The The Problem Problem of Evilof Evil

Consider This:Consider This:

Terrible tragedy seems to Terrible tragedy seems to have no positive valuehave no positive value

Genocides of Hitler & StalinGenocides of Hitler & Stalin

Child slowly dying from Child slowly dying from cancer in terrible paincancer in terrible pain

Baby in 3Baby in 3rdrd world country world country dying of starvationdying of starvation

Little child molestedLittle child molested

Consider This:Consider This:

Terrible tragedy seems to Terrible tragedy seems to have no positive valuehave no positive value

Genocides of Hitler & StalinGenocides of Hitler & Stalin

Child slowly dying from Child slowly dying from cancer in terrible paincancer in terrible pain

Baby in 3Baby in 3rdrd world country world country dying of starvationdying of starvation

Little child molestedLittle child molested

“How could a

good God allow this?”

Epicurus – 300 BCEpicurus – 300 BC““Either God wants to abolish Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; or he can, evil, and cannot; or he can, but does not want to. If he but does not want to. If he wants to, but cannot, he is wants to, but cannot, he is impotent. If he can, but does impotent. If he can, but does not want to, he is wicked. If not want to, he is wicked. If God can abolish evil, and God God can abolish evil, and God really wants to do it, why is really wants to do it, why is there evil in the world?”there evil in the world?”

They Say That Christians They Say That Christians Cannot Logically Accept:Cannot Logically Accept:

1.1. God is All-PowerfulGod is All-Powerful

2.2. God is All-Good {yet evil God is All-Good {yet evil exists in the world}exists in the world}

3.3. He should want to get rid He should want to get rid of evil {must be able to of evil {must be able to prevent it & rid the world prevent it & rid the world of it}of it}

Presence of Evil does Presence of Evil does not make God impotent not make God impotent

or evilor evilPresence of evil in no Presence of evil in no way contradicts God’s way contradicts God’s naturenature

God is HolyGod is Holy

He does no moral evilHe does no moral evil

God is light – 1 John 1:5God is light – 1 John 1:5

Build a “Straw man” Build a “Straw man” ArgumentArgument

Misrepresent world view of Misrepresent world view of true Christianstrue Christians

““We begin with presupposition We begin with presupposition about what Bible teachesabout what Bible teaches

That God is Holy & GoodThat God is Holy & Good

Then try to fit presence of Evil Then try to fit presence of Evil into the picture so His holiness into the picture so His holiness is not violated.”is not violated.”

Three Questions in Three Questions in ResponseResponse

Who are You to argue Who are You to argue against God?against God?

By what standard do You By what standard do You make such a judgment?make such a judgment?

IF God were to rid the IF God were to rid the world of evil, what would world of evil, what would happen to You?happen to You?

Who are You?Who are You?

Real Issues:Real Issues:

Their autonomy, pride & Their autonomy, pride & arrogance for trying to use God arrogance for trying to use God as an excuse for their rebellion!as an excuse for their rebellion!

Many claim God nothing more Many claim God nothing more than a fairy tale or wishful than a fairy tale or wishful thinking, talk about Him as if thinking, talk about Him as if they believe He exists! they believe He exists!

We need to Use & Speak the We need to Use & Speak the Word with Authority. Hebrews Word with Authority. Hebrews 4:124:12

Three Questions in Three Questions in ResponseResponse

WHO do you think you are, WHO do you think you are, speaking against the speaking against the creator of the Universe creator of the Universe like this?like this?

Romans 9:20-22Romans 9:20-22

Job 38:2-6; 40:1-5Job 38:2-6; 40:1-5

God has a way of shutting God has a way of shutting mouthsmouths

Three Questions in Three Questions in ResponseResponse

What is your Standard of What is your Standard of Morality & Truth?Morality & Truth?

Proverbs 26:4,5Proverbs 26:4,5

Problem of evil not a logical Problem of evil not a logical issue for believer, but issue for believer, but unbeliever – they have no unbeliever – they have no logical or rational basis to logical or rational basis to make such an argument make such an argument against Godagainst God

Only from a “theistic world Only from a “theistic world view” can someone consider view” can someone consider anything genuinely evil in the anything genuinely evil in the objective sense.objective sense.

