This is one of the main reasons I can't believe in god. For those that aren't familiar with "the problem of evil" a little intro...
Ok, it's pretty obvious that evil/suffering exists in this world. If god is defined as an omnipotent (all-powerful) and loving being then there should be no suffering if he exists. The problem of evil puts forth four possibilities. Either...
1) God is loving but not all-powerful. In other words, he doesn't want to see people suffering but is powerless to stop it. In which case, he sounds a bit similar to most human beings.
2) God is all-powerful but not loving. In other words, he has the power to stop suffering but doesn't want to. This God sounds more like the devil or something...certainly not a being I'd want to worship.
3) God is neither all-powerful nor loving. In which case, this being isn't very god like at all.
4) God doesn't exist.
So those are the options in the problem of evil argument. And obviously I've found it rather convincing (though this isn't the only reason why I don't believe anymore...it is a major roadblock).
So, onto my question. Some Christians believe that evil/suffering exists in this world because of humans sinning. Ok, valid point...I say "some Christians" because I'm not sure whether all Christians believe this though I can't recall any alternative viewpoints on where evil/suffering comes from. Anyway, my question is...how do you explain the "natural evils" in this world? The suffering caused by earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados and other natural disasters?
Explaining the "natural evils" in this world is pretty easy when the Bible says that the whole world of creation "groans" under the weight of sin and death. Everything has been changed by the curse of sin and death like injecting chaos into that which was of better order as a reality. Whatever name that bit of chaos is called other than sin and death, science has even identified it in fractals and speaks of a chaos theory that drives the reality we live in now.
Before the fall of mankind, the dimensions man existed in were different. There was a meeting place between the spiritual and physical worlds called Eden, but after the fall, Adam and Eve were banned from that place, as they were warned, because sin and death are contrary to the nature of God and He will not dwell with or look on it forever.
The fall of mankind was necessary for many reasons other than choice, and the presense of evil has a use, foreordained by God, as contrast to that which is light. The light dispells the darkness, but the dark cannot dispell the light. Perhaps we can only learn or perceive that and other facts by the darkness, evil existing for at least a time. We are told that in the dimension(s) where the new heavens and earth will exist, there is no night of darkness.
Although evil is a terrible thing to behold when seen for its effects on mankind over time and history, it is still not beyond the power of God to change all of those bad things to good in the final outcome, as the first death is not the final outcome of man. Those that love Him and make the decision to trust in His power and provision are promised that the evil of sin and death will ultimately have no power over them. God can make evil turn out for good, and this is illustrated in the unjust death of His Son, God manifested in the flesh as Jesus, and then the resurrection from death so that all men everywhere would have the opportunity to regain eternal life and right standing with God. Ofcourse, not all want right standing with God as proved by lucifer and a 1/3 of the angels that rebelled against God and became the leading contrast to God's light over this world - deceiving the whole world with blindness. We twice belong to God. First He give us life and then purchases us back from death with His own life at the cross. Jesus felt those blows from the beatings and the nails in His hands and feet for us. Although He is God, He is also fully man, knowing pain and anguish of heart when evil comes and touches our lives and those of the world. He is not a God that has no understanding of the suffering and pain that evil brings to the world. He identified with man completely and withstood death so that the joy of seeing mankinds salvation would become reality.
I have used this simple illustration for some time now as a personal inmsight to why God allowed evil in His creation: that evil is like the black outline we use in painting that helps define the subject one would try to portray. An artist could never paint a self portrait or illustrate a painting by using white upon white. A full pallet of colors would be needed along with the absence of all light and color which is black. Although there is no light refected by black, it is the perfect contrast to light, giving definition and depth to the color of a subject when trying to show others the portrayal and feeling of the artist. To paint a masterpiece, God would have to create all the elements He would need to make it complete in beauty - including the contrasts and shades to His light.
For the time being, it seems that evil may consume the world and destroy all things, but God has promised us that He will redeem, save the world and even build a new heavens and earth - a new spiritual reality and a new physical one. Why does He delay? The Bible says so that all people can come to repentance, as it is not God's wish that any would perish from eternal death. God does not violate the choice of mankind and provided that choice long ago to Adam and Eve who fell. Even their fall brought about something great and wonderful because we, as man, now have the opportunity to partake of the divine nature of God through His Son, Jesus, and be family to God - Sons of God.
Until the day God says, enough, He will used all things, including those intended by man or the devil as evil, to work about good for those that love Him.
Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
2Peter 3:9 ¶ The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent.
