God's purpose for evil's existence

God did not create evil He did create the possibility of evil because of love. When there is no choice to love or not there is no love. Evil arises out of a failure to love.

 

Amen. I totally agree.

I would also add that God´s punishment of evil glorifies His justice and holiness- again evil exists to glorify God.

Obviously He is not the source of evil as some have tried to claim.

 

Please note in that quote, God does not predestinate both the elect and the evil. The latter are left to their own destiny.

Couldn't pass that by.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I'm a big fan of Dr. Alvin Plantinga's Free Will Defense in answering the Evidential Problem of Evil.

To be honest, and not attempting to slight others, I just find the double determinist has a hard time justifying their view in light of the presentation of a benevolent God in the Scriptures. It just seems difficult for me.

 

...so they have a destiny that has been pre-planned, else where they end up is a surprise to God. That's predestination.

 

I'm not advocating anything, just stating a fact. If you have two groups of people, one is "chosen", then the destiny of those not "chosen" have been chosen by default, unless it surprised God. I say that facetiously.

 

I'm only using the same strawman they are using when they call me an open theist. It's not "mocking". This coming from someone who is telling me the evil motivations and heart of a pastor called by God. The log and the speck fit perfectly here.

 

That's a non sequitur. Of course God is sovereign, but He also remains sovereign in His permissive will.

 

Yet another ambient post

One thing about suffering, it keeps you from being too proud of yourself.

If I build an airplane with the knowledge that someone could fly it into a building, it doesn't mean that was my intention. Does that mean airplanes should have never been built?

Consider the incomprehensible. What good is there in creating a being that has a choice? I mean if you create a boundary where that choice is contrary to your design then how is it a choice? But then again how could you have something and not have it at the same time.

We can't even predict our own inventions else programmers would create perfect code.
So how is it we are supposed to understand the question, why does God allow evil?

Paul says where evil abounds grace more abounds but thats not a reason to sin.
Romans 5:20 ...But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound... 6:1
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Which brings me to this. That it is neither my right or place to try to understand the mind of God and there are some things He has chosen not to explain in His word. And not only do I believe that He is not only capable, He knows all possible outcomes of our choices and the entire history of earth to the smallest detail, what will play out because I believe He is already there as well as here and is now present at the beginning of time.

Personally, if it were me I would have stopped at galaxies and solar-systems.
:godisgood:

 

It should, but how often do we seen our fallen society shake their fist at God when suffering befalls then instead of turn to Him in repentance and faith. But I know what you mean I think.

We can understand the question because God reveals to us in His word why He allows evil to continue. True we may not understand the specific details of His purposes in a given situation, but we can understand that He does have a greater purpose for all that takes place including the evil devices of mankind. (again that does not mean God is the source of said evil)

The book of Habakkuk, I think, is good to study in relation to this topic. The prophet asks the question: "How long will you allow the evil of Judah to continue?" To Habbakkuk it seemed like an inconstancy in God´s justice. But God´s response further complicated the problem: "I am going to destroy Judah with the Chaldeans." To this the prophet asks: "How can you use an even more wicked people to punish your people." God says: "Because I am going to judge them as well." Again Habbakkuk struggles with this, but finally comes to grip, like Job; with the sovereign character of God. He learns that God is not to be worshiped for the blessings He gives or does not give, but because of Who He is.

I think the book of Habbakkuk does answer to a degree the reason God allows evil- again its so that in all things He might be glorified.