Understanding Theoldicy (Part 2) - The Conflict

The existence of evil, to many, stands at odds with the concept of God. A "theodicy" is an attempt to explain, in a manner that man can understand, the ways of God in the specific way they relate to the existence of evil in the world. Many times people speak of the "problem of evil", approaching the issue as something to be fixed. Here, though, it would be better to understand the issue as the "argument from evil" (against the existence of God). Understanding how evil can exist in a world where an all-loving, all-powerful God is a reality is different from addressing the "problem of evil" - that is an approach which, in starting from the concept of a problem seeks a solution. Here the attempt is not to "solve" evil, but to understand how it is that it (evil) can exist and actually does.

The issue at hand doesn't really concern how evil entered the world either. The Bible is very clear on that, that sin entered the world through one man's disobedience, and death itself came into the world by the entrance of sin (Romans 5:12). From this, natural, moral, and physical (as well as psychological) suffering resulted immediately.

As the "argument from evil" is approached there is a specific misunderstanding that must also be addressed. This issue has nothing at all to do with Satan. Satan is not the King of Evil, standing on par with God. No, rather, Satan stands as the prime example of one enslaved by sin, one consumed by sin. He is not sin's ruler, but rather its ultimate slave. Evil is no force that it needs a figurehead or mastermind behind it. Evil is only a degredation, a corruption. It is a reality, but not a valid one - it is Wrong, and that is why man has such a problem with it. In his heart, man knows that evil is wrong and should not be.

In the end, that is the heart of this issue. The "argument from evil" proposes that there is no God (at least in the Biblical, Christian sense) because there is evil. The question is why an all-loving, all-powerful, all-knowing God allows such terrible evils as this world knows to exist and continue. In short, how could a good God allow bad things? The answer seems to be that either he is loving, but weak and impotent because he cannot stop evil, or he is all-powerful and all-knowing but uncaring because he will not stop evil.

Though both answers seem valid, they are inadequate in a Biblical sense and paint the picture of a God not worthy of honor or loyalty. A more Biblical answer can be proffered, but it will not be as quick and simple and painless as some would like.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Understanding Theodicy (Part 1) - God vs. Evil

The reality of evil is often used as an argument against God's existence. Some questions that are often asked are as follows:

• Why does God allow so much suffering
• Why might God allow a father to die before he could see his grandchildren
• Why does God not protect children from terrible suffering?
• Why might God allow a good man (or woman) to die young? Why not someone mean?
• Couldn't God stop the worst of the evils in this world?
• How can there be any purpose in this?

Christians offer varied responses to these questions (and many others along the same line of reason). Some say God will bring some good from the evil, but that doesn't answer why he (God) allowed it to happen in the first place. This reply also questions whether God was able to bring the good without the evil preceding it. Another response is to claim that it is a mystery, that we just do not know the mind of God in this matter. Unfortunately this answer is unsatisfactory at best - this issue is NOT the place to play the "mystery card" when it comes to understanding God.

Others have said that God's knowledge does not extend into the future, putting the responsibility on man, because God can't be responsible for any evil a person commits because he can't know what they are going to do. Besides being blatantly unbiblical, this claim also portrays God as rather unobservant and, in the end, unintelligent. And there is also the very callous claim that God is judging people for their disobedience. This is very unsatisfactory because, though we can see in the Bible where God has judged people (or peoples) for their disobedience, it was the text of the Bible which revealed the "why" behind the catastrophes they endured. In the present day we do not have this level of certainty to explain when people (or persons) might be being judged.

What should the Christian's response be? First understand that the Christian claims a specific worldview, a worldview (claimed to be) superior to other worldviews. In fact, Christianity claims to be a worldview which gives answers to those questions which arise in the hearts of all men, and one of the most persistent questions of humanity is the problem of evil (or the reality of suffering). If the Christian's worldview is as true and real as it is claimed to be, then it must have an answer for this crucial issue.

In approaching the issue, it also must be understood that this is not an academic issue, but rather a pastoral issue, and therefore must be answered by the leaders in the community of faith. The answers provided must be Biblically accurate, not affirming what God clearly denies and not denying what God clearly affirms - therefore there can be no claim that God is the source of evil. Also, the answers must be theologically consistent as well as contextually relevant to the modern context. Finally, the answers have to be personally applicable.

A Theodicy is an explanation for why God allows evil, an attempt to reconcile the ways of God to the existence of evil in a way that man can understand. A truly Christian response to this challenge (of the reality of God in the face of the reality of evil) is not one which seeks to make one happy or feel good, but rather glorifies God at the same time speaking to the heart of man (and those who do and have suffered).

Blogged with the Flock Browser