Introduction
The problem of evil is one of the greatest obstacles to a deist worldview. The difficulties of facing the reality of evil and suffering in a world supposedly created by an infinite, omnipotent, loving and holy God have challenged the minds of believers and skeptics alike. The argument becomes more challenging and personal, however, when the influence of evil is encountered and human emotions become involved. The emotional problem of evil causes people to put up additional barriers to rational belief because there is an incomprehensible impression upon their hearts and minds that resists the idea that an all-powerful God could allow such evil and suffering to occur. Any attempt to engage conversation with such a skeptic must include an assessment of the immediate needs and to approach the topic as a pastor or counselor. The thesis of this paper is that the presence of evil in the world is compatible with the existence of an omnipotent God, and this God has provided a means of hope and comfort in the midst of our suffering through the work of his son Jesus on the cross.
Short Argument
The world is grieving with the families of Oxford, Michigan after the recent, horrific shootings that left three students dead and eight others wounded, including one teacher, at Oxford High School. The suspect, a sixteen-year-old sophomore student was arrested along with both of his parents. There are strong indicators that this crime was premeditated and there were sufficient warning signs that should have been heeded to prevent it. The families impacted by this terrible event must now grapple with the deep feelings of loss, sadness, anger and fear, along with the persistent questions of “how” and “why” this could have happened. Sadly, this incident is just the latest in an endless list of tragedies that occur to people on a daily basis. The problem of evil in the world often raises serious questions about whether God exists, or if he does exist why he allows evil, and what is the proper coping mechanism with the reality of evil?[1] There are many valid intellectual theodicies of evil that may be employed to address these questions, but the additional element of human emotions requires as much a counselor’s response as an intellectual one. [2]
The emotional problem of evil may be described as “an aversion to a God who would allow suffering and evil.”[3] This may be present whether someone is deeply religious or not, because the power of human emotions has a tendency to either ignore or override what is normally a rational set of religious beliefs. Author Mary Jo Sharp has observed, “feelings can ravage our ability to reason through a situation, especially when that situation devastatingly affects our lives.”[4] Many times such tragic experiences can cause people to turn their back on God, as was the case of the young Jewish Holocaust survivor who could not come to terms with why God was so silent in the face of such evil.[5] Any response to the emotional problem of evil should include elements of hope and comfort that this suffering is not random and purposeless.
As mentioned previously, the most important first step in addressing a person’s emotional response to the problem of evil is determining what the person most needs now. Are they looking for a sympathetic ear? A Shoulder to cry on? It may be that the suffering individual is not ready to receive a logical defense for the existence of both God and evil. As William Lane Craig observes, attempting to provide an “answer to the intellectual problem (of evil) will doubtless seem dry and uncaring to the person who’s struggling with the emotional problem.”[6] Once the person is ready to engage in conversation, a logical theodicy may be advanced to discuss the problem of evil.
There is a direct link between questioning the reasons why evil exists in the world and the reality of the existence of God. The very question indicates there is a standard of goodness that can only be present within the Christian worldview. By contrast, the atheistic, naturalist worldview trivializes evil as a byproduct of evolution.[7] However, if there is a God, why does he allow evil to coexist? There may be a number of reasons why God allows suffering, and humans cannot know the providential mind of God to offer specific explanations for those reasons. There are valid natural reasons why suffering exists. Falling off a bike, getting into a car accident, failing an exam, etc. are natural consequences to actions that occur because of humans interacting with each other and their environment. Other actions are not so natural, as when mass-killings occur or some social injustice is perpetrated by one person upon another. The important distinction between the Christian worldview and others is the ultimate solution God has provided to the problem of evil and suffering, which is in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Free will is one of the primary reasons God allows the presence of evil in the world. An all-powerful God is capable of creating creatures who have the capacity to do right. However, unless the capability to also choose evil were also present then there would not really be free-will. As Chad Meister rightly concludes, “It is reasonable, then, contrary to the atheist perspective, to believe that an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent God coexists in a world filled with evil, if we grant that His created world contains creatures who are free.”[8]
The Bible offers the Christian hope and encouragement to endure the evil of this world, armed with the knowledge that our sufferings are not in vain and the problem of evil will be ultimately dealt with. The consequences of sin is death (Rom 6:23) and decay. This death and decay manifests itself in evil and suffering as people exercise their freewill in living disobediently to God. The finished work of Jesus on the Christ paid the ultimate penalty for people’s sins and offered eternal life to those who would put their faith in him. However, the consequences of sin are still experienced by people today and will continue until the final judgement of Christ. For the Christian this suffering is always within the context of the providential plan of God, for “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8:28)[9].
Conclusion
The emotional problem of evil is a strong barrier against the belief of the coexistence of an all-powerful God and human suffering. For people who have endured or experienced evil, like the tragedy encountered at Oxford High School, there can be uneasiness about correlating such tragedy with the existence of God or a complete detestation of him. However, only the Christian worldview offers a logical explanation for the coexistence of God and evil. The Christian can be assured that there is no evil in the world that occurs apart from God’s divine foreknowledge, and that all things will ultimately work out for the good of his children. At the cross, God provided the answer to the problem of evil by sending his only son to die for the sins of the world. People can put their faith in God that, though they do not presently understand why evil occurs, healing and hope is offered in the midst of their pain. One-day evil will be completely eradicated when the final enemy of Christ, death, is put under his feet.
[1] Paul Gould, Travis Dickinson, and R. Loftin, Stand firm (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2018), Chp. 9.
[2] Mary Sharp, “Addressing The Emotional Problem Of Evil: Why Christians Hope”, The Christian Research Journal 35, no. 04 (2015), https://www.equip.org/article/addressing-emotional-problem-evil-christians-hope/.
[3] Mary Sharp, “Addressing The Emotional Problem Of Evil: Why Christians Hope”, The Christian Research Journal 35, no. 04 (2015), https://www.equip.org/article/addressing-emotional-problem-evil-christians-hope/.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Paul Gould, Travis Dickinson, and R. Loftin, Stand firm (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2018), Chp. 9.
[6] William Lane Craig, On Guard (Colorado Springs, Co: Cook, 2010), 153.
[7] Mary Sharp, “Addressing The Emotional Problem Of Evil: Why Christians Hope”, The Christian Research Journal 35, no. 04 (2015), https://www.equip.org/article/addressing-emotional-problem-evil-christians-hope/.
[8] Chad Meister, “How Should Christians Approach The Problem Of Evil?”, The Christian Research Journal 30, no. 5 (2007), https://www.equip.org/article/how-should-christians approach-the-problem-of-evil/.
[9] Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson, 1982).
The Ancient Walk 