Sam's Biblical Insight, Exploring the Word, Faith, Theology, Doctrine, and Christian Life in the Spirit

Theodicy serves to understand the problem of Devil in God’s world, defending His intergrity and the existence of God, as revealed in the Bible, against potent criticisms. These criticisms often center around the existential problem of Devil and suffering in the world created by God, challenging His nature, particularly His supposed omnipotence, omniscience, and all-loving attributes. To elucidate this matter, two well-crafted statements have emerged to voice these criticisms:

1. “Is God willing to prevent evill but not able? Then He is impotent. Is He able but not willing? Then He is malevolent.” – David Hume, a Scottish philosopher (1711-1776).

2. “If God exists, He is omnipotent, omniscient, and morally perfect. If He is omnipotent, He has the power to end all Devil. If He is omniscient, He knows when evil exists. If He is morally perfect, He wants to end all evil. But evil exists. So, if evil exists and God exists, then either God doesn’t have the power to end all evill, or He doesn’t know when evill exists, or He doesn’t have the desire to end all evil. Therefore, God doesn’t exist.” – Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

These statements artfully aimed at theological ‘Achilles’ Heel,’ posing a dual challenge to the holy and perfect God of His holy character and His existence: Hume’s perspective questions God’s moral goodness, while the second perspective, rooted in atheism, outright denies the existence of God.

From the Biblical perspective, we, humans, as the ‘Johnny-come-lately,’ are to accept all realities as given and live by the teachings in the Bible about God, the Creator. We are in no position to critique God’s integrity and quality of His workmanship, or His existence, yet we are doing just that.

As Paul said: “Who are you, O man, who answers back to (question or challenge) to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, ‘Why did you make me (and the world) like this,’ will it?“

It is important to notice that these two statements as formulated set up specific premises and parameters for debate, potentially leading to predetermined conclusions, such as notions that God may be malevolen t, impotent, lacking omniscience, unwilling, or even non-existent. This essentially opposes the Biblical teachings about God. After all, the world with all the original existential realities, as God created, was in existence fully working before the human came into the scene.

In addressing the current potential problem, it’s crucial to approach the existential problem of evil through the lens of God. Our primary duty is to ensure that the theodicy we embrace aligns with Scripture, safeguarding God’s honor and glory without encroaching into the attributes of God as taught in the Bible. To achieve this, a top-down approach, a ‘return to the Bible,’ is essential.

God, as the creator, holds sovereignty over all, and we exist as His creation. Theodicy belongs to God’s realm; it’s not our role to define but to seek a correct understanding of His divine plan. Our aim is to avoid stumbling ourselves and leading others astray, recognizing that the Bible serves as the ultimate theodicy.

With that in mind, we will delve into Biblical Theodicy from the standpoint of God’s Word, beginning with a passage such as ‘It was very good’ (Genesis 1:31) and other statements within the context of the creation accounts.

1. Understanding Genesis 1:31 – God’s Pronouncement on His Creation.

This statement stands as the final approval and conclusion of the entire work of creation declared from God’s own lips! Already God had said ‘It is good’ in six times (verses 3,10,12,18,21, and 25), until God placed ‘man’ on this earth. This final statement, ‘very good,’ the superlative in Hebrew, confirms the completion of God’s creation after He created Adam and Eve in His own’ image and likeness.’  For God said, in Genesis 2:1-3,

‘Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all his work that He had done. So, God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, and then, God rested from all His work that He had done in creation’-the completion of God’s works of creation.’

So, as we reflect on Genesis 1:31 in its context and God’s pronouncement that His creation was ‘very good,’ we also consider God’s eternal decree, crafted with perfect wisdom and divine counsel. The world we experience today was the creation that God deemed ‘very good’ in His own words, and there was no Devil and evils.

 2.  The Nature of the World as God Created

God embodies ultimate perfection – eternal and infinite, free from any deficiencies and shortcomings, transcending all human perceptions.

In the act of creation, God fashioned an eternal universe with elements such as time, space, matter, and living entities governed by divine laws. God meticulously defined everything in the world according to its distinctive inherent nature, including the concepts of light and darkness, day and night, and the transitions of evening and morning. This physical world inherently holds both possibilities of good and bad, life and death. For example, natural elements like wind, rain, and heat can bring both benefit and destruction, just as atomic energy can serve as a clean energy source or trigger global destruction.

