When people are grappling with injustices or disasters, they ask God, “Why do you allow evil to exist,” and “Can you stop evil?” Although there isn’t a precise answer to either of these questions, clues in Scripture provide some clarity. Guest speaker Patrick Meisen shares the insights he gained while examining these questions to God. Christian Apologetics, a branch of theology focused on defending and explaining Christian faith, phrases the question of evil another way: If God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good, then why is there so much suffering in the world? The relationship between evil and suffering exists, because evil can lead to suffering. Evil is classified as moral or natural. Humans are responsible for moral evil, and natural evil is the result of natural disasters or disease. The Bible includes examples of each. In the Book of Job, an innocent and upright man demands an explanation from God after a storm kills his children. And in the Book of Habakkuk, a prophet complains to God about persistent injustice in Judah and God’s seeming inaction.

When God responds in these stories, we learn that human knowledge is too limited to understand the full context of these events. Furthermore, we discover that it’s okay to question and lament while holding onto faith in God. When we suffer, God is there with us. God constantly works to prevent evil. God sent the Old Testament prophets to warn about evil and the Holy Spirit to guide us. Occasionally, God prevents evil through miracles. Most of the time, however, God heads off evil through us. When you see evil and it makes you angry, God is calling you to prevent it. Because God gave humans free will, it’s up to us to choose whether to do good.