Does Evil Disprove God? Or Prove Him?

Omnipotent, Omniscience, Omnibenevolent

One of the biggest questions people ask about God is: If He is all-powerful and all-good, why does He allow evil? This question, often called the Epicurean Problem of Evil, argues that God's existence seems impossible given the suffering we see in the world. The reasoning goes like this:

1. If God wants to stop evil but can’t, then He isn’t all-powerful.

2. If He can stop evil but doesn’t want to, then He isn’t all-good.

3. If He’s both powerful and good, then why does evil exist at all?

4. Evil exists, therefore, God does not.

At first glance, this might seem like strong evidence against God. But when we dig deeper, it actually points toward the existence of the God described in the Bible. Here’s why.

1. Evil Proves There’s a Moral Standard

We all recognize that evil exists—we see injustice, suffering, and wrongdoing every day. But the fact that we can call something evil assumes that there is a real difference between good and evil.

• If the universe was random and meaningless, where would we get the idea of right and wrong?

• If morals were just opinions, then who decides what is truly evil?

• The fact that we have a built-in sense of morality suggests a higher moral lawgiver—God (Romans 2:14-15).

Atheism struggles to explain where morality comes from. The Bible, however, teaches that God is the source of all goodness, and evil is the corruption of what He created as good (Genesis 1:31).

2. The Bible Already Explains Why Evil Exists

Christianity doesn’t ignore the existence of evil—it actually explains it better than any other worldview.

• Evil wasn’t created by God—it entered the world when humans and angels chose to rebel against Him (Genesis 3).

• The Bible describes the world as broken by sin, and everything we experience confirms this reality (Romans 8:20-22).

• Other worldviews struggle to explain why bad things happen, but the Bible gives a clear reason: sin has distorted what was meant to be good.

In other words, the presence of evil doesn’t disprove God—it confirms what Scripture already teaches.

3. God Doesn’t Ignore Evil—He Confronts It

Unlike some religious views that say suffering is just an illusion or meaningless, the Bible teaches that God actively responds to evil and suffering.

• Jesus is the ultimate proof that God does not sit idly by. He came into the world, experienced suffering firsthand, and took the weight of evil upon Himself (Isaiah 53:3-5, Hebrews 4:15).

• Through the cross and resurrection, Jesus conquered the ultimate source of evil—sin and death (Revelation 21:4).

• Christianity teaches that God is not distant or indifferent—He is personally involved, working to redeem and restore the world.

  
  

4. Free Will and Love Require the Possibility of Evil

Many people ask: Why didn’t God just create a world where evil didn’t exist? The answer is because real love requires real choice.

• If God forced us to love Him, it wouldn’t be love—it would be programming.

• True love and goodness must be freely chosen (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).

• Evil exists not because God desires it, but because He allows human and spiritual beings to make real choices.

God didn’t create evil, but He gave people the ability to choose, and some have chosen rebellion over righteousness.

5. Evil Has an Expiration Date

The Epicurean argument assumes that evil will always exist, but Christianity teaches that evil is temporary.

• The fact that evil is still present doesn’t mean God will never act—it means He is patiently giving people time to repent (2 Peter 3:9).

• The Bible promises a future where evil, suffering, and injustice will be completely eradicated (Revelation 21:4).

• One day, God will bring perfect justice, holding every wrong accountable (Revelation 20:10-15).

Evil exists for now, but it won’t exist forever.

Conclusion: The Problem of Evil is Evidence for God, Not Against Him

Rather than disproving God, the problem of evil actually confirms key aspects of the biblical worldview:

✅ There is real good and evil, which only makes sense if God exists.

✅ The Bible explains the presence of evil, while atheism struggles to provide a satisfying answer.

✅ God actively confronts evil through Jesus Christ, offering redemption and justice.

✅ True love and free will require the possibility of evil, which explains why it exists.

✅ Evil is temporary, and God promises to restore all things in the end.

So the very thing that people think disproves God—evil—actually strengthens the case for the God of the Bible. He is not distant, indifferent, or powerless. He is the solution.