Did God Create Evil?

[wezcountry]

God gave us free will to choose - either good or evil. So did he create evil?

 

[Verticordious]

God gave us free will to choose - either good or evil. So did he create evil?

You could say he created the possibility of evil. In order to love someone you must also be able to hate them, therefore in order for good to exist there must also be the possibility of evil. God does not force people to evil, so nothing he has done requires that evil things actually take place, but in creating love he also did create the possibility for evil. Obviously he feels that the possibility of having love was worth the possibility of having evil.

 

[wezcountry]

You could say he created the possibility of evil. In order to love someone you must also be able to hate them, therefore in order for good to exist there must also be the possibility of evil. God does not force people to evil, so nothing he has done requires that evil things actually take place, but in creating love he also did create the possibility for evil. Obviously he feels that the possibility of having love was worth the possibility of having evil.

Hmmm ... you can't create the possibility of choosing something without that thing actually existing. So ... God did create evil then?

 

[beforHim]

1) Everything which exists was created by God
2) Evil is a thing
3) Therefore, God created evil.

Sounds good, right? Well, here's the problem with this very logical argument:

1)Everything that exists was created by God. Everything. Well, evil is not a thing. \

A common example: Cold does not exist. Cold is just a is a word we use for "there is no heat here". Heat exists, cold does not. The less heat, the more "cold", but NOT the less cold, the more "heat". Take away heat, you have cold. take away cold- wait, you can't. Obviously we still talk about the cold as if it does, but really cold is the absence of heat, it is not a thing.

In the same way, evil is just a word we use for "there is no good here", or just like cold, the less good, the more "evil". Evil is the absence of good, thus it is not a thing, and thus God did not create it.




So as Verticordious pointed out, free will is a good thing. God created a good thing.

 

[he-man]

1) Everything which exists was created by God
2) Evil is a thing
3) Therefore, God created evil.

Considering that God created everything and man choose evil, then God must use that which He made for the correction and testing of mankind.

God says He created everything, including evil!
"Gen 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Pr 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

1 Samuel 18:10
The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did.

God uses the evil to bring about good for our correction. How else could you be tested?

Job 42:11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him:

Deu 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

43 Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.

Isa 54:16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

Mic 3:11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the preachers thereof teach for hire, and the evangalists thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.

Jer 40:2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD your God has pronounced this evil upon this place.

Lam 3:38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

Amo 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

 

[wayseer]

God gave us free will to choose - either good or evil. So did he create evil?

No - he created freedom.

 

[beforHim]

Considering that God created everything and man choose evil, then God must use that which He made for the correction and testing of mankind.

God says He created everything, including evil!
"Gen 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Pr 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

1 Samuel 18:10
The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did.

God uses the evil to bring about good for our correction. How else could you be tested?

Job 42:11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him:

Deu 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

43 Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.

Isa 54:16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

Mic 3:11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the preachers thereof teach for hire, and the evangalists thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.

Jer 40:2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD your God has pronounced this evil upon this place.

Lam 3:38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

Amo 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

If God created evil then he must've created good as well, meaning God is not good by nature (since He didn't create Himself). Yeah, then we get pantheism. Not good.

 

[Hog Red]

since you were created by God you already know the answer to your own question. your are capable of both evil and good. no one can make you do either, it's your choice. if you choose to do evil it's not anymore God's fault than it is mine, it's all on you.

 

[Emmy]

Dear Wezcountry. God gave us His Ten Commandments, and God also gave us free will to choose: Either listen to, and follow God`s Commandments, ( loving advice) OR ignore them, or even go against them. In Matthew, chapter 22, verse 35-40, Jesus tells a Lawyer: " the first and great Commandment is: Love thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. The second is likewise: love thy neighbour as thyself." Then Jesus points out: " on these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." God is Love, and we know there is a Law of Justice: " What you sow you will reap." In other words: be loving and kind and you will be rewarded with God`s Blessings, but be unloving and unkind, or even worse, you will reap the fitting consequences. Sometimes it seems to take longer than at other times, BUT our God is Love and Merciful, He always gives us time to realise ourselves where we go against God`s Commandments of love, if however, we are overslow in learning, we will have fitting and just consequences, to wake us up. I say this with love, and send greetings. Emmy, sister in Christ. P.S. May I point out something? humbly and with love, Wezcountry? When God said: " let there be Light" there will also be left some places of Darkness, as in Outer Darkness where some of us will choose to spend eternity, AND WHY? we all have free will to choose to follow Jesus back to God, but sadly there will always be those who prefer to go their own way.

