Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? – Epicurus, Greek philosopher (341 BCE – 270 BCE)
Ah, the good ol’ ancient Greek philosophers. At the height of the age of the philosophers the apostle Paul sat down with a group of them in Athens and had a nice little talk about God. Of course, Paul told them about the true and living God and at the end of the discussion “some mocked him,” and “others believed” what he had said (Acts 17).
One thing Paul told them is the same thing every person needs to know, especially if you are in doubt about the existence of the Living God, he said “That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:” (Acts 17:27)
Is God not willing or unable to prevent evil?
This is what Epicurus was addressing in his quote from above. In his view if God is omnipotent then he is malevolent for not being able or willing to put a stop to evil. Men like Epicurus believe that the presence of evil and the suffering of humans is a sign that there is no God because an omnipotent God would certainly put a stop to it right?
The story of human history is not finished. First, I’ll say that God will put an end to evil and suffering (Mark 12:36, Isaiah 25:8, Revelation 7:17) just not yet.
If you break down Epicurus’s quote what you really have is a kid throwing a fit for not getting his way. What you also have is a person in complete rebellion against God. Do you want some sort of free will or not? Humans and fallen angels have rebelled against God and the fact is God has been patient with us, longsuffering toward us (2 Peter 3:9) and he owes us nothing.
Is God Omnipotent?
God created the heavens and the earth and he did it ex-nihilo meaning without any pre-existing material. Can you do that? Can you make anything without having material? Can you make a planet? Can you make billions of stars? I don’t think so.
Using the presence of evil in the world to say God doesn’t exist is a scapegoat issue. It sounds good to someone who doesn’t want to believe in a God that will one day judge them (Hebrews 9:27). The fact is God is holy and perfect and we are not.
God knows every hair on your head (Matthew 10:20). God knows the deepest thoughts in the heart of every man, woman and child (Acts 15:8, Luke 9:47).
Not only did God create everything, not only does he know everything but he also knows the future in ways you or I can’t even comprehend (Isaiah 46:10). One more thing about the omnipotence of God. We could talk about the miracles of Jesus but I think John sums it up nicely; “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” (John 21:25)
If God is omnipotent why is he not able or not willing to prevent evil?
Let’s take a look at Luke 9 and cover verses 18-22. And it came to pass, as Jesus was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again. He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.
So Jesus has this moment where he asks his disciples what are the people saying about me, who do they say I am? Then after he asks the disciples who they think he is Peter answers correctly for the group but watch this now. Jesus shifts gears on them.
And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing; Saying, The Son of man (Jesus) must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
Jesus, God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16) chose to suffer and die a human death… for us. For our sake. Not because we deserved anything but to “save sinners.” Look at Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
The reason this terrorized and troubled world exists is to make a place for Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to suffer and die for our sins. The reason there is terror in the world is so that Christ could be terrorized. The reason there is trouble in the world is so that Christ could be troubled. The reason there is pain in the world is so that Christ, the Son of God, could feel pain. This is the world God prepared specifically for the suffering, agony and death of his Son. This is the world where God made the deepest display of his love known in the suffering of his Son, Jesus Christ. – John Piper
There’s Only 2 Religions in the World
(Video description) We hear from John MacArthur and John Piper as they discuss how there is only the choice in life between two religions and touch on why there is suffering and pain in the world.
God is omnipotent and nothing can thwart his will. It says in Isaiah 14:27 “For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?”
You want God, in his omnipotence, to stop suffering, but have you even considered asking why did he not stop the suffering and death of his only begotten Son?
Have you ever stopped and asked why it “pleased the LORD to bruise him (Jesus)” (Isaiah 53:10). Of course the answer is in the earlier part of the same chapter in Isaiah, “Surely he (Jesus) hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5).
Jesus came to seek and save lost sinners and bids you “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:10-12)
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
