The Problem of Evil has posed a dilemma for many a person, in my opinion, because one begins their analysis by asking the wrong question, "Why does an all loving God allow evil and suffering to exist in the world?"
This question assumes that mankind is deserving of goodness and not evil. This question absolves mankind from accepting any responsibility regarding the ongoing evil that occurs in this world. Furthermore, the question deems God as Omnipotent, being able to do something about the evil (not allowing it) while simultaneously blaming Him for not doing anything about it. Perhaps one is angry at God because He can do something about it, but yet chooses to do nothing about it, or to allow it as He sees fit at certain times and not at other times. If this is the case, then one must suggest that it is also God's prerogative to do as He pleases regarding the matter of Evil.
But still I have not offered the question that should be asked. The one that I believe corrects our thinking regarding the Problem of Evil. Instead of asking, "Why does an all loving God allow evil and suffering to exist in the world?" we should begin to ask ourselves, "Why does God allow goodness to enter into a world that is comprised of evil people?"
The latter question acknowledges that goodness does exist in the world and not evil alone. We celebrate the life of a newborn child, a cure from a disease, material possessions, friendship, and love. Where does this goodness come from? Is it mankind who creates such things, as it were, taking lemons and making lemonade? If we embrace mankind as the author of goodness, we must also accuse mankind for the perpetuation and existence of evil.
We understand that there is a dualism at work here, but is it necessary? Is it necessary for evil to exist with goodness? One needs only to turn to the Laws of Nature to answer this question... (Yes). So is a world without evil really a better world at all? No Evil = No Goodness. No Evil + No Goodness = No Existence
This question assumes that mankind is deserving of goodness and not evil. This question absolves mankind from accepting any responsibility regarding the ongoing evil that occurs in this world. Furthermore, the question deems God as Omnipotent, being able to do something about the evil (not allowing it) while simultaneously blaming Him for not doing anything about it. Perhaps one is angry at God because He can do something about it, but yet chooses to do nothing about it, or to allow it as He sees fit at certain times and not at other times. If this is the case, then one must suggest that it is also God's prerogative to do as He pleases regarding the matter of Evil.
But still I have not offered the question that should be asked. The one that I believe corrects our thinking regarding the Problem of Evil. Instead of asking, "Why does an all loving God allow evil and suffering to exist in the world?" we should begin to ask ourselves, "Why does God allow goodness to enter into a world that is comprised of evil people?"
The latter question acknowledges that goodness does exist in the world and not evil alone. We celebrate the life of a newborn child, a cure from a disease, material possessions, friendship, and love. Where does this goodness come from? Is it mankind who creates such things, as it were, taking lemons and making lemonade? If we embrace mankind as the author of goodness, we must also accuse mankind for the perpetuation and existence of evil.
We understand that there is a dualism at work here, but is it necessary? Is it necessary for evil to exist with goodness? One needs only to turn to the Laws of Nature to answer this question... (Yes). So is a world without evil really a better world at all? No Evil = No Goodness. No Evil + No Goodness = No Existence
2 comments:
Asking the right question is certainly key in helping people understand the awesome nature of God. I sat in a service at FBC College Staiton over the mother's day weekend and the preacher first listed all the adjectives that man has created for God that are not listed in the Bible - words such as omniscience, omnipotent, in control and the like. His sermon was based on the most correct word that is God - Love. It was a good thinking exercise mulling over all the characteristics of what love is and how God fulfills those.
The service sounds interesting. Although words like omniscience and omnipotence are not verbatim in the Bible, I would not say that man created those words for God.
Because the Bible is the inspired word of God, it was the Holy Spirit given by God who directed the words that have been preserved in the Holy Bible. While culture may dictate the specific words mankind uses to elucidate a thought or to convey a message, the meaning can still remain the same today as much as two millennium ago as long as we can understand the intended meaning the author was desiring to convey. If we do not embrace this notion, we will find ourselves on a slippery slope that purports modern translations of the Bible (ESV, NASB, NLT, etc...) are simply translations of translations and are thus corrupted (Mormonism).
In the OT the most common word found in many translations today to describe the OMNIPOTENCE of God is the word ALMIGHTY. In the ESV translation of the Bible, this word is used 48 times in the OT (most common in Job) and 12 times in the NT (most common in Rev).
In Hebrew, the word Shaddai (ּּּשׁדי) is always rendered Almighty. Here are a few examples.
Gn 17:1; 35:11
Ru 1:20-21
Jb 5:17; 6:14
In the Greek, the word God (θεός), Lord (κύριος), and Almighty (παντοκράτωρ ) convey the meaning of Omnipotence. Here are a few examples.
2 Cor 6:18
Rev 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7; 19:6; 21:22
The word Omniscience is conveyed throughout the Bible to describe God as all knowing. The prophet Samuel said God knows all things on the Earth. Jeremiah pleaded with God, who knew all the plotting of those who were trying to kill him to cast HIs judgment on them. God Himself says that He knows all His creation. And the Apostle John testified that Christ knew all that would happen to him before He was arrested. His disciples recognized the Omniscience of Christ and confessed to Him that He knew all things.
OT References
Gen 1&2
2 Sam 14:20
Psalm 50:11
Jer 18:23
NT References
John 16:30
John 18:4
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