The problem of evil is the No. 1 reason people give for not believing in God. They assume that a good God would not allow for evil to exist, and an omnipotent God would be able to keep it out, so the existence of evil means God is either not all-good or not all-powerful. And so they conclude that there is no God.
Christians can’t solve the problem of evil—no one can. But we have more to say about it than anyone else. First, theism trumps atheism. Consider the horror of believing that evil exists but God doesn’t. If the world were simply a series of random events, what would keep us from being struck by the ricocheting pinball of death? But we live as if there is a God who governs our world. Every time we leave our homes, we’re assuming that it’s safe enough to venture out.
This belief in God inspired Job to challenge Him, “Tell me the charge You are bringing against me. What do you gain by oppressing me?” (Job 10:2-3). Imagine Job’s plight if he didn’t believe in God. Where would he go with his complaint?
Second, Christianity trumps every other theism. Christians have a transcendent God who makes our lives secure, and we also have a God who suffered and understands what we’re going through. Jesus “understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do” (Hebrews 4:15). And “since He Himself has gone through suffering and testing, He is able to help us when we are being tested” (Hebrews 2:18).
We don’t know why God allows evil, but we know that He too has faced it. No one has suffered more from evil than Jesus. So when you pour out your pain in prayer, you cry out to One who understands.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 21:25-38
More:
Read Isaiah 53:1-12 to remember the evil that Jesus endured for you and for me.
Next:
What event has shaken your faith in God? How do the death and resurrection of Jesus encourage you to hold on?
alli on September 8, 2013 at 8:54 am
Evil exists bc there needs to b an opposite of good. You cannot explain to someone who believes there is no God bc they already feel they are good, so theres no real reason for God.once they understand they arent good, bc God is they realize they need Him. I guess evil exists bc sin exists and thats not Gods fault really. Ppl in Sudan suffer bc of others evil not God, He allows it i mean He doesnt have to stop it, i suppose if we didnt choose Him. I wrestled with this, but even when God allows evil theres a good reason even in that. My parents discipline me, it hurts but is Good for me i think atheists confuse Gods discipline with Him allowing evil. I dunno
floyd on September 9, 2013 at 12:01 am
The reason that evil exist is because we choose to have it in our lives. Just like Adam and Eve choose to try evil (they choose to eat that fruit), we also choose to have evil in our life. We do not have the power to wipe away this evil in our lives but God does have the power and has promise to do so when His Son Jesus returns. Furthermore, God has promise to wipe away every all evil to the point that we will remember it no more in the new heaven and the new earth.
rogermd on September 9, 2013 at 12:27 am
The question posed in the Post is valid. If God will eliminate evil eventually, and is able to, why not now? It has to be that he permits it. This appears to be amunition for the atheist. The convinced atheist also says ‘good’ and ‘evil’ are only names for random events that are convenient for us or inconvenient. They will say further ‘God’ and ‘devil’ are only personifications of these ideas, not realities. This is foolishness. The earthly soul does not accept doctrine, nor can it understand it, it is foolishness to them becasue it is spiritually discerned. We who believe have by the Holy Spirit been made wiser than the world’s wisdom. Do not expect to make much headway in a debate on this subject; stick to the reality of Jesus. He is undeniable!