Filed under: Challenges | Tags: Challenge, Core Assumptions, Problem of Evil, Worldview
A few days ago I leveraged a challenge to consider your core assumptions about God and evil and how they interact together. This was all based on a challenging statement by Solomon in Proverbs 15:3. This follow up is to provide you with some resources for reading more and to perhaps challenge your own core assumptions. Maybe this is old stuff, maybe new, but the better we can deal with understanding the role of evil in the world the more wise we become!
If you’re interested in reading more about the problem of evil, I recommend you first establish a baseline and examine how you feel today- your core assumptions about evil and about God and about their intersection in your heart/mind first.
Recommended Resources:
- The Problem of Evil by Kreeft
- The Problem of Evil by Casey Carmical
- Crazy in depth philosophical consideration in “Logical Problem of Evil” in The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
- Definitely read Lewis’ The Problem of Pain – you can probably pick up a copy at your local library, too
Filed under: Challenges | Tags: Challenge, Core Assumptions, Problem of Evil, Worldview
In Proverbs 15 we read “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” That raised a fundamental and challenging question- how can God “keep watch on the evil and the good” and let the evil continue?
Quite simply this brings up the problem of evil. It is one of the major objections to Christianity or for that matter Theism as a whole- how can a god be good if he created or allows evil? Kreeft defines it best:
The problem can be stated very simply: If God is so good, why Is his world so bad? If an all-good, all-wise, all-loving, all-just, and all-powerful God is running the show, why does he seem to be doing such a miserable job of it? Why do bad things happen to good people?
Before researching any apologetic thoughts or checking out any other resources I’d like to see your thoughts. Given that I believe in God, how can I deal with the existence of evil? Or, maybe you are asking yourself the polar opposite question: Given that evil is a reality, how can I deal with the existence of God?
Please chime in with your thoughts below. Establishing a baseline of my core assumptions is an important step in dealing with the problem of evil in my own heart.
In a day or two I’ll post a follow up with further resources to consider regarding the problem of evil.
Proverbs 15 starts with two verses that immediately resonate with me, so I thought I’d share in the original post rather than leave a comment today.
1 A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
On Proverbs 15:1
As has been the pattern since Solomon’s practical proverbs and wisdom kicked off in chapter 10, he continues to mention the power and glory of words. Breaking it down to the radical (the root) point- so much about one’s heart is evidenced by what comes out his mouth. That’s not just in mere words, but in the way they are delivered.
Have you ever had a conversation with someone where you had to ask them a tough question? Did that person answer with gentleness, honesty, and respect? Or did you find your ears a bit bloodied by a harsh or defensive response? I’ll bet you’ve experienced both. But if you’ve experienced the harsh response, that may have set you off a bit.
I’m a fairly sensitive guy, and there are a few people, and a few topics, where I’ve had to learn how to respond with a “soft answer,” even though my emotional response would be much more animated, if not outright belligerent! What good does it do? Absolutely NO GOOD. But more importantly, a harsh answer (regardless of the question that generates it) is a clue to something larger: something is going on at the heart level. Remember 4:23? The wellspring is polluted if you get (or if you deliver) a harsh response. Food for thought.
On Proverbs 15:3
How easy is this to understand? The eyes part, anyway. God can see all- nothing is hidden. But how often do I think I can hide something… more aptly, how often do I forget everything is exposed?
Now the real kicker, which didn’t really impact me until I started writing this, is the second part of his verse, “keeping watch on the evil and the good.” Wait a second, God keep watch? On the evil? And He doesn’t do anything about it? How can that be?
So I have my own understanding of God’s character and heart, and maybe that’s the reason why the impact wasn’t significant. But I know for some that’s a major obstacle for belief. Look for an additional post to tackle the “problem of evil,” as C.S. Lewis put it. I’m curious to see where you stand!
- Will
How did you react to these proverbs? Any others strike your fancy today?
Don’t have it handy? Read Proverbs Chapter 13
