The Purpose of Evil - July 29, 2009
The Purpose of Evil
Firstly, let us ask the question, “What is Evil?”. There are some who consider the definition of evil to be a product of contemporary popular thought, a target whose bull’s-eye shifts with each new age and with every culture on earth. The assertion of this worldview is that in a godless universe man merely calls evil those things which cause him present discomfort. In short, this flawed line of thought leads to the possibility of Hitler, Pol Pot and all egregious historical figures eventually being exonerated, or even lauded for their universally condemned atrocities against mankind. This is the unavoidable, horrific, logical extrapolation of an erratic mindset bent on moral decay. I should think that I do not have spell out the day-to-day behind-closed-doors implications of where this thought process might lead.
The best definition of evil I find consistent with both biblical revelation and basic reason, although it strays slightly from conventional Christian thought, is as follows; Evil is the unsavory, negative perversion of Gods good works necessary to exhibit Gods true goodness. Please allow me to develop an explanation.
Assuming the trustworthiness of the Christian Bible (a topic worth a lengthy explanation not afforded to us now), let us consider its content. God made the entire universe (or perhaps multiverse if you prefer) and proclaimed it to be good. Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.(Gen1:31) In the Garden of Eden God had planted 2 trees given specific names, the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen2:9). As we all know, both Adam and Eve ate of the divinely forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil having been persuaded by the serpent to do so. Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Gen 3:6). Later in the passage, God affirms, in part, that this actually is what happened. Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. (Gen3:22a)…. It makes perfect logical sense then to surmise that, although they were surrounded by the whole of God’s creation, which He had declared to be good, both Adam and Eve did not know what good or evil was prior to eating from the forbidden tree. How could they have? Unless the scripture is lying to us, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil actually was what its name asserted---the knowledge of good and evil. In fact, they didn’t even know that God was good. Neither did Eve know the serpent she spoke with was evil. The scriptural account portrays Eve having an almost casual chat with Satan himself!
Hmmmmm…….? Who was it who planted the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden? Possibly more alarming, who was it who allowed or perhaps even placed the serpent in the garden? God did. Eventually, as omnipotence is a central divine attribute, there can be no other answer. In the light of this truth, I even consider it to have been Gods paramount will for Adam and Eve to have sinned. Mankind is not on gods post-fall “B-plan”. In the simplest terms, God created evil. Even Lucifer himself was made by God who in his omniscience forged the dragon with seeds of rebellion in full view!....and we know that Satan creates nothing, he can only pervert that which God has made. Good God making Evil itself… This is perhaps the ultimate paradox in a long list of both spiritual and physical paradoxes inherent in our reality. Admittedly, this revelation is not one of those fuzzy, warm, good feeling truths, but a rather sober, unapologetic, logical analysis of all the available information. Yet I hope you will come to grips with the it’s-all-good-through-and-through God making evil to serve a higher purpose. Evil is the stark canvas on which the Artists perfect brilliance is showcased, the valley from which the Mountains inexpressible majesty can be recognized….or as I have previously stated;
Evil is the unsavory, negative perversion of Gods good works necessary to exhibit Gods true goodness.
Firstly, let us ask the question, “What is Evil?”. There are some who consider the definition of evil to be a product of contemporary popular thought, a target whose bull’s-eye shifts with each new age and with every culture on earth. The assertion of this worldview is that in a godless universe man merely calls evil those things which cause him present discomfort. In short, this flawed line of thought leads to the possibility of Hitler, Pol Pot and all egregious historical figures eventually being exonerated, or even lauded for their universally condemned atrocities against mankind. This is the unavoidable, horrific, logical extrapolation of an erratic mindset bent on moral decay. I should think that I do not have spell out the day-to-day behind-closed-doors implications of where this thought process might lead.
The best definition of evil I find consistent with both biblical revelation and basic reason, although it strays slightly from conventional Christian thought, is as follows; Evil is the unsavory, negative perversion of Gods good works necessary to exhibit Gods true goodness. Please allow me to develop an explanation.
Assuming the trustworthiness of the Christian Bible (a topic worth a lengthy explanation not afforded to us now), let us consider its content. God made the entire universe (or perhaps multiverse if you prefer) and proclaimed it to be good. Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.(Gen1:31) In the Garden of Eden God had planted 2 trees given specific names, the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen2:9). As we all know, both Adam and Eve ate of the divinely forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil having been persuaded by the serpent to do so. Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Gen 3:6). Later in the passage, God affirms, in part, that this actually is what happened. Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. (Gen3:22a)…. It makes perfect logical sense then to surmise that, although they were surrounded by the whole of God’s creation, which He had declared to be good, both Adam and Eve did not know what good or evil was prior to eating from the forbidden tree. How could they have? Unless the scripture is lying to us, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil actually was what its name asserted---the knowledge of good and evil. In fact, they didn’t even know that God was good. Neither did Eve know the serpent she spoke with was evil. The scriptural account portrays Eve having an almost casual chat with Satan himself!
Hmmmmm…….? Who was it who planted the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden? Possibly more alarming, who was it who allowed or perhaps even placed the serpent in the garden? God did. Eventually, as omnipotence is a central divine attribute, there can be no other answer. In the light of this truth, I even consider it to have been Gods paramount will for Adam and Eve to have sinned. Mankind is not on gods post-fall “B-plan”. In the simplest terms, God created evil. Even Lucifer himself was made by God who in his omniscience forged the dragon with seeds of rebellion in full view!....and we know that Satan creates nothing, he can only pervert that which God has made. Good God making Evil itself… This is perhaps the ultimate paradox in a long list of both spiritual and physical paradoxes inherent in our reality. Admittedly, this revelation is not one of those fuzzy, warm, good feeling truths, but a rather sober, unapologetic, logical analysis of all the available information. Yet I hope you will come to grips with the it’s-all-good-through-and-through God making evil to serve a higher purpose. Evil is the stark canvas on which the Artists perfect brilliance is showcased, the valley from which the Mountains inexpressible majesty can be recognized….or as I have previously stated;
Evil is the unsavory, negative perversion of Gods good works necessary to exhibit Gods true goodness.