Why does God allow evil?

[arunangelo]

Many people lose faith in God when they see evil and natural disasters in the World. They feel that, if God is really present or really loves us, He will not allow evil. This feeling becomes even stronger, when they see children and innocent people suffer. However, it is not God, but our sins, that produce evils in the world. Sin results from selfishness and selfishness causes hurt to others. Even natural disasters, which some people erroneously refer to as “acts of God”, are result of our sins. Since we have dominion over the World (Genesis 1: 27-28), our acts of selfishness affect the balance in nature. So that when we sin by going against nature, the balance in nature is disturbed to produce natural disasters and diseases. Similarly, our evil acts directly affect others and cause them hurt. The hurt that evil produces affects everyone; including those who live holy lives. God allows evil, because, He has given us free will. He has given us free will so that we can exercise unconditional love. If we did not have free will, we will never be able to love others unconditionally, because, to love is a choice, and every choice needs a free will. God wants us to love (John 13:34), because, he wants us to have His peace and joy (John 15:11) for all eternity. Furthermore, compared to the peace and joy that God gives us in the eternal life our hurts in the present life are nothing.


God heals the broken hearted
We all have to go through pain and suffering, because we live in a world that has sin. God, however, brings us peace and joy by comforting us (Psalm 23, Is 57:18-21; Ps 94:19). He comforts us by being one with us in our pain and suffering. He did this by becoming one of us and freely accepting the worst form of pain and suffering. He gives us hope by overcoming pain, suffering and death through his resurrection. He gives redemptive value to pain and suffering by freeing us from sin by his own pain and suffering. He freed us from sin by completely emptying self on the cross on our behalf (Peter 2:24, 25). This helps us to accept pain and suffering in a quiet and humble manner. Our humility then opens our heart to accept God’s graces. This helps us to use our pain and suffering to overcome sin, build endurance, and become compassionate and forgiving people. God thus helps us by changing us from within. This enables us to find peace and joy by living His life.

 

[Slich]

God allows evil, because indirectly it is him that controls it.

God has stated either we believe and follow him, or be tormented and sent to the lake of fire. It is like a bully at a child's school; "hand over your money or I will hit you".

God allows evil to exist as a punishment for those that do not believe in him.. A sample, if you will. A punishment, yes.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Alas, those that do not "come to repentance" do perish and suffer torment. Let us look at another example of God's


Adam and Eve were punished with Death, pain and suffering for not following God. But how many more were slain because they did not
come under God's approval?

42 children killed for not loving another...(2 Kings)
70 put to death (I Samuel)
27000 had a wall thrown down on them. (I Kings)
15000+ were slain by the plague (Numbers 16)

Worship me or die theory:

"I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD do all these things." (Isaiah 45)

 

[cman77]

god allows evil because it pleases him to use it to accomplish his own purposes

 

[Slich]

god allows evil because it pleases him to use it to accomplish his own purposes

I rest my case.

 

[MelechYisrael]

Quote:
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td class="alt2" style="border: 1px inset ;"> Originally Posted by cman77
god allows evil because it pleases him to use it to accomplish his own purposes
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
I rest my case. Quote

God also uses evil for good. What man has intended for evil, God can/does intend for good. We know that all things work together...according to His purpose; His plans...for our benefit.

God gave man free will. Freedom to choose right from wrong. Freedom to choose to do evil, or to choose to do good. God does not force Himself on anyone.

You can choose to follow Jesus and experience an abundant life...of joy, peace, blessings and every other good thing He offers. Or you can deny Christ and experience all that that denial brings with it. The latter is the result of man's fall...sin. Our fellowship with the Father has been severed by sin. His desire is to reunite us with Himself...through Christ.

And that's what He wants for you Slich...for you to have an abundant life. One filled with hope and love. A life that is soaked in joys unspeakable; peace beyond measure. Provision; lack of worry as you lay your cares and burdens before Him.

