If God Exists, Why Is There Evil? By Norman Geisler

[Free]

So many like to write about evil land the problem of evil.
They write pages and pages and even books. But when you're through reading everything, you still don't get an answer. So I wonder why it's written about at all.

They write about it for at least two reasons: 1) It is a problem that has perplexed and affected every person that has ever lived, and 2) atheists and others falsely believe it to prove the non-existence of the Christian God.

And for those two reasons it needs to be written about, although there has not likely been anything new written about it for a long time. It's just that different viewpoints or the same viewpoints stated differently can help one in understanding and dealing with the difficulties that arise.

The only thing that could be said about it is that we don't KNOW why evil exists and we just have to learn to accept it.

While we cannot say why evil exists or how it came to exist, we can say more than that. We can say that God provided the means, through Christ's death and resurrection, to defeat evil and that at some point it will not exist.

I mean, just look at the point above: God is more interested in our holiness than in our happiness. If God loves us, shouldn't He also be interested in seeing us happy?
(I think He is, BTW). I have a cat. I like to see my cat be happy. If I had the power, he'd always be happy and he'd never be sick.

This, BTW, does not lessen my love for our God.

I don't think that that is the case. It could be argued that God is most interested in our happiness but that in order for our ultimate happiness, we need to be purged of sin through the process of sanctification. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14), and that is where our greatest happiness will be found.

 

[GodsGrace]

They write about it for at least two reasons: 1) It is a problem that has perplexed and affected every person that has ever lived, and 2) atheists and others falsely believe it to prove the non-existence of the Christian God.

And for those two reasons it needs to be written about, although there has not likely been anything new written about it for a long time. It's just that different viewpoints or the same viewpoints stated differently can help one in understanding and dealing with the difficulties that arise.


While we cannot say why evil exists or how it came to exist, we can say more than that. We can say that God provided the means, through Christ's death and resurrection, to defeat evil and that at some point it will not exist.


I don't think that that is the case. It could be argued that God is most interested in our happiness but that in order for our ultimate happiness, we need to be purged of sin through the process of sanctification. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14), and that is where our greatest happiness will be found.

I agree with all of the above. You make good points as to why much is written about this.
I went through a phase where I believed this life to be a testing ground, but I've rejected that too considering that God is love and that would not be a loving thing to do.

I just know that God is the light and we're to cling to Jesus.

 

[ezra]

I agree with all of the above. You make good points as to why much is written about this.
I went through a phase where I believed this life to be a testing ground, but I've rejected that too considering that God is love and that would not be a loving thing to do.

I just know that God is the light and we're to cling to Jesus.

we are tested to some degree every day they call it Holy ghost school hard knocks

 

[GodsGrace]

we are tested to some degree every day they call it Holy ghost school hard knocks

Sure. But do you believe we are put here on this earth to be tested and to determine if we deserve hell or heaven? Is this our reason for being here?

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

Sure. But do you believe we are put here on this earth to be tested and to determine if we deserve hell or heaven? Is this our reason for being here?

Good question.

 

[Free]

Sure. But do you believe we are put here on this earth to be tested and to determine if we deserve hell or heaven? Is this our reason for being here?

If God created man to be in relationship with Him, glorify Him, and enjoy Him forever, could He have done it any other way?

 

[GodsGrace]

If God created man to be in relationship with Him, glorify Him, and enjoy Him forever, could He have done it any other way?

Well, I hear say that God created us because He wanted company. We don't really know why, but it makes sense. God is social and has involved Himself with man.
But if he needed company, couldn't He have made a pleasant ambiance for us?
No sickness, no hurt, all love and nice things.
(this is what I'd do for my cat).
It could have been done that way.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

Well, I hear say that God created us because He wanted company. We don't really know why, but it makes sense. God is social and has involved Himself with man.
But if he needed company, couldn't He have made a pleasant ambiance for us?
No sickness, no hurt, all love and nice things.
(this is what I'd do for my cat).
It could have been done that way.

I really don't know, but at first glance I thought this post said that God was involved in social media. I'm like really? Wow, even the creator of the universe has finally gotten into the latest technology of the 21st century.

 

[UberMink]

I see the acts of evil as the extreme swing of the pendulum of human potential. We can gravitate toward the good or the bad in our own selves. Like bathing in great amounts of light or preferring the deepest dark. It is all our doing after all. We exploit what is inside us being drawn there due to our own mental capacity and physiology.
God is the creator of all things, including darkness and light, evil and good. Human's are the only creature on earth that exercise behavior that is judged as what constitutes evil.
Serial killers are evil, terrorists are evil, child rapists are evil. Some people are born without conscience. It is a birth defect and can't be helped in that regard. As to the rest of us, it is a choice based on a number of things. Nature and nurture both. If someone is born into an abusive family they tend to be abusive.

