Why Is There Good And Evil?
Why is there good and evil? It’s an age old question. And the Bible answers it. Here are some thoughts on what it says.
Why is there good and evil? It starts with a choice
The book of Gensis records that God created Adam and Eve and placed them in a lush, Garden of Eden. A paradise that provided all they needed. But with one caveat. There was a tree in the middle of the garden that was off limits. Why?
Because God gave Adam and Eve free will, which requires a choice. And that’s what the tree represented. Obey God and leave the tree alone. Disobey God and eat from the tree. God could have prevented evil by simply removing the tree from the garden. Obedience is the only choice. Everyone is happy and agreeable because that’s all anyone knows. Kinda like the Stepford wives. Boring maybe, but we wouldn’t know that either.
Instead, God lets us choose our own actions.
Why is there good and evil? Evil results from the presence of sin in the human heart
Evil is not a separate entity. A cosmic force of evil consciousness that sweeps across the human landscape like the Borg and assimilates us into its collective. Evil is the result of humans making wrong choices. Specifically, decisions that disobey God. Like the choice to eat forbidden fruit.
That one act of disobedience let sin enter the world. And since then, sin has infected every human heart and mutated into the most heinous acts of evil with devasting consequences. It is firmly rooted and resident in every human heart. And remains, at its core, the choice to disobey God.
Of course, Adam and Eve didn’t act completely on their own. Satan, disguised as a serpent, slithered into the picture and tempted Eve with the fruit’s delicious appeal. But Adam and Eve were still personally responsible for their decision. And the same is true today. To defeat evil we must each take personal responsibility for our sin. Confess it and ask forgiveness from God. Then our sinful heart becomes a redeemed heart that God transforms into a new creation.
How do you explain good?
God is good and God is love. He is full of compassion, mercy, and grace. And we are all created in His imgage. Therefore, we all posess an inherent, moral sense of right and wrong. And we all can experience and express love, compassion, mercy, and grace in our relationships with others.
So while sin is present in the human heart and makes us capable of unspeakable evil, it doesn’t preclude the capacity for good. For us to consider the needs of others and help our fellow man. However, there is a constant tug of war between what we know is right and the evil desires in our hearts. Even the Apostle Paul shared about this battle in his heart.
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (ESV, Romans 7:21-25)
So how do you explain why some people are consumed by evil while others focus on good? It’s like a dog fight. The winner is the one you feed.
The final solution to evil is Jesus Christ
God demonstrated the ultimate act of love by sending his Son, Jesus Christ to sacrifice his life for our sins. He lived a sin free life. Died as a perfect sacrifice and rose from the dead three days later. By confessing our sins to him, accepting his forgiveness, and following him as Savior and Lord, our sins are forgiven and we’re set free from the power of sin.
Evil exists because of sin. And sin is a choice to disobey God. However, we can achieve victory over sin through Jesus Christ. And that brings us back to where we started. With a choice. To follow Jesus…or not.
About Chip Tudor:
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview. This blog is originally published here.
