing, disobeying the commandments of God or gods or the rules of society,

discrimination designed to harm others, humiliation of people designed to diminish their

psychological well-being and dignity, destructiveness, motives of

causing pain or suffering for selfish or malicious intentions, and acts of unnecessary or

indiscriminate violence, in contrast, there can be no such thing as evil apartfrom the existence

of God. Why not? Without God, without a moral law giver, we would not have any objective

(real) standards (laws) by which we might deem something to be evil. We would not be able toconclusively say, Kidnapping children and murdering them is evil. We could say, "We

don't like these things." But we could not call that kind of behavior evil(that which is morally

wrong). It would just be a matter of opinion (one man's opinion against another's).

In non theistic universe, where no moral laws really exist, there could be no such thing as evil.

And yet evil does exist! The existence of evil is the number one reason most non theists give as
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to why they dont believe in God. They are convinced that there is evil. They point to things like

slavery, racism, rape, kidnapping, molesting children, murder, and they say, These things are

truly evil. And rightly so! These things are evil!

Well, it is this evil that actually exists that verifies there is an actual, objective, real moral law in

the universe. But there can be no such thing as an objective moral law apart from a moral law

giver, God.

So as complex as this might sound, the reality of evil is actually evidenceforthe existence of

God, notagainst it.

There are two kinds of evil:

Moral and physical. Moral evil is willful sin, while physical evil is natural harm. Examples of

moral evil are murder, adultery, fornication, theft, sorcery, abortion, etc. Examples of physical

evil are famine, illness, natural disasters and death. Now evil is not something in itself, but

a lack of something that should be present, e.g. a lie lacks in truth. God does not create evil

since it is not a thing to be created. Evil is an imperfection, lack or void in God's creation.

Focusing first on moral evil:

If there is a good God, then why did He create morally evil people? In considering this question,

we must realize that God does not create evil people (Gen. 1:26-31). Being all-knowing, God

does knowingly create people who will be sinners, but knowledge and control are different.

God created us with the gift of free will - the ability to willfully choose Him or reject Him. We

choose to sin - to reject God - through willful disobedience. This rejection is a void in God's plan

for us.

God gave Adam dominion over the world (Gen. 1:28). When he rebelled against God, he set in

motion an entire series of events and changed the very nature of man and creation. Both were

affected by sin. Creation was no longer a paradise, but bore thorns and thistles (Gen. 3:17-

18; Rom. 8:22). People became sinful (Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:3), who were haters of God (Rom. 3:9-

12), etc. The only conclusion to such a situation is death. Jesus said, "And except those days

should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elects sake those days shall be

shortened" (Matt. 24:22).

God wants us to love Him, but without free will, we could not sincerely love Him. We cannot be

forced to love someone. If God created us without free will, we would be living machines

and not made in His image and likeness. God permits moral evil to the extent that He gives us

free will. Thanks to us, the moral evil in the world is the result of our choice.

Focusing next on physical evil, the question can be stated as:

"If there is a good God, why are there pain, suffering and death in the world?" Perhaps a harder

hitting version is: "If there is a just God, why do good people suffer?" Now suffering does serve
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a purpose in the material world. Pain retards us from damaging our bodies. I do not put my

hand in fire mainly out of fear of pain.

Material things operate according to physical laws. For example, fire operates according to the

laws of thermodynamics. The same laws which allow us to heat our homes during the winter,

can allow our homes to burn to the ground. To prevent the latter evil would require a miracle -

a suspension of physical laws. God permits physical evil to the extent that He does not perform

one miracle after another in order to stop suffering, thus causing the ordinary to become

extraordinary. Physical laws also apply the same to both good and bad people (Matt. 5:45).

Sin is rebellion against God and His created order, but God has not left us alone in this fallen

world. He continued to enter this world, pointing us to Himself, to truth, to morality, purity, and

love. He used the evil of the world (liars, perjurers, the envious, etc.), to bring His Son to the

cross so that we might have the opportunity to obtain eternal life. In this, God has not stepped

away from fallen creation, but has stepped into it by becoming Jesus. God works within the

fallen world to effect change and He uses fallen people to accomplish His will, in the same

token and simultaneously, He is proving His sovereignty over evil, suffering, and rebellious

people, proving that sin and evil are utterly futile, and that He is worthy of honor and glory.

Our sinful world is the unfortunate result of human choice; not even Satan can force us to sin.

Pain, suffering and death are integral parts of the material world due to Adam's sin, but

Christianity offers hope through the suffering of Jesus Christ. Evil in this world is not a disproof

of God, but a constant reminder of our need for the perfect God of the Bible (2 Cor 1:8-9).

References

Special thanks to the following:

Matthew J. Slick of Carm Org

Wikipedia

Charlie Campbell, Director of The Always Be Ready Apologetics Ministry

Philosophy Org

Reverend M. James Divis, S.T.L.

Reverend Fabian W. Bruskewitz, D.D., S.T.D.

Christ Nation Ministry

By: Max Shimba, A Bond Servant of Jesus Christ

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Why is There Evil and Suffering in the World?