God exists in the darkness and the light. We humans choose to perpetrate the darkness as a tool called evil. In the case of being born without a conscience there are choices there too and yet without conscience it is anyone's guess as to how such a person will turn out.
God is always in control.

 

[GodsGrace]

I really don't know, but at first glance I thought this post said that God was involved in social media. I'm like really? Wow, even the creator of the universe has finally gotten into the latest technology of the 21st century.

Funny!
No. I meant that God is a social being, just like we are.
We're made in the image of God and have some of his attributes.
This is one of them.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

Funny!
No. I meant that God is a social being, just like we are.
We're made in the image of God and have some of his attributes.
This is one of them.

I know, I think I need new glasses. Lol, can you imagine God with a Facebook account, I don't know how on earth He would keep track of all His friends. LOL! He would probably have to block quite a few people though too. Lol

 

[Free]

Well, I hear say that God created us because He wanted company. We don't really know why, but it makes sense. God is social and has involved Himself with man.

God is triune. He didn't need company.

But if he needed company, couldn't He have made a pleasant ambiance for us?
No sickness, no hurt, all love and nice things.
(this is what I'd do for my cat).
It could have been done that way.

But is that truly free will? Can we be truly free if we have no choice between obedience and rebellion? Would that not be coercion?

 

[dirtfarmer]

God is triune. He didn't need company.


But is that truly free will? Can we be truly free if we have no choice between obedience and rebellion? Would that not be coercion?

hello Free, dirtfarmer here

I am not sure that it would be coercion, but it would be robotic.

 

[GodsGrace]

God is triune. He didn't need company.


But is that truly free will? Can we be truly free if we have no choice between obedience and rebellion? Would that not be coercion?

Good point.

 

[ezra]

Sure. But do you believe we are put here on this earth to be tested and to determine if we deserve hell or heaven? Is this our reason for being here?

that is not even Bible romans 8 …29For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those He predestined He also called, those He called He also justified, those He justified He also glorified. 31What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? there is no prerequisite in the plan of salvation i have heard what i thought was every thing..but this is a first put on earth to determine ..that almost close to calvinism but not calvinism

 

[GodsGrace]

that is not even Bible romans 8 …29For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those He predestined He also called, those He called He also justified, those He justified He also glorified. 31What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? there is no prerequisite in the plan of salvation i have heard what i thought was every thing..but this is a first put on earth to determine ..that almost close to calvinism but not calvinism

That sounds like a No.
I was just thinking out loud, see the question mark.
Of course it could be right.
Maybe.

 

[God Is My Judge]

In my opinion, God who is all knowing- created all things including the knowledge of evil. A coin has two sides, but He desiring we only do good. This is free will. God does not want or need robots, He desires we love Him freely. He said : " For now man truly knows evil" when He cast man from the garden of Eden, I am paraphrasing. He also created the angels with the knowledge of good and evil, desiring they only do good though. It is His story. Who is anyone but a creature to question God the Creator. Do good as God commands, He does not commend we do evil, that is how we know He is good.Knowing of evil and doing evil are two different things. One is only accountable for oneself, for one only answers for oneself. God created the knowledge of evil.
Isaiah 45:7 King James Version (KJV)

7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.
But it does not say He does evil, for God is truly good. Freedom of choice is given to all created in His image. What others choose they will answer for.
God Bless!

 

[ezra]

That sounds like a No.
I was just thinking out loud, see the question mark.
Of course it could be right.
Maybe.

there is nothing in the bible that says we are tested if we can go to heaven or hell saving grace is unconditional either saved or not .

 

[Garion]

I think that life is just a test and evil is the temptation that fails folks, it's also a useful reference point (evil) because without it you wouldn't have good.

 

[Razeontherock]

then where did Satan originate at ? he is a fallen angel he knows the Bible better than we do he is our adversary. he is as like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour

He's not all that. He has 9 precious stones yes, but God has 12. The 3 he lacks are the great Truth God has for us on the west side of Moses' Tabernacle, that corresponds with God being revealed as also having the face of an ox.

While these Truths are deep and warrant study, some of it's simple enough. The west wind gives the increase. The tribes that camped on the west side along with their precious stones speak of forgiveness, favor and resurrection. Our adversary knows nothing of any of that, and he has no counterfeit for it either!