Ecclesiastes: The Problem of Evil

Evil is all around us. From hatred, envy, and jealousy to sex trafficking, dealing deadly drugs, school shootings, divorce, and even gossip. Evil wreaks havoc in countries, communities, and families. This is not the way it’s supposed to be, but it’s the way it is in this life under the sun. 

The two questions we want to address this week and next are these:

Why Does Evil Exist?

Why Does God Allow it?

Why Does Evil Exist?

 

The Bible does not ignore the problem of evil (Eccl 4:1-3, Psalm 13:1, Habakkuk 1:2-4) - nor do secular philosophers. The Greek philosopher, Epicurus (341-270 BC), expressed the problem this way:

·     God wants to abolish evil, but he cannot, he is impotent.

·     God can abolish evil, but he does not, he is wicked.

·     If God can and wants to abolish evil, why is there evil in the world?

·     Therefore, God must not exist.

A conversation about the problem of evil must begin humbly. We are finite beings seeking to understand the infinite God.

Isaiah 55:8-9

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

Romans 11:33-36

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

 

Everything God created was good (Gen 1:31). So, how does evil exist?

·     Evil is the absence of good (like darkness is the absence of light).  The church father, Augustine, wrote, “Evil has no positive nature; but the loss of good has received the name ‘evil’.” (The City of God, XI, Chapter 9).

·     God gave man the freedom to choose. He did not make us robots. Theologian Peter Kreeft says, “To prevent all evil, you must remove all freedom and reduce people to puppets, which means they would then lack the ability to freely choose love” (Quoted in The Case for Faith, Lee Strobel, 42).

·     God also gave angels the freedom to choose. Satan and others rebelled against God and were cast from heaven (Isa 14:12-15, Eze 28:12-17).

·     Standing in the Garden of Eden with the freedom to choose, Adam and Eve gave into temptation and sin entered the human race (Gen 3:1-7, Rom 5:12).

·     All sin and evil are the result of man’s rebellion against God (Rom 1:18-32). C. S. Lewis wrote, “Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who much lay down his arms” (Mere Christianity)

God allowed for the possibility of evil because of his great love for us and his desire for us to love him freely.

·     God knows it is only possible to truly believe in him if there is a choice to believe he doesn’t exist.

·     God knows we can truly love if there is a possibility to hate.

·     God knows we can truly repent only if there is a choice to walk away.

·     God knows we can truly worship him only if there is a choice to refuse worship or worship something else.

God loves you so much that he gave you freedom, and when our freedom led us straight into sin, he sent his Son to pay sin’s penalty. That’s love!! That’s grace!!

 

Next week: Why does God allow evil to continue?

DAILY DEVOTIONAL WITH RON MOORE

Get Ron’s Daily Devotional to your inbox each morning; visit biblechapel.org/devo.

LIVING GROUNDED

Learn more about how you can grow deeper and embrace the foundational truths of the Christian faith with Living Grounded. Whether you’re just starting out in faith or you’ve been a Christian for years, Living Grounded offers truth, wisdom, and encouragement for every stage. Contact gdevore@biblechapel.org to get connected.

CAREGIVING

Do you have a need we can pray for? Do you need someone to walk alongside you? Do you know of another person who needs care? Let us know at caregiving@biblechapel.org.

CAMPUS FACEBOOK GROUPS

You’re invited to connect with The Bible Chapel family in your campus Facebook Group. Look for Facebook Groups at facebook.com/biblechapel and click on Groups on the left side.

FIND AN ENCOURAGER TODAY! JOIN A SMALL GROUP

Community Groups are our easiest on-ramp to community at The Bible Chapel; these groups use sermon-based questions to dive deeper into weekly messages. Visit biblechapel.org/smallgroups to learn more and sign up!