Real World Issues

Why is there evil in the world? Why won't God do something about it?

Why is there so much evil in the world? Why doesn't God do something about it?

One of the toughest questions or barriers intellectually of the Christian faith is the matter of suffering and evil. It is probably even harder to answer or comprehend than the questions of creationism or evolution. Even Albert Einstein, one of the greatest minds of the 20th century, agreed that the universe was orderly and designed, and was the result of a superior mind, and not the result of random chance. He stated that the order of the universe "reveals an intelligence of such superiority" that it overshadows all human intelligence. But the question that plagued Einstein was the matter of suffering and evil. If there was a designer, a superior all-knowing, all-powerful creator, then how could this creator allow such evil and suffering, especially among the so-called innocent?

Modern man is in a state of moral confusion

A few months ago, MTV aired a special news report, "The Seven Deadly Sins," which featured interviews with pop celebrities and ordinary teens. They were asked to comment about the seven sins condemned by Christianity as the most destructive: pride, anger, envy, greed, lust, sloth and gluttony. It was the program's intention to show how modern society still wrestles with these same sins which has plagued humanity throughout the ages. Instead, it showed that today's youth are ignorant of basic moral principles, and modern society is in a state of moral confusion. These sins were considered old-fashioned, and the attitude was displayed, "I'm not a murderer or anything bad. I'm basically a good person." On the subject of lust, rap star Ice-T declared, "Lust isn't a sin. These are all dumb." Actress Kirstie Alley claimed, "I don't think pride is a sin, and I think some idiot made that up. Who made these up anyway?" During the report, there was no mention of moral responsibility, repentance, or standards of right and wrong.

"The Eichmann in all of us"

Mankind has sunk to new depths of sin and evil throughout its history, from wars to the holocaust to mass murderers and serial killers to child molesters. With all of our educational programs, knowledge and cultural development, the sobering reality is that mankind cannot escape sin. Yehiel Dinur, a survivor of the Aushwitz death camp, testified at the war-crimes trial of Adolf Eichmann, one of the worst of the Holocaust masterminds. In the courtroom, Dinur stared Eichmann in the eye, and then suddenly began weeping uncontrollably. But he was not overcome by hatred or the terrible memories. He would later explain that Eichmann was not the personification of evil as he expected. He was just an ordinary man. Dinur saw in Eichmann a reflection of himself. "I was afraid about myself," Dinur said. "I saw that I am capable to do this, exactly like he."

God created man as a free moral agent

The Scriptures teach that God is good, and that everything He created was good. But, when Eve ate of the fruit in disobedience to God, sin and death entered the world, and with it also came suffering and evil. God, in His goodness, created Adam and Eve with the ability to make a choice. They were free moral agents. God did not desire Adam and Eve to serve Him or to commune with Him because they felt they had to. He wanted them to serve Him because they wanted to, and because they desired to. God could have created us incapable of sin, and unable to make wrong moral choices. But then, we would be like robots or puppets with God pulling the strings. God created and gave us freedom under which we act. God made evil possible, but mankind made it a reality. Therefore, evil came into the world because of the moral choices made by Adam and Eve in response to Satan's temptations. Suffering and evil is not God's fault, but the fault of mankind.

Once the fall of man occurred, why didn't God just destroy Adam and Eve, thus ending the spread of evil? God could have reacted in this way. But, God is good and full of mercy. He loved Adam and Eve, and did not want to destroy them, neither does He desire to destroy you. He desires all men to repent and come to the knowledge of the truth. But, mankind had to be held accountable for their actions, and their sin had to be judged. Man, as a free moral agent, had to be held accountable for the choices he made. Otherwise, his freedom to make choices is just a farce. Therefore, God reacted in a way which no one expected. He sent His only Son to walk among us - He faced the brokenness and ugliness of our world by becoming part of it. Jesus bore our guilt and sin on the cross, He took God's judgment, so that our relationship with God could be restored, and that we could have eternal life. But, again, it is our choice.

God can use suffering to draw us to Him

Many times, through our own bad choices, or through no fault of our own, God allows us to experience the natural consequences of our own sin so that we may see how bad it really is and be drawn to repentance. As pain is a reminder to not touch a hot stove, so suffering has an instructive effect. The writer of Hebrews states, "For whom the Lord loveth he chastenteth (instructs or corrects), and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?" (Hebrews 12:6-11). The writer goes on to say that God chastens us "for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness." It is not pleasurable nor joyful, but afterward, it yields the fruit of righteousness.

One day, the suffering will end

If suffering, especially in children, grieves and angers us, then what must it do to God. Surely, His heart is broken over the state of mankind. But, we have this precious promise in God's Word that He will one day put an end to the suffering, to the abuse, and to the evil, and will make a new Heaven and new earth. John wrote, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." (Revelation 21:1-5).

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