This week we are looking at the question: If God exists then why is there evil? This is arguably the number one accusation leveled against Christianity and the existence of God. However, when one takes a close look at the problem of evil, it is only the Christian worldview that has not only an answer for this question, but a solution.

Check out this week’s class presentation on this topic:

Overview Notes From the Presentation

Christian Apologetics: More Conversations

If God exists, why is there evil and suffering?

Concerning the October 1st, 2017 Las Vegas shooting tragedy, ABC news reported:

“Las Vegas native Jimmy Kimmel was both visibly shaken and determined to send a message during an emotional monologue Monday night about the shooting, Kimmel said, ”this is a terrible, inexplicable, shocking and painful tragedy. We wonder why,” (he said, holding back tears), “even though there’s probably no way to ever know why a human being would do something like this to other human beings who are at a concert having fun and listening to music. It feels like someone has opened a window into hell.””

As Christians we must understand who is asking the question, and why, before we answer.

There are two basic places people are coming from with the question:

“If God, why evil?”

1. Emotional
2. Intellectual

Know your questioner or challenger:

1. Is it someone who is suffering?

Be a good listener

2. Is it a skeptic who is arguing?

Be ready to ask questions of them, and don’t be afraid to return later with answers

The Atheists’ Argument:

1. If God is all good, He would want to eliminate all the evil in the world; and if God is all powerful, He could eliminate all the evil in the world.
2. *There is evil in the world and God has not stopped it.
3. Therefore (they say): God is not good or powerful, nor does He care or, He just does not exist.

They are wrong in their assumption, because they have left out one important word:

1. If God is all good, He would want to eliminate all the evil in the world; and if God is all powerful, He could eliminate all the evil in the world.
2. *There is evil in the world and God has not stopped it, YET
3. There is an abundance of evidence from the Christian worldview for God’s existence, so this argument alone does not disprove God.

Regardless, the problem of evil is with us today – atheism does not have an answer for its existence, nor a solution to the problem, BUT…

CHRISTIANITY DOES!

What is evil?

According to Webster’s dictionary evil is defined as:

“The fact of suffering, misfortune, and wrongdoing; something that brings sorrow, distress, or calamity.”

What can we know about Evil?

• Evil is something, but evil is not some – thing;
• Something good made evil possible, and evil is solved by someone good (Jesus)

As an atheist my argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?

-C.S. Lewis

From the Christian Worldview…

• Evil is not a thing in and of itself, even though we often attribute it to a person, or an object, or an act of nature
• Evil is the absence of good, or the privation of good
• Evil is a corruption of the good
• Evil is not the opposite of good, it is the absence of goodness
• Evil is like a parasite of goodness

For example: evil is the absence of good, just as dark is defined in regards to the absence of light; cold is the absence of heat; and a donut hole is the absence of the donut!

“Badness is only spoiled goodness.” 

-C. S. Lewis

• God created all things good – seven times in Genesis chapter 1 God says “and it was good!”
• If evil is not a thing, then God did not create it – but He also knew its ultimate effect and choose to create anyway! Why?
• Could it be that God has a plan, a purpose and a big picture?

“We need to know God’s plan so that we can make sense of tsunamis, fires, cancers, strokes, rapes, tortures, and the fact that, except for the Lord’s return, the only thing that will prevent us from watching everyone we know die will be our own death. If we don’t understand that our good God can have a good purpose in allowing evil, we’ll live confused Christian lives.”  

-Dr. Clay Jones, Biola University

Going Deeper

• “Why Does God Allow Evil,” (book and various YouTube presentations on this subject) by Dr. Clay Jones, Biola University Professor
• “The Problem of Pain,” by C.S. Lewis
• “The Problem of Evil,” by Greg Koukl, str.org (series of 18 short videos 3 minutes or less)
• “If God, Why Evil,” by Sean McDowell  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH8hJ8V4sTY
• Search YouTube presentations on this topic by Christian Apologists: J. Warner Wallace, Frank Turek and William Lane Craig

Reflection

If you only had one minute for each question, to the best of your ability, give an answer in your own words, (note – these are building from the presentation notes each week):

1. What are the four important areas for Christian growth?
2. What are the twelve points that will help you tell the Bible’s Big Picture?
3. What are the two most important questions you can ask when someone makes a claim about Christianity, or a belief that they hold to be true that is in conflict with the Christian Worldview?
4. What is the Moral Law argument for the existence of God? Give an example.
5. How is evil defined from a Christian Worldview? Give an example.

Bible Study

Always remember to pray before you read or study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

1. Review of Class Topics:

With your table group, answer the Reflection questions above; discuss today’s apologetics presentation by summarizing what you learned, commenting, or asking any questions.

2. Review of Daily Devotional:

How is it going with your devotional? Are you having any difficulty with reading on a daily basis? Are there any questions you have, or anything that stands out to you as a life application that you’d like to share?

Class Bible study: The Book of Philippians

(Basic answers are posted mid-week for your review)

Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for “Discussion” or “Going Deeper” questions. Cite your sources to share with your group.

Read Philippians 4:1-23 with your table group then, to the best of your ability, answer the following questions:

3.  What did Paul say about Euodia and Syntyche, and why?

4.  Re-read verses 4:4-7. Discuss: How does rejoicing connect with anxiousness? How does prayer and supplication connect with thanksgiving? What is the promise made here?

5.  What things does Paul say we should dwell on? Why?

6.  At this point, Paul had gone through a lot of hardship in his ministry and is thankful for the Philippians’ concern. What does Paul say that he has learned so far from his afflictions?

7.  Discuss: It will be a few centuries before the Romans stop persecuting and killing Christians. What clue do you see in Paul’s farewell greetings that tell you people in higher places were experiencing the Gospel and salvation? How can that give Christians encouragement today?

8.  What are some important things that you have learned from this study in the book of Philippians?

Memory verses: Recite Philippians 1:9-10; Matthew 22:37-39; Philippians 3:14; and add Philippians 4:6-7, and 8.

Join us next week as we continue our study in Christian Apologetics with Part 2 of our conversation on the “The Problem of Evil” – I will also post the link to Clay Jones’ presentation on this topic as well…

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in!  Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15