He wants to be your Potter...to have the pleasure of molding your life in such a way that it brings you only blessing after blessing after blessing. To take you from death into life.

You have determined in your heart that God is rotten...to the core. You deliberately go looking for ways to discredit Him. Perhaps you might try looking for ways to see how awesome He is.

The first being that He's no reason to love you...for who is man, that God is mindful of him. But He is mindful of you. He does love you.

 

[jiggyfly]

I rest my case.

You may have just lost your case by resting your argument so soon before the defense is finished :shock:

Rom 11:32 For God has imprisoned all people in their own disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.



1Ti 4:7-11 Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next.
This is true, and everyone should accept it. We work hard and suffer much [fn] in order that people will believe the truth, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and particularly of those who believe. Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them.

 

[xspinningisfun]

I don't have time to read your thread. But your title did catch my eye. SO I'm gonna answer the question in the title.

God gives us a free will. It's a gift. He didn't have to, but He did because he loves us. And even though He wants us to use this gift for good, people don't. Instead, people take advantage of that gift, twist it, and use it for evil.

God can never interfere with our free will. He can try to talk to you. But some people have so much sin in their lives, that it blocks out the voice of God.

 

[eddieb]

just look at the evil that came upon Gods only begotten Son. what a friend we have in Jesus. Faithful are the wounds of a friend.

 

[Wolfman]

There is a really good book by Anne Graham Lotz called "Why?" It tackles that issue, I think anyone struggling with this issue should check it out.

 

[Boanerges]

Just some thoughts:

God created everything there is including evil.

Isa 45:7I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 1:2The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.


All things were made for His pleasure and purpose.

Rev 4:11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

There was knowledge of good and evil since there was man. It was this tree of the knowledge of good and evil that was in still is a test for each of us. Even our good apart from God's leading is at best useless and at worst offensive (filthy rags) to God. Man was meant to be led of the Spirit of God in all things. In this only is there holiness.


<DIR>Gal 5:16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. </DIR>

 

[Slich]

God also uses evil for good

Yes, his version of good.

 

[jiggyfly]

Yes, his version of good.

Why are you here at TalkJesus? What are you looking for?

 

[cman77]

God can never interfere with our free will. He can try to talk to you. But some people have so much sin in their lives, that it blocks out the voice of God.

by saying god CAN'T interfere with our free will, you are putting limitations on god. the god of the bible has no limits and nothing is impossible for him. another thing. if god wants to be heard he will be.

 

[cman77]

God gave man free will. Freedom to choose right from wrong. Freedom to choose to do evil, or to choose to do good. God does not force Himself on anyone.

we do not have freedom to choose good because our "free" will is a slave to our sinful nature. if the choice between doing what god wants and doing what I want was put in front of an unregenerate man, he would always do what he wanted because that is his nature and his will is a reflection of his nature.

God does force himself on people. the easiest example of that is the Apostle Paul. here is Paul riding to Damascus to persecute and kill the christian church. then all of the sudden he is knocked off his horse and blinded by a brilliant light. he was converted on the spot. it was not his choice though. do you really think paul could have said no at that point? where does this leave Christ if Paul refuses to follow his command? paul just goes on his way and Christ is left sitting there wondering where another person for the job could be? No, Christ sovereignly called him out of the darkness to accomplish his own purpose. what power does man have to resist the will of a Sovereign God?

 

[Boanerges]

Just my view:
Yet God puts choice all through scripture. He can do waht He wants but Love wants us to choose Him. Beginning with Adam and Eve there was a choice to obey and concequences for either choice. He draws, some come, some do not. The power is His and given freely to us and yet not all will come. Love is calling in the highways and the byways and yet still not all will come.
Without getting into another "predestination debate" I will simply say those He foreknows (their choices) He predestines.

 

[PhoenixRising]

Slich,

You obviously have issues with God. To reiterate the question so wisely put forth by Jiggyfly...WHAT are you doing here? Seriously?