Humanity, made in God’s image and granted dominion over all creatures, was entrusted with the task of caring for and enjoying the world on God’s behalf, harnessing nature’s powers for its betterment. However, when humans fell and sinned, our ability to make right moral choice was hampered, and  mandate to subdue creation were compromised. The adversary entered the world, affecting and disrupting nature, our morality, and spirituality.

 We explored how God’s creation was initially in a state of order and goodness but was disrupted by human sin and the introduction of Devil.

3. How did Existential Evils come to be?

According to the Bible, the origin of existential evils traces back to Satan. Initially created as a virtuous angel by God, he succumbed to pride. Once known as the ‘Shining One’ or ‘light-bearer,’ Lucifer’s insatiable desire for greater beauty, splendor, and wisdom led him to covet and challenge God, resulting in his fall from grace. This rebellion extended to numerous minions from the heavenly realms, transforming Satan into the chief adversary with a mission to corrupt humanity. Behind the scenes, he played a pivotal role in the ‘fall’ of Adam and Eve, leading to God’s curse that disrupted the harmony, order, and goodness of creation. Operating within a hierarchical structure mirroring God’s Kingdom, Satan and his minions sow chaos  in our world.

Instances of his influence can be observed in the narratives of Adam and Eve, Cain, atheists, and infamous historical figures such as Hitler, Stalin, and Pol Pot of the Cambodian Killing Fields. Satan often magnifies disruptive impacts, extending to natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the infliction of physical ailments upon living beings, coupled with added agonies and depressions.

It’s crucial to understand that God did not create Lucifer with the intention of him becoming Satan, the adversary.

So, then where did the initial moral inclination arise for the choices Satan made?

a. The Origin and Consequence of Lucifer’s Initial Moral Inclination.

God created him as an ‘autonomous free-will’ being meant to serve both God and humanity. Satan, also known as Lucifer, acted on an ‘inborn desire’ for more of God’s glory and authority by his own volition, thereby violating God’s Kingdom rules and facing inevitable consequences. This can be likened to a citizen turning into a criminal for breaking a nation’s laws. Unlike ordinary lawbreakers, Lucifer’s fall had profound negative impacts on morality and spirituality in our world.

b. Innate Inborn Desire Against God’s Precepts

It’s crucial to clarify ‘inborn desires’ as innate urges originating within autonomous free-will entities. These desires manifest as a natural yearning for excellence, often resembling a sudden ‘brainstorm’ or ‘inspiration.’ They are shaped by observations and experiences in specific situations or environments—free from external pressure or coercion—similar to the triggers found in a luxury auto display or a jewelry store.

‘Inborn desires’ represent raw, unbiased impulses that guide specific actions and choices. Without them, creativity and the pursuit of excellence would be nonexistent.

It’s crucial to clarify ‘inborn desires’ as innate urges originating within autonomous free-will entities. These desires manifest as a yearning for excellence, often resembling a sudden ‘brainstorm’ or ‘inspiration.’ They are shaped by observations and experiences in specific situations or environments—free from external pressure or coercion—similar to the triggers found in a luxury auto display or a jewelry store.

‘Inborn desires’ represent raw, unbiased impulses that guide specific actions and choices. Without them, creativity and the pursuit of excellence would be nonexistent. These desires serve as the foundational ‘innate aspect’ of an autonomous entity, playing a crucial role in setting objectives and providing intrinsic motivation for achieving excellence. Without such ‘inborn desires,’ autonomy coupled with ‘free will’ might resemble a car idling without a direction or an arrow on a bow without a target to aim for.

Choosing against God’s will becomes a ‘double-edged sword.’ It is a binary decision of a person, akin to the driver of an idling car deciding to go left or right. Lucifer made the fateful choice, transforming himself into Satan, the Devil, the Adversary, and the originator of evils in God’s world.

The ‘inborn desire’ exercised against God’s will can be like a ‘double-edged sword.’ It is a binary decision of a person, akin to the driver of an idling car deciding to go left or right. Lucifer made the fateful choice, transforming himself into Satan, the Devil, the Adversary, and the originator of evils in God’s world.

In sum, in the cases of the ‘Shining one’ and Adam and Eve, it wasn’t pre-existing evil inclinations or dispositions that guided their actions. Ultimately, it was the independent ‘inborn desire’ and decisions of free-will beings, acting in defiance of God’s Kingdom Laws and commands, that led to divine judgment. They bore the consequences of their own choices.

