Omni-benevolent God – 12 June 2009

If God is always benevolent (kind and generous), why is there evil and suffering in the world?  I think the omni-benevolent nature of God is something we struggle to comprehend, and perhaps a stumbling block to belief (and an argument for atheism too).  Many people have a fundamental issue with “the problem of evil”.

People sometimes ask why did God create evil?  I find it sometimes easier to think about evil as the “absence of God” – rather than an entity created by God.  As darkness is nothing more than absence of light – so I believe evil is nothing more than an absence of good. 

The evidence is that suffering and persecution can provide strength to those that love God.  Suffering makes us compassionate and gives us empathy with others who are in pain.  Persecution makes the church stronger, increases faith and makes the church grow and rely on God.  Even bad things can be used for good purposes.  What better example than the crucifixion of Christ – which must have seemed like the worst thing that could have happened to the disciples – yet the result of Christ’s death and resurrection are that all our sins are paid for and a road to heaven is opened up for us.

We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose, and he has always known who his chosen ones would be.  He had decided to let them become like his own Son, so that his Son would be the first of many children.  God then accepted the people he had already decided to choose, and he has shared his glory with them.
Romans 8: 28-30 [CEV]