Christian Responses to Evil and Suffering
What are three responses Christians give to evil and suffering?
1. Free Will
2. Development of Virtue
3. God as Sovereign
Answer:
Christians respond to evil and suffering by citing free will as a cause, suggesting suffering develops virtue, and affirming God's sovereignty over all events, including evil.
Christian Responses to Evil and Suffering
Christians have various responses to the challenge of reconciling the existence of evil and suffering with the belief in an omnibenevolent, omniscient, and omnipotent God. Here are three responses grounded in Bible verses:
Free Will: Some Christians argue that evil and suffering are a result of human free will. They refer to Genesis 3, where Adam and Eve choose to disobey God, leading to the fall of man and the introduction of suffering into a previously perfect world. This response emphasizes that God values human freedom to choose, and consequence of choice is essential to the human experience.
Development of Virtue: Another response, as reflected in the Irenaean theodicy, is that evil and suffering are necessary for spiritual growth and the development of virtues. James 1:2-4 encourages believers to 'Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.' The idea here is that hardships can lead to greater character and faith.
God as Sovereign: Some passages in the Bible suggest that God is in control of both good and evil. Isaiah 45:7 ('I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.') points to a view that God is sovereign over all things, with a plan that humans may not understand. This response trusts in God's ultimate wisdom and believes that there is a greater purpose behind suffering that finite humans may not comprehend.
While these responses do not provide a definitive answer to the problem of evil, they represent an attempt within the Christian tradition to engage with and understand the presence of evil and suffering while maintaining faith in God's good nature.