I'm
not sure if Epicurus was the first to say it (I doubt it) but he may
have been the first to write it down in somewhat this form:
.
If God is all-powerful, He would be able to remove
suffering from our experience.
.
If God is all-good He would want to remove suffering from our
experience.
.
But the world at large and our own lives reveal a great deal of
suffering.
.
Therefore an all-powerful, all-good God must not exist.
Of
course modern day atheists heartily agree. Look! Look! They implore.
Here's is proof that our atheist world-view is correct. Ya, well . .
.
I
suggest that when atheists look at life, when they see pain and
suffering and say that God is powerless or not loving enough to stop
pain and suffering, they speak too soon.
What's happening is like you coming into the kitchen and asking what I'm doing. I say “I'm making a chocolate cake.” The term “cake” to you means something soft to the touch, covered with icing and yummy to eat. You observe that all I have is a bowl containing a sloppy mixture that I'm stirring and which tastes slightly bitter. You recall my statement that I'm making a cake and say, “Either Rod is not able to make a cake, or by the term “cake” he means something much different than what I mean by cake.” You've spoken too soon.
So too, if we were at the end of history and things remained as they are, I would tend to agree that it appears the presence of evil must mean that God either can't or won't do something about it. However we are not at the end of history. God tells us that until that time His plan is to use the reality of evil agents – us - (that's all He has to work with) for His own plan and purpose. He's still mixing the cake batter.
On the other hand, by bringing good out of all things, at least for those who love Him and who have been called according to His purpose, God demonstrates that He can and does defeat the plans of evil at each and every turn, even prior to the end of history. He let's us lick the spoon from time to time.
What's happening is like you coming into the kitchen and asking what I'm doing. I say “I'm making a chocolate cake.” The term “cake” to you means something soft to the touch, covered with icing and yummy to eat. You observe that all I have is a bowl containing a sloppy mixture that I'm stirring and which tastes slightly bitter. You recall my statement that I'm making a cake and say, “Either Rod is not able to make a cake, or by the term “cake” he means something much different than what I mean by cake.” You've spoken too soon.
So too, if we were at the end of history and things remained as they are, I would tend to agree that it appears the presence of evil must mean that God either can't or won't do something about it. However we are not at the end of history. God tells us that until that time His plan is to use the reality of evil agents – us - (that's all He has to work with) for His own plan and purpose. He's still mixing the cake batter.
On the other hand, by bringing good out of all things, at least for those who love Him and who have been called according to His purpose, God demonstrates that He can and does defeat the plans of evil at each and every turn, even prior to the end of history. He let's us lick the spoon from time to time.
Also,
it's important to remember, God has not just created a universe. God
has created a certain type of universe and He uses it to raise
up a certain type of being: an intelligent, rational, moral, free
thinking being who is able to exist – more than that – who is
being groomed to exist within a mutually loving relationship with
h/her Creator, for eternity.
As
Christians we can know:
.
Because God is all powerful, He CAN rid the universe of evil.
.
Because God is all good, He WILL rid the universe of evil.
.
Yes, there is still evil present in the universe. Nevertheless – at
the end of history,
.
God CAN and WILL rid the universe of evil, and all those who side
with evil against their Creator will be banished for eternity.
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