Declaring anything “evil” Declaring anything “evil” assumes an objective standard assumes an objective standard to judge good & evil.to judge good & evil.

Only way is to have an absolute Only way is to have an absolute moral law giver.moral law giver.

Unbeliever has no logical basis Unbeliever has no logical basis to stand on.to stand on.

Only from a “theistic world Only from a “theistic world view” can someone consider view” can someone consider anything genuinely evil in the anything genuinely evil in the objective sense.objective sense.

Declaring anything “evil” Declaring anything “evil” assumes an objective standard assumes an objective standard to judge good & evil.to judge good & evil.

Only way is to have an absolute Only way is to have an absolute moral law giver.moral law giver.

Unbeliever has no logical basis Unbeliever has no logical basis to stand on.to stand on.

Needs to Needs to Borrow Borrow

from God’s from God’s Standard to Standard to

Criticize Criticize GodGod

““Atheism reduces morals to Atheism reduces morals to either personal preferences either personal preferences similar to enjoying one similar to enjoying one flavor of ice cream over flavor of ice cream over another, or to the another, or to the increasing preferences of a increasing preferences of a given people group. In given people group. In either case, a blatant fact either case, a blatant fact remains: morals are remains: morals are entirely “arbitrary & entirely “arbitrary & subjective.”subjective.”

Atheist- Hitler Perfectly Atheist- Hitler Perfectly MoralMoral

Accepted by German society Accepted by German society as a wholeas a whole

IF morality is chosen by IF morality is chosen by consensus of society, no consensus of society, no reason for unbeliever today reason for unbeliever today to condemn Hitler!to condemn Hitler!

““Survival of the fittest”Survival of the fittest”

““Might makes right”Might makes right”

IF you reject God, Cannot IF you reject God, Cannot account for Objective account for Objective

MoralityMorality““One cannot consistently affirm One cannot consistently affirm both that there are no objective both that there are no objective moral values, on the one hand, moral values, on the one hand, and that rape, torture & the and that rape, torture & the like are objectively morally evil like are objectively morally evil on the other.” [Chad Meister]on the other.” [Chad Meister]

Unbelieving Atheist cannot Unbelieving Atheist cannot prove anything objectively good prove anything objectively good or evil.or evil.

Three Questions in Three Questions in ResponseResponse

IF God were to rid the world IF God were to rid the world of evil, what would happen to of evil, what would happen to You?You?

Romans 3:10-12 “none Romans 3:10-12 “none righteous, no, not one”righteous, no, not one”

““IF God were to destroy ALL IF God were to destroy ALL of the evil in this world in 5 of the evil in this world in 5 minutes, where would You be minutes, where would You be in 5 min. & 1 second?”in 5 min. & 1 second?”

Why does God allow Why does God allow evil?evil?

I am sure that God has a I am sure that God has a morally sufficient reason morally sufficient reason for the evil which exists in for the evil which exists in the worldthe world

God can use evil to God can use evil to accomplish good:accomplish good:–Acts 4:27,28Acts 4:27,28

God Used Evil to Bring God Used Evil to Bring SalvationSalvation

Innocent man arrestedInnocent man arrested

Unfairly & unjustly TriedUnfairly & unjustly Tried

Beaten, mocked, spat upon Beaten, mocked, spat upon & murdered& murdered

God planned it for goodGod planned it for good

Death of Christ = Our HopeDeath of Christ = Our Hope

God Used Evil to Bring God Used Evil to Bring SalvationSalvation

Evil prevails when we reject Evil prevails when we reject the remedy for the guilt of the remedy for the guilt of SIN provided by the Blood SIN provided by the Blood of Jesus Christ!of Jesus Christ!

1 Corinthians 15:55-57 “God 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 “God gives us the victory through gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”our Lord Jesus Christ.”