The “problem of evil” is by far the most common argument against the Biblical God. It follows the following structure:
1. God is all powerful, and is therefore strong enough to stop all evil right now.
2. God is all loving, and therefore should want to stop all evil right now.
3. Evil exists.
4. Therefore, God is either not all powerful, not all loving or just doesn’t exist.
The first premise is somewhat faulty. God being all powerful doesn’t mean He can violate His own nature. Contradictions are impossible for God. In fact, if contradictions were possible for God, this entire argument would be flawed because it hinges on an apparent contradiction between His power, love, and the existence of evil. But if God can contradict Himself, He can not only exist in spite of evil, but flat out be evil and still be perfectly good.
The third premise is actually a great defence of God’s existence. If there is no God, there can be no evil. Just as there can be no sickness without health, evil requires a standard of good. An objective standard of good can only come from a sovereign God. Anything less renders human opinion of evil as invalid as human opinion of ice cream flavor.
But where this argument really falls apart is the second premise: that an all loving God would want to destroy all evil right now. The reality is, God hates evil, but one of the greatest forms of good is love for an evil doer. In God’s eyes, all human beings are evil. We all do things that He calls evil, therefore destroying evil would mean destroying us. Peter tells us in his second epistle that “God is not slow as some count slowness”, but rather He is patient, not wanting any to perish.
So, although God could stop all evil right now, and would be willing to do so, He has more than 8 billion reasons to wait. So many people have yet to repent.
A few questions the atheist might ask now are “why doesn’t God just stop the worst of evil?” and “why doesn’t God just make us repent?”
To answer the first question, let me ask another: where do you draw the line? Why should God stop the worst of the worst, but let you continue as you are? Theoretically speaking, God could actually save more people by letting evil run rampant, because many people turn to Him in times of crisis. Unfortunately, we only have a single track mind. We see what does happen, then theorise what might have happened in another scenario. God, by contrast, not only knows the past, present, and future, but all conceivable realities aside from these. It’s far wiser to just trust that He knows what He’s doing than to allow our silly theories on what might have happened to dictate our Theological views.
As for why He doesn’t force repentance, another question: Is it worth it? Think of it this way: Which would warm your heart more by saying “I love you, Mommy/Daddy”: A child, or a robot? A machine’s “love” is nothing. It’s a programmed action no more amazing than hugging yourself. A child’s love is different. It’s real, and worth seeking. The same is true for humans. Love that isn’t free isn’t real, and therefore is of no value to God.
Ultimately, the so-called “problem” of evil is more of a defence of the Bible than a problem. Without God, evil cannot exist, because He is the source of all things good. Although evil is not something God desires, it is something He temporarily tolerates, for the sake of the evildoer. A time is coming when God will stop all evil, but every day He delays is another day for one more precious soul to be saved.