Why did God create evil?
Answer:
Just as God did not “create” good, He did not “create” evil. God is the definition of good and the rejection of God or His personality is by definition evil. While it is a concept and not a created thing, evil is real and does exist. Evil exists as a result of the ability to accept or reject God.
God created mankind with the freedom to choose to love and obey Him, or to hate and reject Him. Because God is good, the rejection and hatred of God is by definition evil. Evil is like darkness – the absence of light; cold – the absence of heat; a hole in a piece of wood – the absence of wood in that space.
God gave men (and angels) the ability to choose because He loved us and wanted us to be able to express willing love for Him and worship Him by choice, to the glory of His name. If we had no choice to reject, it could not be called love. So we see that it is for love that God allows the existence of evil for a time.
In short, God purposed for evil to take place in the world because it will bring about the greatest possible good – the eternal glorification of his name. It must be noted that while God has predestined evil events, such as that sinful man (Romans 3:23) would crucify Jesus (Acts 4:25-28), God himself is not the doer of the sin nor does he sin in decreeing that sinful creatures commit those sins.
Evil will only last for a finite period, until the Day of Judgment. Then all that is evil, men and angels who have rejected God, will be thrown into hell. On the other hand, love and good will last forever because they are part of God’s character and we will continue to love and be and enjoy good for eternity in heaven if we accept Jesus as our lord and saviour.
2 Comments
Wait, didn’t you guys say that there’s no free will? http://www.askanything.sg/answers/how-do-predestination-and-free-will-work-together-without-contradicting-each-other-in-the-topic-of-salvation/
If God does influence all of Man’s actions, does this mean that God had a hand in Man choosing to rebel against Him?
Hey Max,
The post you refer to doesn’t actually say that man has no free will. The first paragraph carefully defines our interpretation of what kind of free will man does and does not have. Man does not have complete free will, ie. he is not completely independent. He does have significant choice. He is also directed by God.
The question of God’s culpability for sin is a very common one. I myself have had such a question. The bible answers it well.
The parallel of the potter and the clay in Romans 9 is an utter offence to many. Romans 9 (please read the whole chapter and more for context) says that God has the right to make us what we are, and then choose what to do with us and even charge us with failing to meet His standard (and destroy us). Through all this, God retains His integrity, because of His sovereignty. Paul preempts this question we have by about 2000 years when he reveals:
Romans 9:19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?
Now lest we begin to imagine God as callous and fickle, please remember that He is not such a God. The rest of scripture (even Romans 9 itself) attests to His steadfastness, purposeful choices, meaningful plans and everlasting love. Romans 9 establishes the fact that sovereign choice is part of God’s Godhood. This magnifies God’s grace.
Scripture is an offence at times like these because it puts us in our lowly place, but the Word is clear and we can only choose to believe or rebel and try to squirm in the logical grip of the almighty.
Daniel