The existence of evil and suffering in the world is the number one issue that causes people to doubt or deny God's existence (to learn more click here). Here's three common questions skeptics have about this subject and the answers you can share as God provides the opportunity.
1. "How could an all good and all powerful God allow evil and suffering in the world?"
Answer: God created the world and man good. It was Adam and Eve's rebellion against God that ushered sickness, disease, pain, suffering and ultimately death into the world. God may have made evil possible, but it was man who made evil actual (for more on this click here).
2. If God knew man would choose to sin and consequently bring evil and suffering into the world, why did he still choose to create him?
I think it's helpful to answer this question with a question. You might ask your friend: Well why do parents choose to bring children into the world, even though there's the potential for birth defects and other dangers? Why do most people choose to go ahead and have kids despite the risks? Because of love and a desire to have a relationship with someone in their own image. God made that same choice.
3. Why didn't God just create us with the inability to sin?
Answer: Because God wanted a meaningful relationship with us. God didn't want robots that had to love him, he wanted humans who would choose to love him. How meaningful would it be if all I had to do to get my wife to say "I love you Mike" was press a button on her back? If that were the case, she wouldn't be human, she'd be a programmed robot. If I had to pick between a wife who chose to love me vs a programmed robot that had to obey me, I'd take the wife every time. God made that same choice.
1. "How could an all good and all powerful God allow evil and suffering in the world?"
Answer: God created the world and man good. It was Adam and Eve's rebellion against God that ushered sickness, disease, pain, suffering and ultimately death into the world. God may have made evil possible, but it was man who made evil actual (for more on this click here).
2. If God knew man would choose to sin and consequently bring evil and suffering into the world, why did he still choose to create him?
I think it's helpful to answer this question with a question. You might ask your friend: Well why do parents choose to bring children into the world, even though there's the potential for birth defects and other dangers? Why do most people choose to go ahead and have kids despite the risks? Because of love and a desire to have a relationship with someone in their own image. God made that same choice.
3. Why didn't God just create us with the inability to sin?
Answer: Because God wanted a meaningful relationship with us. God didn't want robots that had to love him, he wanted humans who would choose to love him. How meaningful would it be if all I had to do to get my wife to say "I love you Mike" was press a button on her back? If that were the case, she wouldn't be human, she'd be a programmed robot. If I had to pick between a wife who chose to love me vs a programmed robot that had to obey me, I'd take the wife every time. God made that same choice.
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