How was it even possible for Lucifer’s fateful choice and transformation into Satan, the Devil, the Adversary, and the originator of evils to happen in God’s world?

c. The Labyrinth of the Dynamics of God’s Sovereignty and Autonomy of Free Will.

While the universe and nature operate according to pre-established systems of natural laws and principles, both angelic and human beings exercise autonomy and free will—though not of a transcendental nature—granted by God for His holy purpose of honoring and glorifying Him. This autonomy comes with accountability and enables us to make moral choices within any given circumstance, akin to children playing with toys under the watchful eyes of their parents.

God, being omniscient, with His full knowledge of all potential outcomes, including the ‘fall,’ God decreed in eternity a comprehensive plan of creation, in which human beings became recipients of His blessings and counterparts on Earth. Even though He knew that the ultimate cost of the redemption of fallen humanity would fall upon Him, He respected our free will throughout.

God’s Plan of Salvation, a consequential plan, vividly illustrates His respect for human autonomy and free will. He treasures humanity as bearers of His image and likeness. For God, the concept of ‘free-will autonomy’ is paramount. Without this aspect of human beings, the tapestry of history and the divine decree would lose profound significance.

In His sovereignty, might, and knowledge, God has never taken away humanity’s ‘autonomy’ even when acting against God’s will. He punishes sin, but He leaves our free will intact. Even for individual salvation, He offers the gift of faith for the hearer’s free-will response to the gospel call – ‘whoever believes in Him’ (John 3:16). It is God’s eternal decree that encompasses the dynamics of ‘Divine Sovereignty and Human ‘free-will autonomy’ in a mutually inclusive relation.

Therefore, it is biblically affirmed that it was God’s decree to encompass the dynamic and mutually inclusive relationship between God’s sovereignty and human ‘free-will autonomy. 

d. Satan (Devil) is tenacious adversary in God’s World.

From Genesis to Revelation, and throughout the church history, Satan has been a relentless adversary in God’s world. He tempted Adam and Eve with lies to follow his own steps to fall, bringing ‘sin and death’ to all humanity. In the desert, Satan dared to tempt Jesus three times in a row, attempting to make Him betray God the Father’s will, but he failed. Satan  confused Peter, leading him to protest Jesus’ impending suffering, also denying Jesus three times; he also incited Judas to betray his master and led to his eternal demise. Throughout human history, especially within the Christian church and among the followers of Christ, Satan has been a relentless and tenacious adversary in the lives of believers, for unnumbered martyrs, the Church, and her missions. He works unceasingly; like a ‘roaring lion’ seeking to devour saints. The Bible foretells that he will cause great turmoil in the world scene and persecutions of the believers in the last days, also causing great apostasy until he is thrown into the lake of fire by the glorious and victorious Lord Jesus.

The Bible has many warnings about Satan’s presence in the world: ‘We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the Eevil one’ (1 John 5:19). ‘In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God’ (2 Corinthians 4:4). ‘Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour’ (1Peter 5:8).

e.  Satan (Devil) often plays with natural elements and causes sickness.

In Luke 8:24, Jesus rebuked (ἐπιτιμάω, emitimao – Lit. sternly telling) and calmed the wind and raging water, saving His disciples and Himself from drowning. The disciples marveled and said, ‘Who then is this? He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him.’ This is a clear case that Devil was behind the storm.

Jesus’ earthly ministry can be characterized as a demonstration of the message, ‘The Kingdom of God has come.’ He taught and proved His message with the power of the Kingdom through healings and exorcisms. Often, Jesus healed sickness by casting out demons, as in the case of the ‘mute’ (Matthew 9:32-33) and an ‘epileptic boy’ (Luke 9:37-43). Of course, He also cast out demons, as in the case of the man with a legion of demons (Luke 8). In  First John 3:8, it says, ‘The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the Devil.’ If these cases of sickness were from God, then Jesus wouldn’t have been performing healings and exorcisms against God the Father.

To sum it up, as we have observed from the Scriptural, God did not create the Satan, the adversary, nor predestined the ‘shining on’ to become the Devil to do the evils in the world. The free-will autonomous beings, the ‘Shinning one’ and the human beings’ by transgressing the holy Kingdom Laws of God, implicated themselves with the inevitable consequences of transforming their status and nature into the Devil and sinners and along came the evils in this world.

5. Why Does Suffering Persist in the World?

In our world, we grapple with the profound issue of evils. 

