The Problem of Evil

2003 was a very eventful year, no doubt about that. Whatever your persuasion, it was certainly a year of bloodshed and 24 hour news (not necessarily in that order of importance...). Many have shouted, 'this is evil' and 'that is evil' etc, even if they have no religious background. Indeed, it is difficult for believer and non-believer alike to reconcile the bad we see and a benevolent (or all good) God. How hard it is for us Christians to explain evil, suffering and despair. I have had many conversations with people who have experienced a very hard (albeit short) life, whether that be from bereavement, separation, relationship troubles etc. It is from these individuals that I most often hear the objection 'Where is God now?’ and quite rightly too. Why would God allow evil to exist if He is benevolent, but also omnipotent (all powerful)?

Believe it or not, this is not a new objection. In the story of Job, situated in the Old Testament, it says that there was a man (called Job funnily enough) who was "blameless and upright", and that he "feared God and shunned evil" (Job 1:1). In spite of this, he still suffered through much sorrow and pain. His animals and servants were killed/captured/burnt alive (seriously lol); and his children were killed when their house collapsed on top of them. But there's more, for he was told all of this at the same time! Talk about something to get you depressed, but not for Job as he had faith in his God and he withstood the suffering and remained sturdy in the Lord. However, his trials were not yet over. He developed painful sores all over his body, so much so that the Bible says that when his three friends saw him "they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads"...ok a slight overreaction but you get the drift. In spite of this they stayed with him, mind you they apparently didn't speak to him because they saw the extent of his suffering. Then (in what you would have thought was an audition for 'It's a Wonderful Life') he finally broke down, and cursed the day of his birth- "Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?" (Job 3:11). Even though his friends tried to cheer him up, it didn't work. Kind of understandable if you think about it.

He goes one step further, as he then tries to challenge God Himself. His ego needs a bit of a check I think, but unlucky for Job God answers His challenge. He says- "where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone- while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” He basically does this for a long time (talk about hammering it home).

Anyway, after that long-winded description, what's it all about? Why does God allow suffering? Although there are no easy answers to this, and no one solution, I can always try and address some of them. Therefore, there are a few things to note keeping the Job story in mind-
1) In despair Job attacks God as being something less than he is. This seems to be something that we all do- in times of difficulty we judge God by our [italics] own terms. Because we use our own tunnel vision, it never occurs to us that God may have something else in mind, or that He has a (sorry, bad cliché) 'greater purpose' for our suffering. This is echoed in the story of Joseph (you know, the one with the Technicolor dream coat? Andrew Lloyd Webber?). He was sold into slavery after being betrayed by his brothers. Out of that apparent 'evil' there came a greater purpose- Joseph later saved Egypt and his siblings from a drought by making provisions. Joseph then said in Genesis 50:15-21, "you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good".
2) Something that I purposely didn't point out before was that it was Satan who tested him. For those of you who don't believe in Satan, well that's a whole other debate. But still, the story of Job points out that (to the Christian) Satan certainly has a part to play in the existence of evil and suffering.
3) Job, in spite of his massive faith, broke down in quite a dramatic fashion. This confirms to us something that we knew already, and that is that mankind is weak, which again isn't something new. Jesus said to His sleeping disciples in Gethsemane- "The spirit is willing, but the body is weak". Often, mankind's spirit isn't evil. It doesn't want to reject what he or she knows as 'bad', but we naturally do. The big thing here, however, is that we have the choice to behave badly. Those disciples didn't HAVE to stay awake, they had a choice and they chose to fall asleep. God has given us freewill, and without it we would just be robots only doing God's will. That isn't right nor is it what He wants. It is because of this free will that we perform good deeds, but also why we inflict suffering and evil on others. Our own actions are no fault of God.
4) Another explanation for evil that isn't necessarily in the Job story is that evil is sometimes necessary. That's right, it is, but for what? Well, without evil would we know that good is good, or would it just be neutral? It is because of the good and evil we see that we can make informed decisions as to whether we should follow God or not. God promises us that He is good. Without experience of both that decision would be worthless, if of course there could be a decision at all.

So, I've made this a rather long-winded article. I promise I won't make the others as long as this, it's just a bit ridiculous really lol. However, I think what we can reflect on from this is that evil is not black and white. There is not one single explanation, there are many, most of which I haven't listed here. On their own they don't amount to much, but collectively they provide a good argument for why God allows it in the world. We will always face evil, we will always have it. It's how we perceive and interpret the good in this world- that's what matters. To a Christian (and I pray for each of you too) that good is ultimately as a result of a benevolent force. Perhaps in 2004, where there will undoubtedly be more evil and suffering, we can cling onto that belief or some sort of hope for those who do not believe. Have a good year people :-).

(P.S. For a more simplistic, and less....'exhaustive' look at the problem of evil, see the article on the topic at www.freewebs.com/teenapologetics/objectionswithgod.htm.)