talking about evil

[angelos]

One of the things I've been asked a lot is if God exists why does he let evil go on. If he is all powerful he can stop it so why doesnt he? While I think I understand that evil is a result of our decisions how do you discuss this with someone who thinks God is just watching as these evil things happen? How would you talk to them in love about this topic?

 

[Cleante]

One of the things I've been asked a lot is if God exists why does he let evil go on. If he is all powerful he can stop it so why doesnt he? While I think I understand that evil is a result of our decisions how do you discuss this with someone who thinks God is just watching as these evil things happen? How would you talk to them in love about this topic?

Evil is a result of our free will that God endowed us with. It is a result of living in a fallen world. If everything was perfect, would we truly have free will? God loves us so much that he respects human free will and allows us to make our own decisions. If God intervened to stop so called evil, we would no longer have free will.

 

[charisenexcelcis]

Almost all evil is the twisting of something good. For instance, it is good for a person to have drive, to want to be successful. But if that is twisted it becomes stealing and covetousness.

 

[karuna]

How would you talk to them in love about this topic?

Recognize that this is just an argument. A person has either experienced God or hasn't. Even if a person receives a satisfying explanation, they still won't have the necessary personal experience. Another theological conundrum will arise. Another "yeah, but..." They're endless.

 

[resurrection33]

One of the things I've been asked a lot is if God exists why does he let evil go on. If he is all powerful he can stop it so why doesnt he? While I think I understand that evil is a result of our decisions how do you discuss this with someone who thinks God is just watching as these evil things happen? How would you talk to them in love about this topic?

Every time we commit a selfish act, we have done evil. If the Lord did away with all selfish acts, he would have to take away our free will, it seems to me. Is that what we want?

 

[mpaper345]

It is hard for some people to understand why God lets evil go on,but God does not approve of the evil.

God gave the angels a choice and some rebelled.God gave mankind a choice and some rebel.

The purpose of God is to have people dwell with Him for all eternity that made the choice to live for God,because then it is true love.

In order for God to have people dwell with Him for eternity,he has to let the evil go on until a certain time in which He will do away with that evil.

God has given mankind a certain amount of time on earth,to gather unto Himself a people for His name,and there will be evil among people of the world,until God puts an end to that evil,and has His children in heaven.

But God does not want evil to go on,but some people do not follow God,and that is where the evil comes from.

The love that Jesus showed on earth is the same love that applies now.God is not punishing anybody,and God only touches people for good and never evil.

God is always willing to step in and do good,but people have to allow Him since God gave people a choice.

The evil will go on until God takes His children home,and then God will put an end to that evil.

The thing is nobody has an excuse why they cannot make it to heaven,because if one person can make it to heaven,then everybody can make it to heaven.The man Christ Jesus made it to heaven,so nobody has an excuse why they cannot make it to heaven.

Matt

 

[loveschild]

Sometimes theres not a cutesy way of saying if your not fighting off the demons your part of the problem.

 

[Wonderland]

Hi Angelos,

First I want to congratulate you for talking to non-believers about God and his love for them! I hope you continue on in this work, and I appreciate that you are asking for guidance on how best to give answers to the difficult questions. Keep seeking to save the lost!

One answer that I often tell people is that God cares about our earthly bodies, but he cares even more for our eternal souls. Sometimes, people need to "hit bottom" before they turn to God. If that is what it takes for somebody to turn to Him, as awful and painful as it is for Him to watch that person get to that place, it is worth it to Him if they will turn from their sin and be saved. Many times people's misfortune is a result of their choices, but, sadly, it is often a result of other people's choices (war, abuse, etc.) God is not ok with this, but He works to the good of those who love him.

An example of this happened 2 months ago. My uncle was a strong christian about 15 years ago, but had slipped back into darkness and, in many ways, turned his back on God. My mother prayed that God would intervene in his life to restore the passion he once had for God. The VERY NEXT DAY, my uncle fell knees, hands and stomach, into a campfire, and burned himself so badly his knees were burned down to the cartilage, he needed skin grafts across his stomach and legs, and his hands had no skin left on them (this is bringing tears to my eyes just recalling this tragedy). I am NOT saying that God CAUSED my uncle to fall into that fire, but he certainly used that as an opportunity! As a result of my uncle's misfortune and the excruciating pain and the intense physical therapy and healing process, a network of Christian brothers and sisters offered encouragement and prayer to him everyday through an on-line blog. The prayers went up probably hourly for him, and he has healed almost miraculously in less than 2 months time!! AMEN!!! More importantly than that, though, is that he was so touched by the love that people had for him--many he didn't even know, and the was amazed by the effect of the prayers, that his relationship with the Lord has been restored. AMEN!

