Get links to my best stuff in your inbox
 

The Problem Of Evil

By
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles

A querist asks, “Why is there evil in the world, and why do people do evil things?”

Evil exists today due to the choices that we make (James 1:13-15). God has given man the power of choice as a free moral agent. The Bible teaches that all men have the ability to choose between right and wrong (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15; Isaiah 7:15-16). Sin comes from man and not from God.

We All Have Desires

We all have desires that are necessary for us to live. However, Satan uses these natural tendencies to put us in situations where the satisfaction of our desire would cause us to break a command of God (cf. Matthew 4:1-11). It is not only a trap, but it is a snare that we willingly walk into because we want what is offered (cf. Genesis 3:6; Joshua 7:16-21).

Temptation Is Prevalent

Not only does Satan tempt us, but our fellow men, already caught up in sin, will use our desires to gain their own goals (2 Peter 2:18-19). Temptation is so prevalent in this world that none are immune to sin (Romans 3:23; 1 Corinthians 10:12). Yet, the situation is not hopeless. God remains in control, even when we are tempted to violate God’s laws (I Corinthians 10:13).

Why Evil Exists

The problem of evil continues to exist, because people simply choose for it to exist (Jeremiah 5:30-31; John 3:19-20). God tolerates the existence of evil because it creates a distinction between the righteous and the wicked (cf. Romans 7:13).

The Results Of Sin

When we sin and see the affect of evil on our lives, then we learn (however reluctantly), that God was right all along. We are then forced to see that God’s laws are actually the best path (Deuteronomy 6:24-25; 1 John 5:1-3), because we see the devastation caused by people who sin.

Conclusion:

The existence of sin and the existence of people willing to commit sin show us just how bad off mankind is (Ecclesiastes 3:16-18). The good news is that when we battle successfully against sin, we are strengthened by the effort (Romans 5:3; James 1:3; cf. James 1:12).

Related posts: