Why Does God Allow Suffering?

Bad news is hard to avoid, especially with cable news, the internet, and social media. Over the last month we have had global news of wildfires in Maui, the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine, earthquakes, and floods. In our personal lives, we all know someone dealing with sickness, broken marriages, addictions, or the death of a loved one. Suffering, tragedy, and the effects of evil are unavoidable and obvious to all. What is not so obvious is who is responsible and what should we do about it. 

Philosophers have framed this dilemma as the problem of evil. The Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-210 B.C.) raised a question over 2,000 ago known as the Epicurean Trilemma. If God wishes to prevent evil but is unable then he is not all-powerful. If he is able but unwilling then he is unloving and mean. If God is both willing and able then where does evil come from? 

Many have asked this question in a slightly different way. If God is all-loving and all-powerful then why does he allow evil to exist and why does he allow bad things to happen to good people? These questions are the most common reason given by those who have struggled to believe in God or have walked away from their faith in God. 

In Luke 13:1-9, Jesus is confronted with some news about a group of Galileans who had been slaughtered by the Romans under the direction of Pilate. Their deaths appeared to be an act of evil. *Additionally, a tower had fallen onto a group in Jerusalem resulting in their deaths. This appeared to be a natural disaster and tragedy. The question presented to Jesus was why did God allow or cause these events? Was it because of the sin of those individuals? 

Jesus' answer may surprise you. If you have not personally struggled with answering these questions you will meet many who are wrestling with their belief in God as a result. What will your answer be?