Free Will – God has given humankind the ability to follow His standard of goodness or rebel (selfishness), which allows the opportunity to do good as well as the possibility to make bad decisions that cause harm.

• The Bible supports the notion of free will, including God’s original command to Adam and Eve which they chose to disobey:

  • And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die." (Genesis 2:16-17 CSB emphasis added)

• Jesus also confirmed that humankind has free will. Although God is sovereign and will accomplish His overall plan, He grants everyone the ability to choose their individual destiny – see reference below to Israel’s free will.

  • "Jerusalem, Jerusalem! The city who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, yet you were not willing! (Matthew 23:37 CSB emphasis added)

• Jesus distinguishes between God’s will and humankind by saying if anyone desires (wants) to do God’s will:

  • Jesus answered them, "My teaching isn't Mine but is from the One who sent Me. If anyone wants to do His will, he will understand whether the teaching is from God or if I am speaking on My own. (John 7:16-17 CSB)

Greater Good – God allows evil & suffering for an ultimate greater good.

• Although God wants us to be happy on Earth, He is more concerned with our souls, both our eternal destination and teaching us virtues. Apologists Craig and Moreland summarize:

  • “…the chief purpose of life is not happiness, but the knowledge of God. One reason that the problem of evil seems so intractable is that people tend naturally to assume that if God exists, then his purpose for human life is happiness in this world.”1 (emphasis added)

• Isn’t God justified in allowing evil or suffering if it brings us to repentance or teaches us to become more like Him or helps someone else in this way?  Human parents allow their own children to go thru challenging situations so they can learn from their experiences and improve.

• The challenging aspect of this point is we may NOT know the benefit at the time or the benefit may be for someone else (see point 3 below).  Moreover our emotions impact how we think about this challenge; and we may not understand how any benefit could come from certain evil situations.

• The Bible supports the notion of God allowing evil for a greater good.

  • Example 1: Jesus’ crucifixion which provides an option of salvation for humankind.

  • Example 2: God allowed Joseph’s brothers to sell him into slavery and endure other hardship (jail); but, this positioned Joseph to later save the Israelites from famine. Below Joseph is explaining this to his brothers:

    • But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result-the survival of many people. (Genesis 50:19-20 CSB emphasis added)

• Some people have recognized that their trials and suffering ultimately led them to God.

  • Hellen Keller, born June 27, 1880. At age of 2, suffered an illness that left her blind and deaf. She is quoted as saying the physical challenges in her life helped bring her to God.

    • “I thank God for my handicaps. For through them, I have found myself, my work and my God.”2