| THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD A DIFFERENT VIEW Mike Clegg |
| Evil & God's Sovereignty |
We have always contrasted good with evil and darkness with light.
T or F: If God is sovereign then what ever happens must be His will. If anything
happens that is not His will then He is not God.
John Piper says that even though Satan had a hand in the calamity of Job, he did
not have the decisive hand. Is that supposed to bring the mother whose child's life
is taken by a drunk driver comfort? Piper goes on to explain that all calamities in
the end are an act of mercy and judgment (mercy for Job and judgment for his
kids). He says this idea is exemplified in the death of Christ whereas the cross was
judgment on Jesus as He bore our sin and mercy for those whose sins He bore.
The real definition of evil with its purpose and origin has been the question of the
ages and stands at the front of Christian debate. According to Websters Dictionary
1828 Edition, evil is having bad natural qualities that tend to injury. Evil produces
unhappiness, sorrow, and distress. The definition also implies the intention of
causing harm and bringing calamity. Our resolution within ourselves of motivates
and determines our world view. It was Epicurus, a ancient Greek philosopher,
who made this contrasting statement: “Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot
or He can but does not want to. If He wants to but cannot then He is impotent. If He
can but does not want to then He is wicked”.
Christianity is adamant that God is good but is hesitant in saying that God created
evil even when the prophet Isaiah seems to insist on it. Other views purport a
dueling contrast begin light and darkness, good and evil, and life and death. In
general, it understood that God is good and satan is evil and thus begins the battle
between God and satan, good and evil or we have the concept of the dark side of
God from which evil emanates. Inside the picture of God creating evil or having a
dark side we have verses that state all things are of God and in God, there is not
darkness at all (2 Cor. 5:18; 1 John 1:5). So where does it come from, is it sent
from Father God to teach or does His Word correct us?
Why is evil here? Why did God allow/create Evil? Augustine said “God judged it
better to bring good out of evil than to suffer no evil to exist”. The catch all scripture
of evil is Isa 45:7 where the prophet says God created evil. It must be noted that
this verse does not place good and evil as opposites but peace and evil. As we
consider evil God's creation we see in Genesis that He restored the dominance of
light by dispelling or separating the darkness from the light. The idea of evil is
similar in that evil exists where there is an absence of peace. When God created
(fashioned, shaped) evil He fashioned a place void of Himself, void of His
influence, a place where the peace of God is lacking. God in creating evil simply
allowed for the absence of good – for the absence of Himself. This place can also
be a place void of the will of God but never His purpose. His purpose does not
initiate evil but consumes it to an complete end and abolishes it.
The good that God is comes from Himself whereas evil appears to be manifested
by the absence of Himself. The evil that exists as the void of God is utilized for a
purpose that is in God's plan and once His plan is fulfilled then He brings evil to
naught becoming again all in all. Is it possible that the destructive acts that are
traditionally ascribed to God simply Him withdrawing His hand over people and
nations and allowing evil wills inroads to touch the righteous?
T or F: If God is sovereign then what ever happens must be His will. If anything
happens that is not His will then He is not God.
John Piper says that even though Satan had a hand in the calamity of Job, he did
not have the decisive hand. Is that supposed to bring the mother whose child's life
is taken by a drunk driver comfort? Piper goes on to explain that all calamities in
the end are an act of mercy and judgment (mercy for Job and judgment for his
kids). He says this idea is exemplified in the death of Christ whereas the cross was
judgment on Jesus as He bore our sin and mercy for those whose sins He bore.
The real definition of evil with its purpose and origin has been the question of the
ages and stands at the front of Christian debate. According to Websters Dictionary
1828 Edition, evil is having bad natural qualities that tend to injury. Evil produces
unhappiness, sorrow, and distress. The definition also implies the intention of
causing harm and bringing calamity. Our resolution within ourselves of motivates
and determines our world view. It was Epicurus, a ancient Greek philosopher,
who made this contrasting statement: “Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot
or He can but does not want to. If He wants to but cannot then He is impotent. If He
can but does not want to then He is wicked”.
Christianity is adamant that God is good but is hesitant in saying that God created
evil even when the prophet Isaiah seems to insist on it. Other views purport a
dueling contrast begin light and darkness, good and evil, and life and death. In
general, it understood that God is good and satan is evil and thus begins the battle
between God and satan, good and evil or we have the concept of the dark side of
God from which evil emanates. Inside the picture of God creating evil or having a
dark side we have verses that state all things are of God and in God, there is not
darkness at all (2 Cor. 5:18; 1 John 1:5). So where does it come from, is it sent
from Father God to teach or does His Word correct us?
Why is evil here? Why did God allow/create Evil? Augustine said “God judged it
better to bring good out of evil than to suffer no evil to exist”. The catch all scripture
of evil is Isa 45:7 where the prophet says God created evil. It must be noted that
this verse does not place good and evil as opposites but peace and evil. As we
consider evil God's creation we see in Genesis that He restored the dominance of
light by dispelling or separating the darkness from the light. The idea of evil is
similar in that evil exists where there is an absence of peace. When God created
(fashioned, shaped) evil He fashioned a place void of Himself, void of His
influence, a place where the peace of God is lacking. God in creating evil simply
allowed for the absence of good – for the absence of Himself. This place can also
be a place void of the will of God but never His purpose. His purpose does not
initiate evil but consumes it to an complete end and abolishes it.
The good that God is comes from Himself whereas evil appears to be manifested
by the absence of Himself. The evil that exists as the void of God is utilized for a
purpose that is in God's plan and once His plan is fulfilled then He brings evil to
naught becoming again all in all. Is it possible that the destructive acts that are
traditionally ascribed to God simply Him withdrawing His hand over people and
nations and allowing evil wills inroads to touch the righteous?
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