Opposing Viewpoints
Jewel D. Williams
Jewel D. Williams
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1 Peter 3:15). This is what Josh McDowell does when asked questions regarding God. The question, “Why Does God allow evil to exist?” is one such opportunity for Josh to give an answer of the hope he has inside.
Josh McDowell states that the question regarding evil is sometimes given in a complex question to the Christian (1). People ask if God is good, why does he allow evil? Others question God’s power and think maybe he is not powerful enough to stop wrongdoing. The scriptures however, make it plain that God is not the creator of evil. This is a result of man’s selfishness.
McDowell goes on to state that the word of God tells of God’s goodness and of his love for man (1). God created man and gave him freedom of choice. McDowell states that true love cannot exist unless it is freely given (1). When Adam and Even disobeyed God, they brought evil into the world. Nick Pollard, the writer of Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult, states it this way, “The Bible is explicit that suffering is not God’s original will for us…I believe that what the Bible says is this: Suffering has come into the world because the world and everything in it has become mucked up” (133). McDowell is also stating that the world became mucked up when man sinned. The world is now abnormal because of sin.
Although evil is in the world, it is temporary. Evil will be destroyed in God’s time. God will right every wrong and put away evil. Christians have to stand in this time for what is right. McDowell states, that believers do not condone what is wrong and stand up for the right (1). This is because God is righteous and he hates evil. When the believer identifies with Jesus he has a duty to bring truth to things that are wrong and speak out when evil is trying to overtake good.
Pollard states, “The good news of Jesus is that he provides us a complete solution to our suffering. We can’t. My appeal to people is not to put off accepting God’s solution until they have a full explanation – because they never will” (132). McDowell also states that people are still bothered that God even allows evil in the first place (1). People question the wisdom of God in giving man a choice in matters. This is when one has to realize that God’s purposes are sometimes above man’s understanding. This is the reason God tells man not to lean to his own understanding.
The Bible informs man how and why evil came about, it does not tell why God allowed it to happen. One must trust that God is all wise and all knowing and his reasons for allowing things is beyond one’s comprehension. Pollard adds this encouragement with this statement, “God doesn’t provide a complete explanation of suffering, but he does provide a complete solution for it” (131).
What is the solution God provides? Pollard gives two such solutions: an ultimate one and a meanwhile one. The ultimate solution is as mentioned by McDowell, God will conquer all evil. There will be no more suffering or evil. God is delaying the time of this for his purpose of allowing others to come to a saving relationship with him.
The other solution to suffering “in the meanwhile” states, God gives his people the strength to go through. Prayer is one tool that believers have that helps them. When one prays for others, the belief is God will answer. We do not know if he will answer now or in that ultimate time, yet we can have hope in his answer.
How can evil or suffering bring about any benefits? I believe this may also be a question on the minds of people when they ask why God allows evil. One cannot always see evil or suffering bringing anything but pain and hardship. Pollard however states differently when he tells the story of a seventeen year old that said her life was falling apart. “How could anything good ever come out of this? I was tempted to answer her question by suggesting possible ways. But that wouldn’t have been right. I could listen, but only God could answer that for her. Two days later she became a Christian, and God began that transformation process” (140).
That is the one addition that I would make to Josh McDowell’s answer. One may not understand the evil and suffering that goes on in the world, but God does. He did not create it, but he is allowing it until the time he has appointed to bring it to an end. In the meantime, in his wisdom he is using it to draw people. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). One may not understand how God does it, but if an individual puts their trust in God, he is able to keep them. Suffering and evil will not disappear, but God is sufficient through it. There are times when suffering or evil happens in the world and draws one to question, God are you there? It is in those times that if one allows, God can use that time of suffering or evil, to show himself real to the seeker.
Josh McDowell states that the question regarding evil is sometimes given in a complex question to the Christian (1). People ask if God is good, why does he allow evil? Others question God’s power and think maybe he is not powerful enough to stop wrongdoing. The scriptures however, make it plain that God is not the creator of evil. This is a result of man’s selfishness.
McDowell goes on to state that the word of God tells of God’s goodness and of his love for man (1). God created man and gave him freedom of choice. McDowell states that true love cannot exist unless it is freely given (1). When Adam and Even disobeyed God, they brought evil into the world. Nick Pollard, the writer of Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult, states it this way, “The Bible is explicit that suffering is not God’s original will for us…I believe that what the Bible says is this: Suffering has come into the world because the world and everything in it has become mucked up” (133). McDowell is also stating that the world became mucked up when man sinned. The world is now abnormal because of sin.
Although evil is in the world, it is temporary. Evil will be destroyed in God’s time. God will right every wrong and put away evil. Christians have to stand in this time for what is right. McDowell states, that believers do not condone what is wrong and stand up for the right (1). This is because God is righteous and he hates evil. When the believer identifies with Jesus he has a duty to bring truth to things that are wrong and speak out when evil is trying to overtake good.
Pollard states, “The good news of Jesus is that he provides us a complete solution to our suffering. We can’t. My appeal to people is not to put off accepting God’s solution until they have a full explanation – because they never will” (132). McDowell also states that people are still bothered that God even allows evil in the first place (1). People question the wisdom of God in giving man a choice in matters. This is when one has to realize that God’s purposes are sometimes above man’s understanding. This is the reason God tells man not to lean to his own understanding.
The Bible informs man how and why evil came about, it does not tell why God allowed it to happen. One must trust that God is all wise and all knowing and his reasons for allowing things is beyond one’s comprehension. Pollard adds this encouragement with this statement, “God doesn’t provide a complete explanation of suffering, but he does provide a complete solution for it” (131).
What is the solution God provides? Pollard gives two such solutions: an ultimate one and a meanwhile one. The ultimate solution is as mentioned by McDowell, God will conquer all evil. There will be no more suffering or evil. God is delaying the time of this for his purpose of allowing others to come to a saving relationship with him.
The other solution to suffering “in the meanwhile” states, God gives his people the strength to go through. Prayer is one tool that believers have that helps them. When one prays for others, the belief is God will answer. We do not know if he will answer now or in that ultimate time, yet we can have hope in his answer.
How can evil or suffering bring about any benefits? I believe this may also be a question on the minds of people when they ask why God allows evil. One cannot always see evil or suffering bringing anything but pain and hardship. Pollard however states differently when he tells the story of a seventeen year old that said her life was falling apart. “How could anything good ever come out of this? I was tempted to answer her question by suggesting possible ways. But that wouldn’t have been right. I could listen, but only God could answer that for her. Two days later she became a Christian, and God began that transformation process” (140).
That is the one addition that I would make to Josh McDowell’s answer. One may not understand the evil and suffering that goes on in the world, but God does. He did not create it, but he is allowing it until the time he has appointed to bring it to an end. In the meantime, in his wisdom he is using it to draw people. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). One may not understand how God does it, but if an individual puts their trust in God, he is able to keep them. Suffering and evil will not disappear, but God is sufficient through it. There are times when suffering or evil happens in the world and draws one to question, God are you there? It is in those times that if one allows, God can use that time of suffering or evil, to show himself real to the seeker.
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