The Problem of Evil.

Why would you believe or suggest that a Perfect God could , would, or should do anything different that what He has purposed to do?

 

Romans 9 gives the only indication as to the why question.

You're assuming that if you can see no good reason for evil and suffering then there can be none.

 

Huge and interesting subject, P.O.E. !! I don’t really have a lot of time for this but maybe I can offer some food for thought on this subject:

God IS Omnipotent, and does have the power to stop evil. In fact, I believe it part of His plan to do just that and that day will come.

God IS Omnibenevolent, and His being willing to stop evil doesn’t come into a question of willingness and will be on His Own terms.

God IS Omniscient, and this statement, along with the first two, when breaking down the logic merely heads in the direction of begging the question through attempting to attribute evil to God and/or presumes knowing God’s purposes and/or, maybe worst of all, placing one’s judgment on God for allowing evil to exist. I believe evil has to do with the design of His creatures and it is in God’s truth concerning their nature wherein they are solely responsible for the evil which exists in the world.

God created the world as only good, …err actually “very good” (Gen 1:31) but man introduced evil in his prideful disobedience. Man, in his gifted nature, believed he could perfectly judge between good and evil and wished to be as God. (Gen 3:22) Therein (having knowledge of good and evil), man fell short as there is, and can only be, only One God, One King who is to judge all things.

Man loves to look for excuses for his evil:

Rom 1:20-22

(20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

(21) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

(22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Rather than being thankful for his wonderful design, man, would rather say they were forced to be in this world and some like to claim they had no choices in life but to be tempted and use it as an excuse to avoid responsibility by claiming inability either way:

Jas 1:13

(13) Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

But God’s plan in creation is without doubt perfect and just in every way and man will be held responsible for his evil that he brought into the world while being judged for his evil in Truth, but for His Grace:

Deu 32:3-6

(3) Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.

(4) He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

(5) They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.

(6) Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?

 

Was that the question you initially asked?

Pose your question to Job, and see what his reply is. . .

 

I don't think that the problem is that difficult for Christians. The Fall explains a lot, and individual sin, the rest. God created mankind and his environment, "good".

We have grown so accustomed to putting God in the dock that even your OP isn't shocking (to most), but it should be, as a couple of wise brothers have already pointed out.

"Skeptics" (there are no such beasts, BTW. Read Romans 1) have no explanation, compensation, or comfort for suffering. Have you considered that? Ask them for a defense of suffering and evil from their worldview. What would they say?

 

I use the story of creation a lot to explain why evil is allowed to exist and relate it to man being designed with free will among his attributes and where in truth the responsibility for evil rests.


Prideful”, relates to the special gift of being created in God’s own image and likeness, to be given the attributes of sense, reason, intellect and the freedom of will to choose. In his pride of design, man, thinking he is pretty cool and should take it to next level, chose not to obey God and when hearing the lies of Satan that his eyes would be open and they would as gods, to know good and evil, man used his free will that he was given.

The result is that in man, of his own choosing, adding the attribute to know good and evil he fell short of God’s judgment of it, therein man was no longer only good as created but now responsible for evil in his disobedience of God.

Did God know man would make this choice? Of course, He is Omniscient, which is why before the foundation of the world, in love for His creation, God promised His Son for His creatures’ redemption and had prepared the Way.

Something here I might point out is the question, did God then recreate man to no longer have these attributes which included freedom of the will and choice? So that he would no longer free will? No, what change took place was that man gained the attribute of the knowledge of good and evil of his own doing and is fully and wholly responsible for the falling short in his judgment of it. Man was now dead in sin, by nature he would miss the mark of perfection, for there is only One God who can make such judgment perfectly.

Then comes, God told man that now he had to use this same ability, attributes/freedom of will, to put his hand forth and take of the tree of life.

Gen 3:22

(22) And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

And unless man, who was now dead in sin, separated from God, unable to meet God’s perfection necessary to live with Him in is Kingdom forever would put forth his hand and “take” the offer given to him of the way of life, as per God’s judgment/providence/, well, he will remain dead! That Way would be revealed in good time so that we could know His truth, love His truth and make that choice. – no excuses, personally, I’d hate to go around sounding as if I had a grudge against being created, not being thankful, but rather claiming I didn’t and don’t have a choice but to accept His offer of Grace freely. Yeah, God is powerful to be able to make us confess belief and accept His "gift" but where is the real love in being dragged, forced and having no choice, anyway?

 

Icon asked a straightforward question. I have been following the thread and really want to hear your answer.