The problem of evil

If God is able to stop horrific suffering and willing to stop it, why is the world like this? This page is that general question: Christians do not answer with a reason for each horror, and they say God has entered suffering in the cross and that the resurrection says death does not keep the last word.

Key points

• A strong form of the objection: some suffering is not a useful lesson and not the fault of the person who bears it, and an all-powerful, all-good God could have prevented at least some of it.
• Psalm 13:1How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?Psalms 13:1 · King James Version asks, “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever?”
• Habakkuk 1:2O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!Habakkuk 1:2 · King James Version asks, “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear!”
• Job refuses his friends’ tidy explanations. The book does not end by itemizing why each loss was useful.
• Romans 8:22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.Romans 8:22 · King James Version says the whole creation groans, and Romans 8:24For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?Romans 8:24 · King James Version says hope that is seen is not hope.
• The Christian claim is the cross and the resurrection, not the sentence “everything happens for a reason.” Whether evil is a logical disproof, or powerful evidence against trust, are two different arguments. See Does God exist?. What atheists argue from suffering is What do atheists argue against God?.

The objection

Some suffering is not a useful lesson and not the fault of the person who bears it: a child’s illness, a massacre, a slow cruelty nobody chose in time to stop. An all-powerful, all-good God could prevent at least some of that without wrecking whatever greater good people appeal to. The suffering is still there. So that God is not there, or is not both of those things.

People who say this are often speaking about something they have seen. “Everything happens for a reason” is not an answer to that argument, and it is not comfort.

The Christian claim

Scripture does not hide the protest. Job refuses his friends’ tidy explanations. Habakkuk asks how long. Psalm 13 asks whether God has forgotten.

The Christian claim is not that we can itemize God’s reasons for each horror. It is that God has not stayed outside the horror. The cross says the Son entered suffering and death. The resurrection says death did not keep the last word. Romans 8:18–25^8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ^8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. ^8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, ^8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ^8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. ^8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. ^8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? ^8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.Romans 8:18–25 · King James Version speaks of a creation that groans, and of a hope that is not yet sight. That is the shape of the answer the church gives. It leaves room to say “I do not know why this happened.”

One argument asks whether evil is a logical proof that such a God cannot exist. Another asks whether suffering is powerful evidence against trust. Those are different arguments. Does God exist? is the wider claim. The resurrection of Jesus is the claim about the cross’s sequel.

Passages

• Job 1–2 and the closing chapters, especially the friends’ failed speeches.
• Psalm 13.
• Habakkuk 1:2–4^1:2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! ^1:3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. ^1:4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.Habakkuk 1:2–4 · King James Version.
• Romans 8:18–25^8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ^8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. ^8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, ^8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ^8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. ^8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. ^8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? ^8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.Romans 8:18–25 · King James Version.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a page about atheism?

No. This page is the general question of suffering and God. What do atheists argue against God? is how atheist writers put the argument from evil.

Does the Bible ignore the protest?

No. Psalm 13:1How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?Psalms 13:1 · King James Version asks how long God will forget. Habakkuk 1:2O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!Habakkuk 1:2 · King James Version asks how long the prophet will cry and not be heard. Job refuses his friends’ tidy explanations.

What do Christians say God did about suffering?

They say the Son entered suffering and death, and that the resurrection says death did not keep the last word. Romans 8:18–25^8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ^8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. ^8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, ^8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ^8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. ^8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. ^8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? ^8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.Romans 8:18–25 · King James Version speaks of a creation that groans and of a hope that is not yet sight.

Keep reading

• Does God exist?
• What do atheists argue against God?
• The resurrection of Jesus