You don't love Jesus. Or perhaps you do or will but don't know it yet? You're forever challenging Him. Yet, He of all people completely understands you and loves you is spite of yourself. How great, how excellent, how good is He? I tell you, there's none like Him. The heavens declare His majesty, His splendour, His magnificence and above all, His great and abiding love for mankind.

God allows evil, because He will not break His word. He gave this world to the prince of darkness, Lucifer, the fallen one, the one who hates God and everything made in His image. Remember that he sought to exalt himself above God's throne: Is 14:12-19 (never gonna happen!) before Archangel Michael and God's army put a stop to all that foolishness!

When he was cast down to earth, along with the rest of his army, the fallen angels and renamed Satan, among his other new names, God gave him the earth ONLY for a short while. God knew what was going to happen, after all He IS the omniscient God BUT He gave him the earth for a while and Satan is temporary ruler here on earth, so because Satan is here on earth, evil flourishes.

God however is still sovereign and even though ALL things come under His dominion, He being a God of integrity and supreme character, will NOT break His word to give Satan the earth, for a season. But that temporary rule is coming to an end soon...LOOK at all the damage he's caused...all the pain, sorrow, devastation. Through it all, God's mercy always, always, always prevails. We HAVE to see and acknowledge, thank and praise God for that.

Jesus cannot wait to come back in His full glory to take back what was ALWAYS His and reunite with His children who love Him madly and who also cannot wait to live in the presence of and with perfect love..Jesus Himself. Halleluyah!

All in His good timing though.

Slich, before it's too late, please make peace with God by accepting His love shown so magnificently and so magnanimously on the Cross at Calvary. You didn't just fall into this forum. You're here for a reason and a purpose. If God's spirit is wooing you, you MUST say yes because the Bible says that there's a time appointed for all men, whereby we can all be saved, after which it will be too late.

Slich, say Yes to Jesus. Say Yes to the redemptive power of God's love. Say Yes to the Hope of Glory. Say Yes to salvation and to peace with God. Say Yes to Jesus.

God bless your coming in and your going out, everyone!

 

[xspinningisfun]

by saying god CAN'T interfere with our free will, you are putting limitations on god. the god of the bible has no limits and nothing is impossible for him. another thing. if god wants to be heard he will be.

I'm NOT putting limitations on God. Free will is a GIFT. I said He talks to us. But sin blocks it OUT. God forsaked Jesus on the cross. WHY? Because he had all the sin. And sin, it blocks out the voice of God. It's OUR choice.

 

[PhoenixRising]

Sin does block out God's voice, one of the many reasons God hates sin so much...because of what it costs us, His children. Sin, also separates us from him.

Unconfessed sin is the worst, it creates guilt in us...which is never from God, by the way and causes us to run away from Him to hide (as if we can). It makes us vulnerable to the enemy of our soul, Satan himself. The sin creates a chink in God's protective armor for us and allows the devil and his demons to throw their wicked darts at us and come in and start wreaking havoc.

Like you said...we have a choice always...free will and all. Every now and then, God out of mercy and deep compassion, will override our will but mostly He doesn't.

God hates sin so much, if we only knew how much.

He loves us so very much and wants us to live abundantly in and closely with Him. When we sin, it grieves God's spirit deeply by making the opposite happen.

 

[cman77]

if sin blocks out the voice of god, then gods voice would reach no one. because we are all sinful wretches

 

[cman77]

something i can't understand:

1. God knows all things past, present, and future. he knows everything we will do

2. He gave us a free will and, because he knows all things, he knew that we would use that free will for evil.

3. he loves us all and wishes that we would all be saved and go to heaven

I can't understand why a god who desires every man to be saved would give to those men a free will that he knew they would use for evil. what purpose would god have to give men a free will, that he knew they would use for evil, except to save some and condemn others. man's free will can do nothing but condemn because it is corrupted by our sinful nature. so by giving a sinful man a free will they are automatically condemned and unable to save themselves