Problem of Good and Evil Essay

? 12/2/09 How can a God who is both omnipotent and good allow evil in the world? For Christians, evil can be a problem because non-believers can use it as a way to attack Christianity. The first thing they might say is if there is evil, then God must not be good or omnipotent because he is allowing it. Yes, God allows evil in the world, but evil does not come from God. Evil comes directly from Satan. We see this in the book of Matthew, vs. 1-11, where Satan tries to tempt Jesus. Another way an non-believer may discredit Christianity is saying that because there is evil, God doesn’t exist. This is definitely false. God does exist and we know because the Bible says so. We also can see the results of his power. Some examples of that are when Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and God parted the waters of the red sea so they could get through, but he closed them over the Egyptians and they were wiped out. Another example is the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, in Mark 5: 25-34, and with one touch of Jesus’ robe, was healed. This is just a little taste of God’s power over evil. Finally, non-believers could say that God is no better than pagan gods, but he is real and here to save us. God hates evil, but Adam sinned which caused evil in mankind, and he had to bear the consequences of his disobedience against God. The Bible shows us that God is both omnipotent and good. God is omnipotent which means all-powerful. In Luke 1:37, it says â€Å"For nothing is impossible with God. † There isn’t anything that God can’t do. Also in Rev. 19:6, it states â€Å"Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Omnipotent reigns’. In that verse, we see God directly described using that word. Now on the other hand, God is good. How can we define good? That is difficult to do. My definition of good is: â€Å"Having desirable or positive qualities. † God is good to his people, and everything he has created. Psalm 136:1, a passage about God’s goodness, says, â€Å"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. † Another passage is from Psalm 34:8, which says â€Å"O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him. † This verse is saying that if you let God in your life, you will see that he can provide only good things for you. He will not bring evil your way. God may cause trials in your life, but that is only because he wants to produce perseverance, as said in James 1:3.