The Problem of Evil
“If God is so good, then how do you explain evil? Why would a good God allow such terrible things?”
This question summarizes the problem of evil. As Christians, we proclaim an all-powerful God. We also proclaim a God who loves unconditionally. With these two contentions, Christians face the difficult question: Why would an all-powerful God and all-loving God allow terrible things to happen? Why would such a God allow, for example, children to suffer abuse? Or permit a young mother to die from cancer? Is God really that powerful or that loving? These probing questions leave many people doubting God’s existence, power, and nature.
So, is God good? The Bible says so: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. The Bible repeats that sentence in eight instances (1 Chronicles 16.34; 2 Chronicles 7.3; Psalm 106.1; Psalm 107.1; Psalm 118.1, 29; Psalm 136.1; and Jeremiah 33.11.)
But what about evil?
Before getting to that question, let consider a different idea, which at first, seems disconnected. Have you ever been criticized for something that you are not? For example, perhaps you are disorganized. Someone snipes at you: “How come you are always losing things?” Or perhaps, financial numbers just jumble in your brain, and yet, someone demeans you: “How can you not know the exact number in that account?” We can also be unfair to ourselves: “My neighbors’ flowers bloom every year and yet I am growing the same plant, but mine looks like an apocalyptic twig in the ground.” Criticism for what we are not – whether by another person or from ourselves – is unfair. We cannot be what we are not.
Now, let’s consider God: Our all-powerful and unconditionally loving God is not evil. Our God is good. And true, evil happens in our world, but God is not causing evil. In fact, evil is not in God’s nature. And just as it seems unfair to criticize a disorganized person for his lack of organization, it likewise seems unfair to criticize God for the presence evil. Such evil did not originate with God, and it certainly is not caused by God. At present, God does permit evil, but such permission will not extend into perpetuity. At some future point, we cling to the hope that Jesus will return, and all things will be made right: “[God] will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21.4).” At present though, evil exists, but blaming God for its presence is the equivalent of blaming a poor mathematician for lacking the ability of a CFO (chief financial officer). By given nature, the poor mathematician can never achieve such ability. Likewise, God, by innate nature, is not causing evil. And if God is not causing evil, let’s not make God accountable for evil.
But … what about evil? Our problem with evil is more about our ingratitude than evil’s presence. Typically, people become discontent with God when one of two things happen: (1) They receive something undesirable that they did not deserve or (2) They are withheld something desirably that they think they do deserve. And often, this frustration is couched in the language of The Problem of Evil. For example, a person gets cancer – a number one illustration. Or for example, a married couple cannot have natural children – a number two illustration. Either way, their frustration with God stems from ingratitude. Instead of being grateful for what have received, the person denigrates God for their cancer or infertility. A grateful response recognizes the gift of living, even when those years seem too short. A grateful response recognizes the joy of finding a loving spouse, even though the pleasure of children Is withheld. The Problem of Evil, we find, is more about perspective. In life, we can always have the grumps with God; we all live through sorrows, pains, and losses. In life, though, we can always have gratitude toward God – remembering and being thankful for what we have received. Let’s choose the latter.
