The existence of evil or suffering

[Jazzy]

How do you reconcile the existence of evil or suffering with your belief in God?

 

[Lees]

How do you reconcile the existence of evil or suffering with your belief in God?

What is there to reconcile when you have the Scriptures?

Lees

 

[NewCreation435]

There is no need to reconcile it since the Bible clearly explains it in Genesis and throughout scripture

 

[Lees]

How do you reconcile the existence of evil or suffering with your belief in God?

I suppose another question I would ask is, are you equating suffering with evil?

Consider this about Jesus Christ. (Heb. 5:8) "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered." And Jesus was not fallen as the rest of the race of Adam are. Yet we are told suffering was used as a learning element in His life.

When was Jesus as the Son ever disobedient? Never! So why did He need to 'learn' obedience? Because as the Son, the 2nd Person of the Godhead, He is immune to the temptations of the fallen world. They cannot reach Him. But when the Son took on human flesh, He could now feel them. He felt the powerful draw of them, and suffered through them, and their consequences, in remaining faithful to God the Father. (Heb. 2:18)

Point being: suffering is a learning tool of God to use upon man. And more specifically, for those who would become the 'sons of God'.

(Heb. 2:10) "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering."

Lees

 

[BruceLeiter]

How do you reconcile the existence of evil or suffering with your belief in God?

I go by what the Bible says. God is great and good with freedom from imperfections, while at the same time, evil is the responsibility of humans and the evil forces who have rebelled against God. The Bible has mysteries that the human mind can't penetrate. How do you approach that question?