Wednesday, August 29, 2012

A Christian response to 'the problem of evil'




It is not uncommon for me to hear people ask: How can a loving God allow evil in the world? The truth is, evil has come become of sin, and sin has come through rebellion. This rebellion started with Satan. Satan was an archangel who rebelled against God. Satan wanted to be on the throne instead of God, and so God cast Satan (and all the other angels who sided with him) out of heaven.
            Ever since this event, Satan’s desire is to try and pull people away from God. Satan does not do this outright, but rather through deception. Satan seeks to pull people away by getting them to doubt God. In Genesis chapter 3, Satan deceives Eve into thinking that God is holding back on her and Adam by not allowing them to eat of the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Once she and Adam ate, they knew good AND evil. Sin was now introduced into humanity!
            Because of our sin, we choose to be selfish. Because of our sin, we choose to be hurtful. Because of our sin, we make choices that negatively affect others. These choices have progressed on down the line, and evil has increased. Yet even in Biblical times, we see in Genesis chapter 4 that sin led Cain to kill his brother Abel because of jealousy. Sin has existed in great form throughout the ages. The evil in the world is a result of our sin and our choices.
            However, Romans 5:8 tells us that “God demonstrates His love for us in this, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God does not want to leave us in our sin and evil choices, and so through Christ we can have forgiveness and freedom from sin! When we choose to follow God, instead of our sinful ways, we will do good, not evil.
            My prayer for you is that you would daily seek God and ask God to help you rise above the sin which leads to evil. May God fill you with love and peace. Blessings.