God is Love and Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth! Amen!

I hope that helps

 

[romans1212]

We kind of touched on this one in my Sunday school class last week. Like most everyone already said, it's all about free will. He created Adam and Eve knowing that they would rebel against him and do wrong. He gave them free will. Then some people will say well, if God created the world, why couldn't he just create everyone good that way there would be no evil and everyone would go to heaven? Then I would challenge that person to a question. Ask them, well think about your significant other, (or future significant other). Would you want that person to love you and treat you right because that is just the way it is, and there is no other way? Or, would you rather them love you and do good because they WANT/CHOOSE to? I think it's kind of the same with God. He gives us free will. We can choose to follow Him, or we can choose to follow the world. As long as there are people following the world, then evil will exist. That's what I think anyway. Someone correct me if I'm way off! I wouldn't want to mislead anyone!

 

[Credo_ut_Intelligam]

This question in relation to free-will was discussed at length here (link).

Suffice it to say, I don't think appealing to our free will (whether we have it or not is irrelevant) will alleviate the problem.

Ask them, well think about your significant other, (or future significant other). Would you want that person to love you and treat you right because that is just the way it is, and there is no other way? Or, would you rather them love you and do good because they WANT/CHOOSE to? I think it's kind of the same with God.

I think you are saying that a love that is not wholly volitional is not a genuine love, or at least not a type of love that is as desirable as a love that is not volitional.

I don't think this is the case. Ask a mother if her love for her 9 month old child is volitional. Could she just choose to stop loving it? No way. A mother doesn't choose to lover her baby (although choices she makes later on down the road can result in a diminishing or loss of love) and I'm not sure a young child (say 3 or 4) chooses to love their mother. It's just something they naturally do. I don't think their love is less genuine or less desirable because of this. In fact, we often think of a mother's unconditional and non-volitional love as the ideal form of love.

So I don't see why our love of God or God's love of us also has to be a volitional sort of love.

 

[romans1212]

People choose to follow God...it's a choice. Many people don't follow or love God. Their lifestyle is their choice. God wants us to choose him, not be forced to choose/follow/love him. That is where free will comes in. I guess that is where I was getting at.

 

[MaggieMye]

Isaiah 45:7
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.


There is evil because God created it for His purposes.
You might want to search out the other threads that speak on this topic.
Maggie

 

[Credo_ut_Intelligam]

People choose to follow God...it's a choice. Many people don't follow or love God. Their lifestyle is their choice.

I agree. What I disagree with is the idea that God had to make us choose to love him in order for our love to be genuine love or a desirable form of love.

God wants us to choose him, not be forced to choose/follow/love him. That is where free will comes in. I guess that is where I was getting at.

I don't think God needs to "force" us to love him in order for us to love him in a non-volitional sense. Like I said, a mother loves her baby without deliberating about it and deciding "Guess I love my baby..." The mother just loves the baby. Would you describe that as being "forced" to love the baby? I wouldn't.

 

[Credo_ut_Intelligam]

Isaiah 45:7
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.


There is evil because God created it for His purposes.
You might want to search out the other threads that speak on this topic.
Maggie

The word there for evil (ra) can mean calamity and this seems to be how its used in Amos 3:6 too.

 

[MaggieMye]

IF there were no evil, there would be no choice. We would robotically 'love' Him. That isn't what He wants. THAT would not be a relationship.

 

[imoss]

some will contribute nothing to assist you in the explaination of this for they would be Gods accusor as they dont believe God gave us free will. Remember with this thread as in them all... good stuff in, garbage out! Also, dont equate ones ability to compose a most excellent paragraph with ones knowledge of our precious Lord.

 

[pickles]

One of the things I've been asked a lot is if God exists why does he let evil go on. If he is all powerful he can stop it so why doesnt he? While I think I understand that evil is a result of our decisions how do you discuss this with someone who thinks God is just watching as these evil things happen? How would you talk to them in love about this topic?

I think the first thing we must consider is that there may be many evils that God Our Father did not allow, we simply do not know them because He did stop them.
But the truth is we can only understand what God Our Father is willing for us to.
I have seen many great goods born because of the evil of others. Those that may have hesitated ,moved forward to help. Many have come to Jesus because they reject evil.
I have often considered that the full understanding may be too great for us to carry, Often in my life ,I thought I should know the truth, and sought it even when I was cautioned not to. I soon discovered that the understanding I thought I could carry, was far greater than I could ever consider. I can say only to these things that God Our Father held me and carried me through these times. Then lifted the heavy knowladge and carried it for me.
The one great thing we can look to is that evil is defeated and will be eternally crushed.
Trust to God Our Father in Jesus, and your mind , heart , and soul will find peace.
God bless, pickles