The problem of evil is something I’ve been grappling on and off since we started talking about it at a Religious Education class I had when I was about 14. It was that golden question that has perplexed for years that typifies the problem – If God is good how can He allow such evil in the world? Or derivatives of that kind of question. Either answer doesn’t appeal to the mind.
Answer one says that God is indeed all good, but was powerless to allow evil to advance especially as a natural consequence of giving man free will. Answer two is a hodge-podge job that intimates that maybe God isn’t all that good, maybe He’s a kind of sadistic deist who set the clock going but knew that it would all wind up pretty bad anyway.
It was only as I got into my mid 20’s that I came across the argument based on the sovereignty of God. The concept of ultimate rulership in the make-up of God’s character (all-loving, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, eternal and immutable) means that everything that has happened can only be allowed to happen by Him as He’s in charge of everything and has absolute knowledge time eternal (everything that has, is and will ever happen). So we’re stuck with the problem of evil and His all goodness, until you take on board Piper’s answer and centre things on the cross especially in considering the gospel as outlined in the first ten chapters of the book of Romans and the first two chapters of Ephesians.
I dare not suggest at all that I’ve reached the conclusion of the matter. This place I find myself is always subject to further revelation of scripture via dialogue and guidance. I also appreciate it’s not a popular position to hold when engaging with those who are persistent in looking for an answer as to why their favourite uncle wilted before their eyes through the effects of cancer even though he never hurt a fly and kept himself in the best of shape. It’s not a comfort to the victim of child abuse that has scarred them deeply and had relationships marked by an unwillingness to be vulnerable as a result of those experiences. It’s not a balm for the families of victims of tragic natural disasters.
Yet looked from the perspective of the gospel and centred on the reality of Christ triumphant over all these issues and the purpose of life lived for the glory of the all-good, all-glorious, ever-loving God it is not the answer but it is the presence that assures, comforts, consoles and leads by the hand into the place to restore, refresh, and revitalise for the rest of life’s journey.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
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