Unbelieving Arguments: The Problem of Evil

Over at Vincent Cheung's* newly created blog, in reference to the recent Tsunami, he comments on the atheists/unbelievers chief argument - The Problem of Evil. He also has a 19 page book for free download on the topic. It goes like this: "If there were an all-loving, all-knowing God, why does he allow evil to exist in the world?"

On its surface the argument looks to have some weight. But a few moments of reflection show the argument to be irrational and based on pure emotionalism. He writes,

Big or small, no instance of natural or moral evil can generate a logical problem for Christianity. On the other hand, big or small, every instance of natural or moral evil can generate an emotional problem in a person about Christianity. But then the "problem" is purely subjective, non-rational, or even irrational. That is, the problem is with the person, not with Christianity.

Pay close attention to the italicized words. The problem clearly lies in the emotions of the objector. In no way does evil in the world disprove the existence of God. What it does do is cause emotional struggles within the person.

In any case, "the problem of evil" is convincing only to those who hold to false and irrational presuppositions -- of the primacy of human dignity and physical welfare, for example, rather than the glory, the holiness, the wisdom, and the sovereignty of God. Instead, one who understands the holiness of God and the depravity of man asks, "Why are so many people still alive?"

As the bible declares in Romans chapter 8, natural man (man that has not been born again by God) is unwilling, and incapable of understanding the things of God. In verses 5-8, we read:

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Natural man hates God. He doesn't want God. He's not searching for the true God. And he'll look for any "reason" to deny Him.



*Vincent Cheung is the president of Reformation Ministries International. He is the author of more than twenty books and several hundred lectures on a wide range of topics in theology, philosophy, apologetics, and spirituality.