If God is so good, why is there evil and suffering in the world?
One of the foremost philosophical oppositions to biblical Christianity is posited in the above question. The classic objection/accusation is that if God were both good and powerful, he wouldn’t allow evil and suffering to exist. So, either he’s not powerful enough to stop it, or he doesn’t care, meaning he’s not really good. Of course, the dream world they imagine without pain and suffering, sounds like the Garden of Eden God first made. A world where everything was perfect, and everything was provided. No sickness, sin, or death. No thorns, thistles or sweaty drudgery. Daily visits with God, married to the most beautiful woman in the world, in a paradise that must have been like an eternal vacation. All that was required of man was to obey one simple rule. But think he would he do that? Nooooooo!
Actually the problem of evil is a very simple question to answer
I routinely give college guys this scenario. “Imagine if I asked you, what kind of girl do you like? Asian, Nordic, Hispanic, Blonde, Brunette, Redhead or whatever. .
(I lean in and whisper) For 6 hundred bucks, I can get you
whatever you want. And you can keep her tied up in the basement.
Often they get a repulsed look on their face. I quickly say, “Unless you are a
sick pervert, you would not be interested in that. Because you want a bride that will choose to have a relationship with you. Because she loves you.
Now GOD is the same way. He created us, and could have easily programmed us to always say the right thing, do the right thing. Walk around like robots chanting- I love you God. I worship you God.
But that wouldn’t be any more gratifying than you programming your phone to wake you up by saying, “Good Morning Handsome.” It wouldn’t mean anything. It wouldn’t be real. So the bottom line is this. God gave us free will because LOVE is not possible without it. And like real men, God wants a BRIDE, not a slave tied up in the basement.
As a child, my wife Maria went through her parents divorcing, and her mother being institutionalized with psychiatric disorders. Maria endured emotional abuse and some degree of sexual molestation, among other bad family issues. She was abusing alcohol and tempted to commit suicide at the tender age of 9 years old. Years later, as a UNL college student, she was invited to a Bible study for the first time in her life. There, she sincerely asked the, “If God is so good, why did all this happen to me?” question which so many others ask to accuse God.
A well-meaning but biblically illiterate Christian girl told her that perhaps God made her go through all that stuff to teach her something. My wife glared at the girl and told her through clenched teeth that if that were the case, then all God had taught her was to be hard. Thankfully now my wife has a biblical answer. She can comfort others with the comfort she has been comforted with. (2Cor. 1:4)
Of course, God knew that many (most) people would selfishly misuse their free will to indulge in sin and selfishness and hurt him and others. No one is hurt more by sin than God is. And he sees it all. Every sickening detail of every cold case case man has forgotten. His patience, love, and longsuffering staggers the imagination. One wonders why God doesn’t just wad up the whole ball of trash and throw everyone into hell. But he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2Peter 3:9) I believe both the wrath and mercy of God are both beyond our full comprehension.
Sin and suffering are a horrifying reality in our fallen world. Man without God often becomes a literal monster of iniquity, commmitting unspeakably brutal acts of violence and perversion. Yet as unspeakably bad as sin and suffering are- the joy of love is unspeakably greater. Love between parent and child. Love between man and wife. Love between friends. Love between creature and Creator.
It is God’s desire to have that loving relationship with you and each of one of us. He is well able to not only heal all our hurts, but enable us to forgive others who have hurt us. It is truly miraculous, and begins when we say yes to him with all our heart.
#4 1-27-2019
.