Part 1: The Nature of God and Humanity “Dr. Dixie, most of the questions you respond to hint at the Epicurean problem of evil. In your column, “God won’t give you more than you can handle,” you allude to an omnibenevolent, omnipotent, omniscient Being allowing “evil”, but I didn’t think you answered the question (of God’s role in evil). It appears you believe satan motivates individuals to malicious behavior—evil that’s different than “evils’ such as earthquakes, floods or collapsing buildings that kill so many. How can we include these catastrophes in our worldview without stripping God of authority?”
In about 300 B.C., Epicurus addressed the problem of the existence of evil in The Riddle of Epicurus:
“If God is willing to prevent evil, but not able, He is not omnipotent. If He is able, but not willing, He is malevolent. If He is both able and willing, then whence comes evil? If He is neither able nor willing, why call Him God?”
Humankind is finite, and inherently limited in ability to fully understand infinite God. But our understanding is unnecessarily hampered by our foundational assumption of cynical mistrust toward God. The Epicurean questions seem closely related to The Lie presented in Eden; saturated in suspicion of God’s character: “Did God really….?” Satan continued that cynical line of questioning in the wilderness: “ If You are the Son of God, then…” (Matthew 4:1-10) Evil always involves the choices made by people in response to indwelling sin and the devil; and God’s good work in the middle of sin-produced evil. Two essential, primary questions must be answered before useful discussion can take place: 1. What is the true nature of God?
2. What is the true nature of man?
The Nature of God: God is the Source of the good news of the Gospel. The very idea of salvation would be nonsense if not for the fact that God’s very nature is love. But God is not love apart from any other attributes. Those who teach that God is love without teaching that God is also hatred of sin and evil have, in reality, another god: satan with a mask on.
The one true God so hated sin that He gave His only begotten Son; the one true God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. These two sentences state identical truths. We cannot separate these two thoughts without distorting the nature of God. The great love of God is the theme of the Good News presented to humankind in Eden (Genesis 3:15). God’s Name is love; His nature is to love and give. Only as we believe what He tells us about Himself, can we begin to receive from Him and love Him back. “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6 HCSB)
The Nature of Man: The heart (of man) is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse, corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it—perceive, understand, be acquainted (fully) with his own heart and mind? (Jeremiah 17:9 AMPC). God clearly hates evil. It’s also clearly evident that from the moment sin came into the world, humankind has pursued evil from a mortally corrupt nature. Evil is not a “God-problem”; evil is instigated and perpetrated by humankind, in direct opposition to the righteous holiness of God. Out of His perfect, unlimited goodness, He promises to bring good out of every situation for those who love Him.
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