Part 3: Is God Able to Prevent Evil?
In 300 B.C., Epicurus attempted to address the problem 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?
Is God able to prevent evil? Are natural disasters and man-caused catastrophes evil? Since God “so loves” His world, why doesn’t He stop evil? We’ll consider these important questions in light of the true character of God.
From Epicurus, Part 1: “Dr. Dixie, It appears you believe Satan motivates individuals to malicious behavior; evil that’s different than “evils’ such as Japan’s earthquake, tornadoes or other natural disasters. How can we include these catastrophes in our worldview without stripping God of authority?”
We can’t accurately grasp the horrific extent of humankind’s rebellion on creation until we genuinely recognize the unspeakable evil of sin and satan. We won’t experience the fullest possible earthly victory over evil until we accept the still-amazing authority that believers—God’s representatives—have through salvation, even in this sin-damaged world. God created humankind in His own image—so much like Him that we, under His sovereignty, are able to rule over His marvelous creation. Even when the first man rebelled against His benevolent authority, God honored the gift of choice He had given His beloved humankind. Our choices are often selfish and always limited; frequently resulting in harm, danger and destruction to people and creation. Car and plane crashes are an example. These tragedies, while not necessarily caused by evil intent, are certainly injurious.
Earthquakes, volcanoes, tornados, floods, drought—the terrible, often deadly events that we call “natural disasters” are only natural to a creation contaminated by sin. These destructive phenomenons did not exist in God’s perfect creation. Romans 8:20-25 tells us that creation is experiencing calamity in common with humankind; sympathizing with us in expectation of relief from suffering. (Strongs NT4862) A reader comments: “By seeing God’s divinity, we can realize that oftentimes, His plan is beyond our comprehension, but most certainly has purpose...our minds are much too fragile for full understanding of something like the death toll of an earthquake.
But while on earth, we have a responsibility to our families and humankind to remain productive and responsible even in the face of tragedy and great loss. Those of faith seem to do this by accepting loss, no matter how horrific…following the processes of grieving… and transferring our inability to understand into a state of acceptance and peace.”
Evil does not continue strong because God is negligent or uncaring, but because so many people don’t know the Lord Jesus, and because many who have received salvation indulge evil through spiritual ignorance and careless behavior.
God describes His righteous hatred of evil, and His intent and plan to eradicate it: first through the death and resurrection of His Son; subsequently, through the activity of His righteous people on earth, as we represent Him and live in daily partnership with Him.
Titus 2:11-14 (HCSB): “For the grace of God has appeared, with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts; to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
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