 

[he-man]

Dear Wezcountry. God gave us His Ten Commandments, and God also gave us free will to choose: Either listen to, and follow God`s Commandments, ( loving advice) OR ignore them, or even go against them. When God said: " let there be Light" there will also be left some places of Darkness, as in Outer Darkness where some of us will choose to spend eternity, AND WHY? we all have free will to choose to follow Jesus back to God, but sadly there will always be those who prefer to go their own way.

Jer 40:2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD your God has pronounced this evil upon this place.

Lam 3:38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

Amo 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

 

[98cwitr]

No - he created freedom.

Read Isaiah 45:7

1) God is omniscient
2) God created Satan
3) God was aware of all evil that Satan would produce
4) God created him anyway
5) God created evil

 

[wezcountry]

Read Isaiah 45:7

1) God is omniscient
2) God created Satan
3) God was aware of all evil that Satan would produce
4) God created him anyway
5) God created evil

I think the other guy wrote 'no he created freedom' because it is really difficult for Christians to accept that God created evil. But to ignore this is living in unreality and being dishonest with oneself.

As I see it then, there cannot be freedom if one is not able to choose between options, in this case 'good' or 'evil'. Everything that exists was created through Christ and thus God must have created evil.

Two questions come to mind:

1. Why would a God of love create evil in the first place?

2. What does 'evil' mean?

 

[Hentenza]

Thread moved from Christian Apologetics to Exploring Christianity.

 

[98cwitr]

great...now if I respond to anyone other than the OP I'll get in trouble. I really dislike this forum due to this rule that is placed upon my responses!

Two questions come to mind:

1. Why would a God of love create evil in the first place?

2. What does 'evil' mean?

My answers:

1) Because limiting your creations is not genuine love. It's like if I was a dad and I keep my daughter under lock and key and never let her out b/c I didn't want to ever experience society.

2) Evil means to go against God; to be in opposition to God.

 

[Hentenza]

1. Why would a God of love create evil in the first place?



2. What does 'evil' mean?

He didn't create evil. Evil is merely the absence of good just as dark is the absence of light.

 

[98cwitr]

Isaiah 45:7 clearly states that God Himself says He created evil. /debate

 

[Hentenza]

Isaiah 45:7 clearly states that God Himself says He created evil. /debate

Please start a thread in Christian apologetics or the Baptist forum. I'll be happy to reply to you there.

 

[solarwave]

Two questions come to mind:

1. Why would a God of love create evil in the first place?

2. What does 'evil' mean?

I think question 2 is very important. You ask if God created evil, but is evil something that can be created? Obviously evil isn't some dark substance floating somewhere far away or attached to some or something. In my opinion evil isn't something on its own, evil is quality or attribute of an action or person.

So evil itself can't be created in the say way as you can't create 'truth', you can only create 'things' and certain propositions are true about that thing.

So God didn't create evil, but He must have made it possible to sin because it happened. Then the question becomes, why did God make it possible to sin?

I'll leave my post here, but the answer could be to do with free will and some greater good.

 

[drich0150]

God gave us free will to choose - either good or evil. So did he create evil?

Just some definitions first:

Sin, is anything not in the expressed will of God

Evil, is a malicious intent to commit sin

Not all sin is evil, but all evil is sin

Freewill is the ability to choose your own will over that of God's expressed will. (The bible/God's Law)

In other words Free will is the ability to sin.

So that means God did not create evil, Although He does permit it to happen. Because Evil is the ultimate expression/conformation of Free will.

We have been given "free will" and evil is apart of that gift if, we so choose to abuse His gift to us..

 

[Jpark]

Read Isaiah 45:7

1) God is omniscient
2) God created Satan
3) God was aware of all evil that Satan would produce
4) God created him anyway
5) God created evil

Isaiah 45:7 says God creates calamity. The NASB renders it best. Calamity is opposite to peace as evil is opposite to good. Isaiah 45:7 makes more sense if calamity is used.

Jer 40:2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD your God has pronounced this evil upon this place.

Lam 3:38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

Amo 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

All synonyms for calamity.

Regarding Lamentations 3:38, the NASB renders it as:

Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
That both good and ill go forth?

God creates calamity, but evil (as in influence) was manifested in Satan.

1. Why would a God of love create evil in the first place?

Why would God create Satan if He knew Satan would fall? Because He wanted to use Satan to do His perfect will. And indeed, He does and has been doing so. Evil may be subservient to Satan but Satan is subservient to God.

For what better punishment is there other than having the one who did not want Him to rule over him do His work? Satan is at enmity with God, but is subservient to God.