Michael Tinsley

This is probably only a partial answer but we'll see. Augustine of Hippo was the first to talk about 'theodicy', which is the attempt to explain why God allows evil to exist.
Augustine maintained that evil is caused by humanity's abuse of free will. I disagree with him on that point because Satan tempted Adam and Eve and to me, Satan had free will and was evil before mankind was.
Then comes the question of why God didn't destroy Satan (evil) when he first rebelled rather than allow him to continue his existence. Man didn't become evil until Adam's fall and we inherited his sinfulness, so at one time humans were sinless until Satan came along.
Next comes the idea that without evil we'd have nothing to contrast our behavior with so God had to allow evil in order for there to be eternal forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
Salvation alone makes evil necessary so the answer to me is yes.

January 12 2014 • Report