In my last blog I discussed the origin of evil, but the following questions may still be asked. Why does God allow evil to persist? Couldn't He just stamp it out? Again I'm going to subdivide persistent evil into two categories. Most philosophers lump pain and suffering in with evil. I'm going to treat them as a separate category. I'm specifically referring to pain and suffering as a result of a lack of food or water, disease, stubbing your toe, getting sunburned, etc. The second category will consist of your run of the mill evil acts (which also bring about some level of pain and suffering).
First, borrowing from Greg Koukl, I'd like to ask a question. If I were to stick you in the arm with a needle, how would you react? You would recoil in pain right? Why do we react this way? It because we are designed that way. The pain let's us know that something harmful is occurring to our body. While this isn't a pleasant experience, it isn't morally bad to experience this pain (although my poking you with a needle might be morally bad). So when your stomach aches because you haven't had food, this again is a design feature. It is your body telling you to eat. So this first category does not rise to the level of evil in a moral sense. Certainly evil acts can cause pain and suffering, but the pain and suffering isn't itself a form a evil, morally speaking. For instance, if one is under lock and key and is being denied food as a form of torture, this would be evil. But the ache felt by the hostage would not be morally evil.
The second, general acts of evil, are allowed to persist. Why? One part of the answer traces back to the origin of evil. There is still a standard to be broken, and there are still humans walking around with free will. Thus evil exists. Is this God's fault? No. Again God has done two good things by maintaining His standard and giving us free will.
In order to gain the correct perspective, we need to flip this on it head and look at it from the other direction. We are clearly told that the payment for sin (evil) is death. This death is defined in other scripture as eternal punishment in Hell. Now here's the question: Is the evil, pain, and suffering that we experience here on earth better or worse that what we deserve--Hell? From an experiential standpoint, Hell is much worse. But from a moral standpoint, Hell is far superior. Hell is righteous. Hell is good. Hell is the appropriate punishment for crimes against our Sovereign.
So, when we complain about experiencing evil, pain, or suffering we tread on shaky ground. Let us rather be thankful for the grace extended to us to live the lives that we've been granted. Moreover, let us be living and holy sacrifices, acceptable to God in all thankfulness for Jesus' payment for our crimes.
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