Series: Apologetics
Category: Core Seminars, Apologetics, Evidence for Faith, The Problem of Evil
Detail:
Problem of Evil
I. INTRODUCTION
If you could ask God one question, what would it be? According to a poll of American adults, most people would ask: Why is their pain and suffering in the world? Augustine of Hippo asked the question a similar way: “If there is a God, why is there so much evil?”
In his book reflecting on the problem of evil, C.S. Lewis summarized it this way: “’If God were good, he would wish to make His creatures perfectly happy, and if God were almighty He would be able to do what He wished. But the creatures are not happy. Therefore God either lacks goodness, or power, or both.’ This is the problem of pain in its simplest form.”(The Problem of Pain)
Today, we will discuss the what we philosophically call “The Problem of Evil.”
II. What is “The Problem of Evil”
Practically, the problem before us today typically sounds like one of these others questions:
The famous utilitarian philosopher, John Stuart Mill, summarizes these questions in a philosophically:
What is at stake as we consider this question – at least to unbelievers – is the idea that God can not be all-powerful or that he cannot be all good. This is the problem that we will try to reconcile this morning, and we will conclude that despite evil in the world, God IS all-powerful and that He Is all good.
III. Common Solution: Theodicy
the•od•i•cy [thee-od-uh-see] –noun. A vindication of the divine attributes, particularly holiness and justice, in establishing or allowing the existence of physical and moral evil.
Let me start by giving you a brief overview of a few common solutions:
The question of the origin of evil has not been answered completely and satisfactorily by ANY system of thought. But, most systems have attempted to answer it.
A. Evil is Unreal – just an illusion
Charge: Evil is an illusion – it is not real (non-Christian and Eastern Mysticism).
Problems:
B. Evil is just good in disguise (Taoism)
Charge: From God’s perspective, all things are good, even though they may seem bad from our point of view (Romans 8:28)
Problems:
C. Dualism: God vs. Satan (Star Wars, Ying & Yang)
Charge: God really wants good, but Satan thwarts his purposes and wants evil.
D. We must have evil in order to appreciate good
Charge: To appreciate health, I must first understand sickness.
Problems:
E. Evil is just relative (post modern)
Charge: This is really not a theodicy as it doesn’t really seek to justify God – it really just seeks to eliminate Him. There is no such thing as good or evil; only how you feel about it matters.
Problems:
F. Open Theism: (“Christian” compromise)
Charge: Attempts to explain God’s Sovereignty and man’s choice.
Problems:
The problem remains: how could evil originate with a good God who created the world?
IV. The Biblical Conundrum
So what is the solution?
In one sense, there certainly are answers in the Bible about this, but in another sense, there is not a crisp single sentence answer that is tied up with a bow. We just to not have perfect resolution of this issue as Christians. What I can do – however – is to provide the Biblical perspective for the “Problem.”
As we have talked about before, our knowledge is limited, our minds are fallen. But just because cannot understand some real things fully, does not mean we are unable to understand those things truly. (Example: the Trinity). So, in that sense, we don’t have a “solution” in the sense that we can make perfect sense of evil, suffering and pain in this world.
The complete full answer has not been revealed to us by God. So can we trust in a God who has not revealed this to us in full?
YES. Absolutely. We trust God because of what we do know and what God has revealed to us.
Imperfect Example:
V. We Can Trust God As He Has Been Revealed To Us
1) God is the all-powerful governor of His Universe
Psalm 115:3 – “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.”
Genesis 1. God spoke and the worlds were created.
Colossians 1. “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
2) God is in control of every aspect of His creation
Ephesians 1:11 - “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.”
Psalm 33:15
3) God even orchestrates the sins of man to glorify himself (yet is not tainted by them)
Exodus 4:21 – “The LORD said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.”
Consider the actions of Pilate. The Pharisees. Judas.
4) Yet, God is never blameworthy for evil that occurs. Those who commit evil are to blame.
James 1:13-14 – “When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.”
5) For God is good and holy, and he hates evil
Habakkuk 1:13 – “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?”
Revelation 4 – “Day and night [the creatures around the throne of God] never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come”
6) God judges us. We do not judge God.
Romans 9:19-21—“One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?”
7) God will use evil for an ultimate good purpose (which we may not now fully understand): a “greater good” [may change wording so as not to confuse with a utilitarian “greater good”]
Genesis 50:20 – “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Consider the crucifixion of Jesus. The worst tragedy of human history is the brutal murder of the only perfect man to ever live. But this injustice is also the most glorious event of human history – God’s sacrifice of his Son to ransom a people unto himself. Friends, if the ultimate evil can result in the ultimate good, God can use lesser evils in other places and times in history – even in our lives – for our good.
Scripture does sometimes show how God has used evil to advance His purposes (three examples):
1. Displaying His mercy and justice
2. Redemption – Christ’s sufferings on our behalf.
Paul sees his sufferings for the church and the spread of the gospel as similar to Christ’s sufferings.
3. Shock value to unbelievers that can gain their attention and promote a change in heart.
We as humans have a tendency to forget God when things are going well. God can use pain and suffering to accomplish this. God may use pain as a megaphone to rouse a deaf world from our complacency.
4. Fatherly discipline of believers
VI. We Should Trust the God Who Has Revealed Himself
1.) END SUFFERING-- GOD WILL ONE DAY PUT AN END TO PAIN, SUFFERING & EVIL
Our hope of Heaven is captured well in Revelation 21:1-4:
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He 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."
2.) EXPERIENCED EVIL – Christians’ “Answer” to the Problem of Pain is Found in Jesus’ Death on the Cross
Where is God in a world of pain and evil? His answer is the Incarnation. The Word, Jesus, became Flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus knew fatigue, hunger, sorrow, and pain. His friends aged, grew sick, and died. He was betrayed by a friend. He entered into all out human agony and bore all the pain of our sin on his very self.
Peter Kreeft: “Many Christians try to get God off the hook for suffering. God put himself on the hook, so to speak, on the cross.”
(Kreeft) “It’s significant that most objections to the existence of God from the problem of suffering come from outside observers who are quite comfortable, whereas those who actually suffer are – as often as not – made into stronger believers by their suffering.” Why? In large part because they follow One who was a Suffering Servant, who was despised, rejected, beaten, and killed.
So, friend, the answer to suffering is not an answer at all. It’s the Answerer, Jesus himself.
The answer to suffering is not just an abstract notion, because the problem is not abstract; it is real and personal. And in Jesus’ life and death and resurrection, we find a real and personal answer. When we cry out, God, where are you? We need to look with eyes of faith to the cross.
John Stott: “I could never myself believe in God, if it were not for the cross….in the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it?........There is still a question mark against human suffering, but over it we boldly stamp another mark, the cross which symbolizes divine suffering.”
3.) EXECUTE JUSTICE - GOD WILL ONE DAY VINDICATE HIMSELF
3.) ENDURE -- GOD WILL NEVER LET HIS CHILDREN GO
VII. CONCLUSION
Scripture doesn’t answer our inquiry with a philosophical solution to the problem of evil. We can not finally address non-Christians and others with an answer that will put all their philosophical wonderings to sleep.
Nor, will our experience of suffering ever be removed. Jesus is the model of the Suffering Servant who triumphs over the world.
The truths that we talked about today give Christians the ONLY satisfactory answer to the Problem of Evil and they give us assurance and motivation to keep trusting and obeying God despite this problem of evil.
“…these were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us…” Hebrews 11:32-40
What is the origin of sin?
Excellent John MacArthur article on the subject: http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/90-235.htm
