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by robleyob on March 8th, 2004

robleyob

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If God is all-powerful, all-knowing and benevolent, why is there evil?

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  • by jock5556 on August 8th, 2005

    jock5556

    First of all, let me define evil. Evil is that which is contrary to God and His Word. Evil is also defined as sin which is again anything contrary to God and/or His word. Now, when God created all things, one of those things were angels. Angels are not people who have died like some people think. No one turns into an angel when they die.They are Heavenly beings that God created for a few reasons one of which was to be helpers and guardians for us. When He made these Heavenly Hosts, He made them with free wills, much like our own. One such angel named Lucifer wanted to be God. He wanted the highest position in Heaven. Of course God, being God, said no. Lucifer rebelled and God cast him out of Heaven. God gave all the angels the choice to follow Lucifer or God. One third of all the angels chose to follow Lucifer (whom we now call Satan, the Devil or the Evil One, The Prince of Darkness) and they were cast out with Satan. They are what we now refer to as demons. Satan represents darkness which means without light and God is considered The Light. The Light represents Good and the Darkness represents Evil. Darkness is a state without light. Both light and darkness can not exist in the same place. It is either light or it is dark. It can't be both. Now God, in the same sense, gave each of us a free will to choose good or evil. We can choose good being God or we can choose evil being Satan. In other words, we can choose to sin or not to sin. God desires our love, but He wants US to make the choice to love Him not because He programmed us to love Him. Satan has challenged God that we would choose him over God. There is a constant spiritual war going on all the time in each of us. Ever since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve ate the Forbidden Fruit, man has been born with a sinful nature. If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. It is so much easier to do the wrong thing most of the time than it is to do the right thing. It is second nature for us to automatically sin. Of course we don't like to admit it but it is true. Think about it for just a moment. If you bought something and gave the cashier a $20. bill and not thinking, she / he gave you change back for a $50. bill it would be much easier to put the money in your pocket and walk out like nothing was wrong. Who's to know. Hey, afterall, it isn't your fault that the cashier made a mistake. Some would think that that was the making of a good day. Some wouldn't give it a second thought. Give it back? What are you crazy? It's found money, right? This is normal for most people I'm sorry to say. It is much harder to turn and say, you gave me too much. Or better yet, not notice until you got home and then go back the next day and tell the cashier that she made a mistake and gave you the wrong change. You see, it is our nature. The Bible says that we are born with a sinful nature and so when we choose good over evil, then God knows that we truly love Him and want to please Him. One day, evil will be done away with and God will win the victory over Satan who is the ruler over sin and darkness. Until then, evil will be alive and well on planet earth.

    Comments

    • Good answer, insightful. If God had simply killed Satan there would be no freedom of choice.

      Anonymous

      by Anonymous on August 27th, 2005

    • i do hope you read this. i really felt confident that your explanation is accurate, at leaST IN YOUR MIND .

      Tagalong

      by Tagalong on October 24th, 2005

    • Who decided what is good and what is evil? Why is "God" good and "Satan" evil?

      matermotley

      by matermotley on December 1st, 2005

    • The problem is G-d constantly kill people in the Bible in the form of punishment, despite that Satan is not punished.

      pareto

      by pareto on December 8th, 2005

    • pareto: "On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?" - Romans 9:20-21 ... WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO TELL GOD WHAT YOU THINK HE SHOULD DO?! "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it?" - Job 38:4-5 ... how can the foolish little human being look up at God and say "I don't understand you ... therefore, I hate you"?!

      brian_griffith

      by brian_griffith on December 28th, 2006

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