Evil, evidence of a Good God
Have you ever heard the question, “If God is a Good God, then why is there Evil in the world?”. I have had that question asked to me recently.
I guess I see things in a different light. To me, the presence of Evil in the world is a testimony of the Goodness of God. No, this is not some theological excusing of Evil as a good thing, but an understanding of the Biblical stance on this issue. (I reject the notion that God created Evil to show how good He was in contrast, or any other such theology of Evil, attributing it to God).
Consider the Scriptures, 2 Pe 3:8-9 (NASB),
8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
There is Evil in the world because God has not judged it yet. There should be some rejoicing over this, because it means he waited long enough for you and me to hear the gospel and come to Jesus. Rather than Evil’s presence being an sign of a non-Good God, it is a sign of a Good, Loving, and Patient God. Evil is what we must endure to see others come into the Kingdom. I believe this is what Paul is talking about when he describes suffering with Jesus (e.g. Rom 8:18), that is to put up with Evil in the world to see more come to salvation. The scriptures says in Col 1:13-14 (NASB),
13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Without Jesus, we are part of the Evil that will be done away with.
What I believe people are talking about is a selective judgement of God on selective Evil in the world. But, when God judges Evil, it will be everything.( It would be funny if not for the ramifications, but most non-Christians who think they are being “intellectual” by asking the question don’t understand they are condemning God for not being “good” in their eyes, but asking for their demise.) Selective would be assuming He could separate. I think where the popular misconception happens is that God is judging this here and that there, selectively. But Rom 2:1-5 (NASB) says:
1 Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. 3 But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
He is saying that one is storing up wrath, for the day of the judgement of God. and if that is not clear, later in that same chapter (Rom. 2:16 NASB):
16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
There is an assumption here that God could be selective about what he would judge. As far as I can see he is gracious until that Day of Judgement. So Evil, as painful as it is, still points us to the Goodness of God.
All scripture from NASB, New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
Copyright 2012 G. Edward Roberts (g.edward.roberts@gmail.com)