If God Is Good, Why Is there Evil? Alan Shlemon Stand to Reason

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2 If God Is Good, Why Is there Evil? Alan Shlemon Stand to Reason

3 Theft Terrorism Robbery Abuse Murder

4 How can you talk about God when you re kneeling at the bed of a dying child? Bertrand Russell

5 God is all-powerful so He can destroy evil God is good so He s against evil But evil exists. Therefore, God probably doesn t exist.

6 Evil Is Something, But It s Not Some Thing Evil is not a thing.

7 What Is a Donut Hole? The place where there is no donut.

8 What Is a Shadow? The place where there is no light.

9 What Is Coldness? The place where there is no heat.

10 Did God Make Evil?

11 How Do You Tell the Difference Between a Good and Bad Bowler? Good Closer to the perfect standard Bad Farther away from the perfect standard A Perfect Score

12 Perfect Behavior God s P e r f e c t S t a n d a r d Good Closer to the perfect standard Evil Farther away from the perfect standard

13 The Problem of Evil Is Not a Problem for the Theist, But For the Atheist. If there s no God, there s no perfect standard of behavior. If there s no perfect standard of behavior, how can you say anything is good or evil?

14 C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I gotten this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call something crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?

15 The Problem of Evil Is Not a Problem for God s Existence Yes Is evil real? No Perfect standard must exist No evil to complain about Problem of evil against God s existence vanishes God provides that perfect standard Problem of evil against God s existence vanishes

16 God Made the World Good God saw all that He had made and it was very good. Genesis 1:31

17 Evil Is an Intruder Brought by Man Genesis 3:17 Because you...ate from the tree about which I commanded you, You must not eat of it, cursed is the ground because of you. Romans 5:12 Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.

18 To create creatures capable of moral good, therefore, He must create creatures capable of moral evil; and He can t give these creatures the freedom to perform evil and at the same time prevent them from doing so. As it turned out, sadly enough, some of the free creatures God created went wrong in the exercise of their freedom; this is the source of moral evil. Alvin Plantinga

19 2 Cor. 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 1 John 5:19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. Matt. 4:8-9 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. All this I will give you, he said, if you will bow down and worship me.

20 Why Doesn t God Prevent Evil? It would be a contradiction. God can t make free creatures who don t have the freedom to do evil.

21 Now God can create free creatures, but He can t cause or determine them to do only what is right. For If He does so, then they aren t significantly free after all; they do not do what is right freely. Alvin Plantinga

22 Why Doesn t God Prevent Evil? It would be a contradiction. God can t make free creatures who don t have the freedom to do evil. It would make life unlivable. God would have to stop every act of evil before it happens.

23 Creating the Best Possible World If I want to be in a relationship with a woman who loves me, what are my options? If God wants a genuine relationship with human beings who love him, what are His options?

24 What Is God Doing about Evil? God has given us the institutions of the family, church, and government to restrain the impact of evil (Romans 13:1-4). God has given us His Spirit to help overcome the power of evil in our life (Galatians 5:16-23).

25 Which Worldview Has the Resources to Solve the Problem of Evil? Atheism or Christianity?

26 The Solution to Evil and Suffering is The Cross

27 1.It forgives the evil we commit.

28 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24

29 1.It forgives the evil we commit. 2.It s a model for us to follow in Christ s sufferings.

30 If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. Luke 9:23

31 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously. 1 Peter 2:21-23

32 1.It forgives the evil we commit. 2.It s a model for us to follow in Christ s sufferings. 3.It provides hope to escape this fallen world and be glorified.

33 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. Romans 8:18-23

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