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Your Question:
Why does God allow evil to exist?
Answer:
The question of why God allows evil to exist is a complex one, but I believe it's rooted in the concept of free will. God created us with the ability to make choices, and with that comes the possibility of evil. If God were to eradicate evil, He would also have to eradicate free will, which is necessary for a moral universe. This is why I believe God permits evil to exist, even though it's not something He desires. Some people attempt to solve the problem of evil by making God less than all-powerful, but I don't think that's a viable solution. God's omnipotence only extends to what is logically possible, and giving beings free will and not allowing them to use it wrongly is not logically possible. It's like trying to create a square-circle or a married-bachelor - it's a contradiction in terms. God's holiness and justice demand that He respect our free will, even if it means allowing evil to exist. As a pastor, I've grappled with this question many times, and I've come to realize that the problem of evil is not something that can be solved by human reasoning alone. It's a mystery that's rooted in the nature of God and humanity. But I believe that the existence of evil actually reinforces the authority of the Bible, which captures the true state of the human condition. It's a reminder that we are morally oriented beings, and that's only possible if a moral God created us.
Sources:
jesus on trial
david limbaugh
why does god allow evil
clay jones
dogmatic theology
shedd
warranted christian belief
alvin plantinga
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