Problem of Good and Evil
12/2/09 How can a God who is both omnipotent and good allow evil in the world?
For Christians, evil can be a problem because non-believers can use it as a way to attack Christianity. The first thing they might say is if there is evil, then God must not be good or omnipotent because he is allowing it. Yes, God allows evil in the world, but evil does not come from God. Evil comes directly from Satan. We see this in the book of Matthew, vs. 1-11, where Satan tries to tempt Jesus. Another way an non-believer may discredit Christianity is saying that because there is evil, God doesn't exist. This is definitely false. God does exist and we know because the Bible says so. We also can see the results of his power. Some examples of that are when Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and God parted the waters of the red sea so they could get through, but he closed them over the Egyptians and they were wiped out. Another example is the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, in Mark 5: 25-34, and with one touch of Jesus' robe, was healed. This is just a little taste of God's power over evil. Finally, non-believers could say that God is no better than pagan gods, but he is real and here to save us. God hates evil, but Adam sinned which caused evil in mankind, and he had to bear the consequences of his disobedience against God.
The Bible shows us that God is both omnipotent and good. God is omnipotent which means all-powerful. In Luke 1:37, it says "For nothing is impossible with God." There isn't anything that God can't do. Also in Rev. 19:6, it states "Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: 'Hallelujah! For
For Christians, evil can be a problem because non-believers can use it as a way to attack Christianity. The first thing they might say is if there is evil, then God must not be good or omnipotent because he is allowing it. Yes, God allows evil in the world, but evil does not come from God. Evil comes directly from Satan. We see this in the book of Matthew, vs. 1-11, where Satan tries to tempt Jesus. Another way an non-believer may discredit Christianity is saying that because there is evil, God doesn't exist. This is definitely false. God does exist and we know because the Bible says so. We also can see the results of his power. Some examples of that are when Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and God parted the waters of the red sea so they could get through, but he closed them over the Egyptians and they were wiped out. Another example is the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, in Mark 5: 25-34, and with one touch of Jesus' robe, was healed. This is just a little taste of God's power over evil. Finally, non-believers could say that God is no better than pagan gods, but he is real and here to save us. God hates evil, but Adam sinned which caused evil in mankind, and he had to bear the consequences of his disobedience against God.
The Bible shows us that God is both omnipotent and good. God is omnipotent which means all-powerful. In Luke 1:37, it says "For nothing is impossible with God." There isn't anything that God can't do. Also in Rev. 19:6, it states "Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: 'Hallelujah! For