THE BIBLE...

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It is understandable that people would be troubled by the apparent contradiction between a good and all-powerful God and the presence of evil in the world. Although no completely satisfactory answer can be given as to why God allows evil, we must realize that the presence of evil is not proof that He does not exist.

In much the same way it is impossible to refer to a line as "crooked" without reference to the concept of "straight," it is impossible to call something "evil" without acknowledging the existence of "good."

So what is the source of "good" in our lives? By what standard do we differentiate between that which is good and that which is not good? And what fuels our outrage when our desire for goodness is outraged by the presence of evil?

If we were the product of evolution, we wouldn't have such a reaction. Evolution depends upon the strong conquering the weak, the greater triumphing over the lesser.

The only reasonable source of goodness in the universe must be God. The reason I know that genocide is wrong without anyone having to explain it to me is because the Creator has written that principle into the fabric of His creation. If God did not exist, I would have no inherent basis for outrage at genocide or any other heinous act. But because I was created by a just God, my soul cries out in response to injustice.

For an excellent discussion on this subject, check out Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. To learn about understanding evil in a world created by a loving God, click here.

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This criticism reveals an inherent misconception about God's nature. God is not only loving and gracious, but He is also perfectly holy and just. He must judge and punish sin.

Hell is undoubtedly a miserable place. But remember, hell was never intended for man. Rather, it was created for the devil, as punishment for Satan's rebellion (Matthew 25.41). When man fell in sin, death of the human soul in hell entered the world.

Think about hell in this way. Imagine the most vile, grotesque criminal act being committed against someone you love. You would cry out for justice. You would be in that courtroom every day of the trial to see the perpetrator get what he has coming to him. How would you feel if after the prosecution presented clear evidence of his guilt and the jury came back with a guilty verdict, the judge winked to the criminal and said, "I know you didn't really mean to do it and you've done some nice things in your life, so I'm going to overlook this, set you free, and give you a reward for the times you've done good." Would you be satisfied with that outcome? Of course not. You would be enraged. The judge was there to uphold the law and see justice done, and failed to do so. God's law is perfect and He must punish the guilty.

The good news is, while we all commit infractions against God's law, He loves us so much that He made a way for both justice and mercy to be served. God sent Jesus to come to earth as man, live a perfect sinless life, and die on the cross in our place. Our debt is paid and we are set free, if we choose to accept Jesus' sacrifice in our place.

Click here to learn more about hell.

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Sadly it's true that people who claim to be Christians have committed these and other atrocities. But remember, simply because people say they are Christians, doesn't mean they truly are following Christ and His teaching. Jesus taught us to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us, and to go the extra mile. Not only did He teach that, He did that! Critics would do well to keep their eyes on Jesus and the model He set, rather than judging Him based on the mistakes made by those who claim to follow Him.

That simple fact aside, it is unfortunate that so much evil has been ascribed to alleged Christians, when Christians have been pioneers in helping the underprivileged and the hurting for generations. Hospitals, orphanages, shelters, and schools all over the world stand as testaments to the tremendous good that obedient Christians do in the name of Christ!

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