No God, No Evil

John 17:3 (NASB95) — 3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

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How can God exist if there is so much evil in the world? If He's all-powerful why doesn't he stop it? If He's all-loving why does he allow it? The presence of SO much evil in the world proves that there isn't a God!

These are very serious concerns and I would like to offer some thoughts to consider.

First off, evil actually proves the existence of God! 

If God doesn't exist then there is no objective way to determine what is good or evil. Let me define objective. Objective moral values are values that are absolute, apart from human opinion.

Without the existence of God good and evil are subjective, they depend on our definition of the terms. Maybe you think something is evil but someone else may not think it's evil and there would be no way of determining whose way is correct! Even if there was a consensus, that doesn't make it objectively binding. It would still be subjective because people decided on it.

If there is no God, morality is just something that has evolved to help with our survival, a herd instinct much like how guerillas take care of each other for the betterment of the whole. That means that my murdering babies for fun is socially discouraged but there is nothing objectively evil about it. It's just like wearing white socks with a tuxedo or belching out loud in public...it's frowned upon and rude.

If atheism is true, we have no grounds for saying that the Holocaust was objectively evil. It was just something that the German people had reached a consensus on and decided was good for the flourishing of their society at the time.

But, if you are like me and think that murdering babies for fun is truly evil, or that the Holocaust was truly evil....then that itself attests to the existence of God.

1. If God does not exist, objective moral values do not exist.

2. Evil exists.

3. Therefore, objective moral values exist (some things are evil).

4. Therefore, God exists.

Also if the Christian God exists, then suffering has meaning. 

Let me explain...

Christianity says, "the chief purpose of life is not happiness, but the knowledge of God."

John 17:3 (NASB95) — 3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

We naturally assume that if God does exist, His main purpose is to make our lives easier. But what if that's not His #1 priority? 

Christianity says that God's main priority is that more and more people come to a knowledge of Him. Because only by knowing God can anyone have everlasting fulfillment. If that is his main goal it gives meaning to evil/suffering because it is through suffering that we have the greatest opportunities to depend and trust in God. This goes for the one suffering or those around him/her.

Patrick Johnstone's Operation World shows that it is in countries that have severe hardship that Christianity is growing at the greatest rates!

China:

It is estimated that 20 million Chinese lost their lives during Mao's Cultural Revolution. Christians stood firm in what was probably the most widespread and harsh persecution the Church has ever experienced. the persecution purified and indigenized the Church. Since 1977 the growth of the Church in china has no parallels in history. Researchers estimate that there were 30-75 million Christians by 1990. Mao Zedong unwittingly became the greatest evangelist in history.

El Salvador:

The 12-year civil war, earthquakes, and the collapse of the price of coffee, the nation's main export, impoverished the nation. Over 80% live in dire poverty. An astonishing spiritual harvest has been gathered from all strata of society in the midst of the hate and bitterness of war. In 1960 evangelicals were 2.3% of the population, but today are around 20%.

Ethiopia:

Ethiopia is in a state of shock. Her population struggles with the trauma of millions of deaths through repression, famine, and war. Two great waves of violent persecution refined and purified the Church, but there were many martyrs. There have been millions coming to Christ. Protestants were fewer than 0.8% of the population in 1960, but by 1990 this may have become 13% of the population.

Also God's purposes are not limited to this life alone, but reach beyond the grave.

Christianity says that this life is terrible, but it is short and not even worth comparing to how great things will be with God in eternity.

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (NLT) — 16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Romans 8:18 (NASB95) — 18 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.

The presence of suffering is a sobering reality, but God permits suffering and evil because it will accomplish an even greater good. We can see this most clearly on the cross where Jesus' suffering and torment allows for a greater good in the redeeming of our souls for those that will believe in Him.

1 Peter 2:22–25 (NLT) — 22 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. 23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. 24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. 25 Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

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Craig, W. L., (2010). On Guard. Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision. Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook.