THE PROBLEM OF EVIL AND SUFFERING

I’ve been thinking quite a bit recently about how the problem of evil and suffering is identified by many unbelievers as the basis for their unbelief.  It is also true, however, that it is one of the primary reasons for doubt among believers.  John the Baptist is a prime example from scripture.  He had diligently preached the message of repentance and boldly proclaimed Jesus as the promised Messiah.  However, once he found himself in prison and his circumstances certainly not according to expectations, he doubted.

Matthew 11:2–3 “Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?”

This is a subject that has been argued and debated throughout the years by those much smarter than I, and I certainly don’t claim to have the answer that will end all debate.  I can only share how I have found peace in my own heart concerning this matter.  I believe that many people use this subject as an easy out for rejecting belief in God because they don’t want to be accountable to Him.  No matter how much they may deny their belief in God, the scripture tells us that God has revealed Himself to them through the testimony of creation; and that testimony leaves them without excuse for their professed unbelief.  I will quote from the translation of the English Standard Version of the Bible because it is so clearly stated.

Romans 1:18–21 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

It is also true, however, that there are Christians who find themselves doubting just like John the Baptist when confronted with evil and/or suffering.  The question is usually framed something like:  How could a good, loving God allow the people He created suffer for any reason if He is all-powerful?  The main problem is our limited ability to understand His ways and His thinking.  God told us so Himself through the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 55:8–9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Frankly, that it is a very comforting thought to me.  If I could truly understand ALL His thoughts and His ways, He would no longer be God.  The important thing is that as our Creator, He has chosen to reveal enough of His thoughts and ways to testify to the truth that He is Who He says He is in His word.  That is one reason I so love the study of prophecy.  It is the unique means through which God affirms the truth of His character and His word.  He is who He says He is; He does what He says He will do.  A study of God’s word and the record of history affirm this truth over and over again.  God declares this very truth through the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 46:9–10 “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure….”

Another part of the problem is our refusal to acknowledge our own responsibility because of our sin—our refusal to acknowledge God as Lord. 

God created the world good.  He created man without sin and with the ability to make his own choices.  He didn’t create robots having no ability to love.  He created us in His image—a Being defined as love. 

1 John 4:16 “God is love.”

Love is directly connected to the ability to choose; it cannot be forced.

God also clearly identified the consequences of choosing to disobey in the one area that was forbidden.  The full consequences of that one act of disobedience were not understood until after that sin.  Though forbidden only one thing, man chose to rebel against God and bring the curse of sin upon his descendants and the world that had been entrusted to his care. 

Yes, it was Eve that was deceived and Adam that sinned—not you or me; but, as their descendants, we inherited their sin nature.  (I truly believe that the outcome would have been no different if you or I had been Eve or Adam.)  Our actions—both good and bad—always affect others.  If I am negligent when driving and cause a wreck, my actions will likely result in pain and suffering to those innocent of any wrongdoing.  When those men chose to ram airplanes into the buildings of the World Trade Center, thousands of innocent people suffered.  When we in America allowed the ruling authorities to eliminate God from our schools and government, we began an unstoppable descent towards moral corruption that has resulted in an ever growing culture of evil and suffering.

Because man was given dominion over the earth, his sin affected all that was under his authority.  The earth itself became cursed.  Because of this curse we now experience earthquakes, tornadoes, disease, etc.  Evil and suffering are a consequence of man’s sin—whether an act of man or nature.

My purpose at this time is not to address unbelievers, but believers who find themselves confronted with doubt in the face of evil and suffering.  I want to encourage you to focus on what you do know and understand—not what you don’t.  There are many truths and promises I cling to like life preservers.  The verses in Romans, Isaiah and 1John already referenced are some of them.  I am not writing this as a paper to be graded with a prepared outline, but as a letter of encouragement from my heart as thoughts come to mind.

(to be continued…)