 In my 83 years, I’ve faced significant challenges. It started with my father’s tragic death during the Korean War—a pastor killed by communists. Poverty and illness struck our family one by one, claiming my older brother and eventually my mother.

In my twenties, I, too, fell prey to tuberculosis. Helpless I was, I cried out to God, receiving only silence in return. Overwhelmed by despair, I attempted to end my life, angrily proclaiming, ‘I don’t need you, God.’

But on the brink of despair, something extraordinary occurred. In an audible voice, God said, ‘Your life is not yours. A little further up the hill, there is an easier downhill.’ It marked a pivotal moment, a profound spiritual awakening.”

We often find ourselves deeply moved when we witness intense scenes of suffering up close. It’s akin to viewing a heart-wrenching news clip of a wounded baby in a war-torn hospital or peering into an operating room where surgeons, dressed in sterile attire, are performing a distressing procedure on a restrained patient. We can’t help but question, ‘Why are they subjecting him to this?’ The distressing nature of such sights is undeniable, whether on the battlefield, in the operating room, or in our daily lives. Many times, we cry out, ‘God, why me? Or, ‘Where are you, God?’

The same holds true when natural disasters, like hurricanes, earthquakes, or pandemics, strike us.

The Great Flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah are viewed as manifestations of God’s judgment upon the evil of their respective eras, sparing only Noah’s family in the former case. God, when dealing with wickedness, employs measures deemed necessary through His direction and permission. However, many of the existential evils in our world can be traced back to the ‘fall’ of the ‘Shining One’ and the disobedience of Adam and Eve. In contemplating these events, we might liken our existence to ‘walking through a battlefield where bullets are flying, bodies are being mutilated, and lives are shattered.’

Nonetheless, there’s a broader context to all the suffering that occurs in the world. It’s a multifaceted context that we, as finite beings, may never fully comprehend. We lack the divine perspective and understanding that God possesses. Our rational attempts to grasp this age-old puzzle and express our grievances against God won’t necessarily provide a solution or release us from the quagmire of suffering. 

In the meantime, God is actively calling and redeeming people from every corner of the world, spanning generations, to form a holy nation. This process distinguishes between the redeemed and the unredeemed, the righteous and the wicked, leading up to the Day of the Lord’s arrival.

During this lead-up, Satan (Devil), awares of his limited time, unceasingly works to exploit the hearts and minds of people, turning them away from God. As the Day of the Lord approaches, metaphorical “birth pangs” intensify, symbolizing the escalation of Devil and suffering. God’s righteous wrath is directed at the wicked who reject Him by allowing Satan to provoke more evils, natural disasters, wars, famines, and diseases, all aimed at fueling in the wicked hearts hatred towards God. People, in their anguish, will all the more question God’s presence and intentions, wondering why bad things happen to good people and even doubting His existence.

However, the Bible offers a clear message that all these trials will pass away, making room for a new day just as the dark clouds clear up and Sun light appears. God has an extraordinary plan, the plan B, for those who place their trust in Him and His Word, a plan that surpasses the suffering and trials of life on this troubled earth.

CONCLUSION:

Theodicy, when viewed through the Bible’s lens, provides a profound perspective on the problem of Devil and evils in God’s world, all without altering God’s perfect attributes. It’s a framework that doesn’t necessitate denying God altogether but invites a deeper understanding of His divine plan.

Answers to this age-old, complex spiritual problem may not satisfy everyone, and ultimately, one’s perspective on theodicy hinges on their worldview and religious beliefs.

Our options are to either persist in denying the existence of the God of the Bible and the spiritual dimension of the problem or to accept and be reconciled with God’s existence and find the peace of mind promised in the Holy Scripture.

In the Bible, God has a plan that far surpasses the existential suffering we encounter. For in Christ, we are given the authority and spiritual power to resist and rebuke the Devil causing him flee from us.

Biblical theodicy serves as a reminder that as autonomous human beings with free will, we play a significant role in the grand tapestry of God’s Plan, contributing to the unfolding of world affairs. Embracing this perspective can offer us peace and understanding in the face of life’s challenges.

Let us remember that we are autonomous human beings endowed with free will. Furthermore, divine protection and comfort are available as we place our trust in God’s hand through believing the Gospel, turning away from our self-centeredness, and ultimately preparing for the coming great Day of the Lord.

Soli Deo Gloria!     Solar Scriptura!     Sola Fide!                                Sola Gratia!   Solus Christus!