1 of 3 Answers to the Problem of Evil: Free Will ⋆ Effie Darlene Barba

At the beginning of this chapter, we discussed how suffering actually plays a vital role in our learning obedience, establishing our faith, and discovering true joy. In the previous section, I presented a case for how a Sovereign, Loving God could ordain agonizing circumstances in life. I eluded to the “problem of Evil” which is an ongoing philosophical debate. Although, I am not among the brilliant minds that debate this issue; however, “the problem of evil” is an ideology for which I came to terms with long ago. Faith, with scholarly study lead me to embrace these 3 answers to the Problem of Evil. The First I will address here is the free will.

The basic idea of the Problem of Evil is to say that A Sovereign Loving God could not have allowed evil’s existence. Therefore, either God is not Sovereign, or He is not Loving. The Atheist loves to use this argument in an attempt to say God does not exist. But the truth is: He is Sovereign, He is Loving, and evil does exist.

As I previously pointed out, evil does not stand upon its own. In fact, could we even know, or could we quantify what is evil, were there not good. For evil is the absence of good. The shear fact that evil exists points to the truth that Righteousness, justice and truth must exist: which confirms God as creator. For no random conglomeration of molecules could have formed a moral compass. This is a topic for which I went into greater detail in How to Defend God Against Secular Ideologies.[1] Now lets look briefly at the first of the three Answers to the Problem of Evil.

Free Will

When God created mankind, He gave us all free will. His Sovereignty means that He remains fully in control of the affairs of men; however, His wisdom also saw that for love to be perfect-freedom to choose or not to choose Him was also necessary. This I realize is a point of extreme tension between the Calvinists and the Armenians. However, I believe as did C.S. Lewis and J.I. Packer that God’s Absolute Sovereignty in the affairs of men is true, as also is true mankind’s responsibility. Certainly, a dead spirit cannot choose God were God not to open their blinded eyes to see and desire Him, it is freely a gift of unmerited Grace. This means I have no “glory” or credit in having chosen to follow Him.

However, at the same time and equally true, God bids us to come and to evangelize that men might be saved. He warns us against the hardening of our own hearts. Of course, God knew that Adam would sin; yet, it is true that Adam chose to disobey God. Although, Adam walked in the garden every day with God, he did not truly value God’s righteousness, glory, love or grace until after he had disobeyed and ate of the tree. Only then, did Adam see the magnificence of God in contrast to the evil apart from God’s presence.

S. Lewis wrote in mere Christianity:

God created things which had free will. That means creatures can go either wrong or right. Some people think they can imagine a creature which was free but had no possibility of going wrong; I cannot. If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having. A world of automata-of creatures that worked like machines-would hardly be worth creating.

The happiness which God designs for His higher creatures is the happiness of being freely, voluntarily united to Him and to each in an ecstasy of love delight compared with which the most rapturous love between a man and a woman on this earth is mere milk and water. And for that they must be free.^[2] (C. Lewis 1952)

Can Love Be Perfect without Free Will

Without free will, we could never understand nor experience perfect love, joy, hope, or glory. Instead we would be like robots wandering about the planet with no depth of feeling and no reasoning. Lewis goes on to say:

Of course, God knew what would happen if they used their freedom the wrong way: apparently, He thought it worth the risk. Perhaps we feel inclined to disagree with Him. But there is a difficulty about disagreeing with God. He is the source from which all your reasoning power comes: you could not be right, and He wrong any more than a stream can rise higher than its own source. When you are arguing against Him you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all: it is like cutting off the branch you are sitting on.

If God thinks this state of war in the universe a price worth paying for free will—that is, for making a live world in which creatures can do real good or harm and something of real importance can happen, instead of a toy world which only moves when He pulls the strings—then we may take it is worth paying.^[3] (C. Lewis 1952)

Therefore, God was never the author of evil; yet, when given the freedom to choose, Adam chose sin through his own volition. Every human being since then is presented with the same choice. That we are free to choose; then, no longer can we blame God, rather it is our own choice. Indeed, God could have brought immediate judgment upon the earth; after all, He could see through the corridors of time all the evil that men and women would choose. However, He also could see through the corridors of time, everyone who would accept His gift of salvation. His overwhelming love for each and every one of them caused Him to stay His hand of judgment. He continues to steady His hand, today. Had He not, you nor I would be here to even discuss this.

GOD’S SOVEREIGN GRACE

He could have just turned His back upon the whole of creation. However, He did not do that either. Instead, He provided a way for man to choose Him through faith. From Genesis until now; God has provided a way for mankind to be saved from the evil within their own hearts and the world around them, through faith in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament looked forward to His coming by faith; and we, look back to see His completed work. As Paul presented in Romans, everyone is given a chose; because, God reveals Himself to each. Read Paul’s defense:

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: … it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth …. therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator. (Romans 1:16-25).

Sovereignty Vs Prayer

I see the free will vs God’s Sovereignty much as I do God’s Sovereignty vs Prayer. Never am I not to pray earnestly, believing that prayer changes things. God commands as much. Yet, in that same moment I know God is Sovereign and already has a plan in place. His Omniscience already knows the answer. Just because, I am confined within this time/space continuum of humanity on earth does not negate that both are true at the same time with the same magnitude. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

My salvation He orchestrated, planned, and carried out. 100% it was His grace and nothing that my guilty hands could have performed. He compelled my heart to desire and want Him. And now it is He who transforms my heart. Yet, each day He gives me the freedom to choose His word, His presence or to leave His love letters laying idle on the shelf. Even then, He will accomplish all that He has planned in my life. Much like the children of Israel who so often rebelled, worshiped idols, and walked away from God. Yet, that did not thwart God’s plan that He would bring salvation through the seed of Abraham to all who would believe, both Jew and Gentile.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.

ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?

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For more information regarding suffering see:

How Can Suffering Teach Obedience Resulting in True Joy?

Do You Want to Know the Secret to Abiding Steadfast Joy?

ABIDING, STEADFAST JOY

A labor of love, this book provides you with 3 foundations of truth from the scripture which once known will provide you with abiding, steadfast joy. Undaunted by the storms of life; your joy will overflow.

WHEN INJUSTICE AND VIOLENCE REIGN:
Through a study of Nahum, Habukkuk, and Zephaniah; I brought their message into our modern times. Answering the questions of “Why, God?”

Providing a foundation of faith and hope; even, as we see so much evil in the world and in our nation. With so much sorrow and despair, this book I wrote to guide you into discovering God’s Perfect Plan of love; amid this chaotic world filled with life’s storms.

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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.