I once read a blog post that claimed that God created evil, and therefore God is evil. One thing that was interesting about this post is that it was written by an atheist who also stated, “I do not claim to know God because God is a lie, an invention of men.” I often find it interesting how atheist bloggers spend so much time writing about something they don’t believe in.
There are several things I want to say about this concept of God creating evil. First of all, the atheist blogger made several references to the bible in stating his case. But in the end, he judged God based on taking very small bits and pieces of God’s history. If you want to accurately and fairly judge someone, you need to look at their whole story. But only fools and atheists endeavor to judge God. For who are we to judge the one who created us?
And another thought on this idea of judging God… to judge someone, you also need to know something about their motives. In a murder trial, the judge wants to know if the crime was pre-meditated or not. Who of us could possibly know God’s motives? And did you notice, the atheist blogger stated he does not know God, but he apparently knows God enough to judge Him as evil.
Second, I don’t believe that God created evil, but I do believe that He allowed evil to be created, and I believe that all evil originated with Satan, as recorded in the creation story in Genesis.
To better understand God’s relationship with evil, consider a human analogy: A parent has something to do in the creation of their child. Let’s say that despite all the parents’ efforts to lovingly raise their child, the child becomes a chainsaw murderer. In our society, will the parent be tried and found guilty of murder? Is the parent in any way blamed for the child’s crimes? Usually not. Yet the atheist blogger wants to blame God for the evil acts of His children. How convenient.
But WHY did God allow evil to be created and proliferate. The bible seems to indicate that it’s because God allows freedom of choice. Satan chose evil and enticed the human race to choose to follow him. Now the atheist blogger stated that he didn’t believe in free will. Again, how convenient (if I have no free will, I’m obviously not responsible for my actions).
And finally, why is it that some people choose to blame God for evil? Again, a common human characteristic is that we don’t want to take responsibility for our own actions. Like the person who sued McDonalds when she spilled a cup of hot coffee in her lap. Some people want to blame God for all the evil in the world, simple because they don’t want humanity to take responsibility for it. And they solidify their case by claiming there is no free will.
Yet again, how convenient… evil is from God, humans have no free will, so when someone does something evil, it’s not their fault, it’s God’s. What a cop out. What childish denial.
Not only does the truth set you free, but it sometimes might hurt.
His Truth Will Set You Free 
February 6, 2009 at 3:32 pm
ii strive to follow jesus, i lost.
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February 6, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Let’s look at this: “Second, I don’t believe that God created evil, but I do believe that He allowed evil to be created, and I believe that all evil originated with Satan, as recorded in the creation story in Genesis.” —I don’t believe it is something that is created, like a substance or essence, it is moral and by choice, it is selfishness.
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February 6, 2009 at 4:42 pm
I have to agree with “Anonymous”… maybe “created” isn’t the right word. But evil exists.
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February 6, 2009 at 4:52 pm
E.D. Jones, I would also agree….- evil does exist in a moral sense.
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February 15, 2009 at 3:48 pm
One of the reasons that the world blames God for evil, is because the church does it all the time!
example—
Some loved christian brother or sister dies after the church has extensively prayed.
The church therefore declares that it must have been God’s will for him to die!
You meet a fellow church member, he looks rough. you enquire of his health. He admits to his suffering, but declares that it is from God. I know God is in this, He is teaching me such a lot through this sickness, blah blah blah.
(Why does he visit the doctor then, and take his medicines, he must be in rebellion against God’s will for him to suffer)
On both cases, which I encounter everywhere I go, God is cast as the villain, inflicting suffering on his children for their own good or growth etc. Occasionally he decides in an arbitrary manner to make one suffer extensively till he dies, for his own good.
Apparently, for many Christians, many Pastors, Jesus comes to kill steal and destroy, not Satan.
Satan was a murderer from the beginning.
Jesus came to give life and give it more abundantly
Given this sort of theology, how can we claim faith for a Good God who heals.
“Be it unto you according to your faith.”
Every time we suggest that our sicknesses are God given, we give Satan power over the church!
If we support or participate in a church that lets this sort of belief flourish, then our faith is double minded. We need repentance and deliverance of faith in death.
No wonder the world sees God as evil.
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February 17, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Francis,
Great thoughts. Thanks. Yes, sometimes the church is it’s own worse enemy. Ironic, but I believe it to be true.
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