Why does a good God allow evil to exist?



One of the most haunting questions we face concerns the problem of evil. Why is there evil in the world if there is a God? Why isn’t He doing something about it? Many assume that the existence of evil disproves the existence of God.

Sometimes the problem of evil is put to the Christian in the form of a complex question, “If God is good, then He must not be powerful enough to deal with all the evil and injustice in the world since it is still going on.” Even the biblical writers complained about pain and evil. “Evils have encompassed me without number” (Psalm 40:12, RSV). “Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?” (Jeremiah 15:18, RSV).

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"What is Evil?" - Dr. Norman Geisler

How should a Christian answer questions regarding the existence of "Evil"?

This is one of the most challenging questions that any Christian will be confronted with.  It is fitting for us to have a good answer when a skeptic inquires concerning the Christian Worldview's answer to these questions:

  • "What is Evil?" - The absence of a good that should be present.
  • "Where did Evil come from?" - Creatures with Free Will departing from God's perfect being.
  • "What is the purpose of Evil?" - Allows for Moral Good, genuine Love, and God's preordained plan to manifest themselves throughout history.
  • "What is the ultimate solution to Evil?" - In time, Evil will be conquered and removed by the Perfect Good - God. 

If you would like to delve deeper into this topic, I encourage you to listen to Dr. Geisler's teaching, entitled"If God, Why Evil?" here on our site.

- Pastor J.

"If God Exists, Why Does Evil?" - Dr. Norman Geisler

What is Evil and  How Did It Get Here?

Why Is It Still Happening and What is the Purpose of Evil?

Dr. Norman Geisler

, who trained and instructed William Lane Craig and Ravi Zacharias, gives some lucid and helpful insights into these fundamental questions concerning the "Problem of Evil and Suffering".  

It is interesting to note, that every Worldview have to answer the "Problem of Evil" coherently, even though according to consistent Atheism there is no such thing as "evil" and with Pantheism "evil" is simply and illusion.

Christian Theism

seems to be the only Worldview that gives a consistent and satisfying answer to the "Problem of Evil", both intellectually and practically.  It's good to be a Christian and a follower of Jesus!  I don't have enough blind faith to commit to any of the alternate worldviews - there simply isn't enough justification to do so, intellectually or evidentially. 

Have an Intelligent Faith!

- Pastor J. 

Does Evil Disprove God? - Dr. Alvin Plantinga

Is God's existence incompatible with great amount of suffering and evil in the world? 

Dr. Alvin Plantinga, one of the brightest and most effective Christian philosophers today, offers some interesting reasons why there is no logical incompatibility between the existence of "Evil and Suffering" in the world and simultaneously a God that is All-Good, All-Knowing, and All Powerful.

Contrary to common opinion, since there is no logical incompatibility, there only remains an atheistic argument against God based on "improbability".  Unfortunately, atheists are in no position to make such bold metaphysical claims, not having access to the information necessary to issue such judgments.

The only Worldview that gives an emotionally satisfying and philosophically adequate answer to the problem and solution to the origin, explanation, and answer to the "Problem of Evil and Suffering" is that of Christian Theism - Biblical Christianity.  

All other Worldviews (Atheism, Agnosticism, Pantheism, etc....) must also grapple with and answer with this profound problem..... but they fail to do so successfully.

Have an Intelligent Faith..... and don't have the blind faith of Atheism!

- Pastor J.

On the Goodness of God

I used to be a Christian, by that I mean, really believed and actively practiced my faith. I truly accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and saviour, I ran Bible studies, took kids to and ran kids clubs, led sunday school lessons, ran Alpha sessions, led a house group, attended weeks of prayer and more. I wasn't messing around. So why did I give it all up? I had a lot of questions that I was often too scared to ask, because I felt if I asked them it would show my inability to continue running the activities I ran. I also kind of shot myself in the foot because when non believers asked me questions and I gave them answers, they never followed up with the questions I had in my head, the questions I myself was too scared to ask, so I never aired my questions. So what we're the questions?
I guess that they all boil down to one major question: How do we know God is good? Christians believe Jesus is the son of God and they believe that because, according to the Bible, he was without sin. It also follows (according to mainstream Christianity) that Jesus is also God. We can therefore conclude that God is without sin, He is morally pure. So does God stand up to moral scrutiny? It appears not. when Herod had his authority threatened by the birth of Jesus he gave orders for infanticide to ensure the death of this newborn king of kings. This is an awful event in history, that a person should order the slaughter of hundreds of children to protect his authority. Herod's behaviour is morally wrong. We can conclude that Herod is not God (bear with me). When Pharaoh refused to let God's people go after being ordered to by God, through Moses as a messenger, God decided that action must be taken. God's authority was in danger, he was being challenged. God's final action was to order the killing of the first born children in Egypt. Yes, there was a get out clause, the blood above the door, but none the less he ordered the killing of Children, and sure enough Children died. What makes this worse is that God hardened Pharaoh's heart, he forced Pharaoh's hand, God knew that Pharaoh could not say 'I will let your people go.' God was killing those children no matter what. We can therefore conclude that God is not morally pure. That means that God is not really God, he is not who he claims to be. Now I'm fairly certain this is not a water tight argument, but as yet I have not heard a rational response.
I really want an answer to this question. I don't want to hear silly answers that don't make sense. For example : "God is good, we don't understand his reasons for everything" This ignores the question, how do we know he's good? "God is beyond our understanding and he does things for reasons we can't comprehend." Again this answer makes no sense if he is beyond our understanding how can we understand anything about him, where is the line of understanding drawn? It's a cop out to say this because as soon as we get to something we can't explain we just say "that's because God is beyond our understanding." "Satan has blinded you." if this is the case that means Satan hasn't blinded you so please answer the question for the sake of those who have been blinded. "the very fact you are talking about God, proves there is a God." we can talk about a lot of things that don't exist... There are more but please try and analyse any responses and see if they make sense. I look forward to your response, let's try and dig down into the truth.

Click HERE to read Dr. Craig's response

Evil, Suffering, and GOD?!?

Is GOD's existence incompatible with Evil and Suffering?

This is a very interesting and colorful description of Christian Philosopher Dr. Alvin Plantinga's response to the Problem of Evil and Suffering, which is called the Free Will Defense.

Please note that it was Dr. Plantinga that showed demonstratively once and for all that it is not logically inconsistent for an All-Good, All-Knowing and All-Powerful GOD to exist at the same time as evil and suffering.  Now the best argument that atheists can raise is called the "Probablistic Problem of Evil", which states that is it "unlikely that GOD could exist in a reality such as our which is full of suffering".  Even this version of the question is fraught with problems for the atheist and is full of presumptions.

More to follow on this shortly....God bless you all!

- Pastor J.