The Problem of Evil and Suffering

In this article, I just want to share my thoughts, reflections, and my understanding about the response of Dr. Greg Bahnsen to the problem of evil and suffering often used by many people to refute Christianity, ultimately, the existence of God.

The problem of evil and suffering. This is too evident and can be even testify by a random guy we can find in the street. Or even we ourselves can prove the existence of it. The problem of evil and suffering is true for it is happening anywhere anytime in anyone.

Today, we are hearing many news about crimes committed by men to their neighbors. Drug trafficking, prostitution, abortion, adultery, corruption in the government or even in a small organization, kidnapping, robbery are only some things we can classify as evil and suffering. Forms of evil and suffering that are first in our list. Even bad things that are happening around us like this pandemic and other natural disasters and calamities are considered as evil. And as Christians we cannot deny the fact that all of us, regardless of spiritual state are experiencing evil and suffering.

“Is God really in control?” “Does He really exists?” “Then why does evil exists?” “If He is both all-powerful and all-good, why does He allow such thing to happen to the innocent?” These are some of the questions people often ask to their selves or even the arguments some people often use against Christianity, especially the existence of God. So, as Christians we must learn how to answer all of these questions not just to win an argument against others who oppose us but rather use it as means of winning people back to Christ.

While reading one of the writings of Dr. Greg Bahnsen which has the title “The Problem of Evil”, I have learned and realized so many things about apologetics. And I was also very much amazed on how he provided a sample of presuppositional apologetics to answer an argument against Christianity. But what really caught my attention and where I got became very interested was when I read the part where Christian premises are mentioned. These premises are, God is completely good, He is completely powerful, and that evil exists. These three premises are not just made up by theologians of our time but the truths that was revealed to us through history and most especially the Holy Scripture, the written word of God.

But for the unbelievers, or let’s just label them as the atheists, they are having problem with these premises enough reason for them to oppose Christianity and ready to cross it off. And Bahnsen saw this concern. For him, the first two premises do not create in themselves any contradiction. The problem only arises when we assert the third premise, which is the existence of evil, or the occurrence of evil.

Bahnsen also quoted two popular names, they are the Scottish Philosopher David Hume and the famous atheist George Smith. They asserted that these Christian premises are logically incoherent and brings confusion to people. For them, the existence of evil seems to contradict the existence of God, if there is one if they were to be ask.

But, according to Bahnsen, the problem of evil is not really a problem for the believer -- but rather for the unbeliever, though their perspective is that the Christian worldview is incoherent (unstable, confusing); and it adopts premises which are inconsistent with each other, given the evil in this world. For him, the problem of evil is not really a problem for the Christians but the problem of unbelievers, when he said:

“It is crucial to the unbeliever's case against Christianity to be in a position to assert that there is evil in the world -- to point to something and have the right to evaluate it as an instance of evil. If it should be the case that nothing evil exists or ever happens -- that is, what people initially believe to be evil cannot reasonably be deemed "evil" -- then there is nothing inconsistent with Christian theology which requires an answer.”

According to Bahnsen, the existence of evil must be proven first before the argument of the unbelievers against Christianity can stand. But unfortunately for them, they cannot do it for their worldview doesn’t have the absolute moral standard. Subjectivism and relativism will fail them to determine what is good and what is evil. So, that is why before they can assert the existence of evil, they must secretly rely upon the Christian worldview before their case can become valid. In this way, they just prove to themselves that Christian worldview is the superior one compare to their naturalistic worldview. And therefore, contradicting themselves and just only proving the existence of God. It will appear now that the problem of evil is really a problem for the unbeliever rather than the believer.

By adding the fourth premise, which is “God has a morally sufficient reason for the evil which exists”, the seemingly paradox for the unbelievers of the Christian worldview is now resolved. For Bahnsen, the fourth premise is the conclusion of the first three premises that is necessarily and precisely part of the Christian’s walk of faith and growth in sanctification. God has a purpose for the evil that exists and it does not contradict the truth that He is completely good and powerful.

“Is God really in control?” “Does He really exists?” “Then why does evil exists?” “If He is both all-powerful and all-good, why does He allow such thing to happen to the innocent?” Now, these questions, with the understanding of the four Christian premises derived from the Scriptures, we can now easily understand why evil continually exists and experience by everyone.

What I also saw and realized in the writings of Dr. Greg Bahnsen is that it challenges us Christians to stand in our faith when the truths about God and His existence are being attack or disregard. It challenges us to learn how to properly defend our faith. But most importantly, it challenges us that we must learn how to defend it biblically so that we can people back to Christ which is the sole purpose of apologetics.