A Question that Needs Answering

Here is a question from someone who read this blog and has a serious problem with God and evil:

• The problem:
• i find your blogs fascinating...you seem so sure of your faith in god. tell me, where is god when abuse is happening? where is god when i was being sexually abused? was he standing in the room with us? just watching? was he weeping for me? did he even care? is he there when things like that happen to other people? how do you explain that? how can a god be good and loving and merciful when that happens? how do you reconcile that? my blog is http://warriorchild.blogspot.com/

Here is my answer. It is not comprehensive, and I may add to it if the dialog continues: I will first ask you a question. Do you think that the sexual abuse you suffered as well as the abuse that is happening to others is morally evil? Is it truly, objectively evil, or just events that you subjectively disaprove of? If you believe what is going on is objectively evil, where do you find this standard for good and evil. If an absolute good God does not exist, then the only other alternative is that evil is just a word for things we don't like because there is no real standard or grounded source of good.

In my world view as a Christian, God is an absolute, good God and will judge the world. His moral character never changes, good flows from his very nature and is intrisic to his being. God created free men, and there is a great terror to this. We can do great evil. We can reject to express the moral purity of God, and cause enormous pain and injury to each other. Freedom is a real and active state of being, and if God interfers in all evil acts, freedom is not really free. As a christian, I believe that you will receive justice, those who suffer at the hands of evil people will find justice in the final judgement of God. While we are here on this earth, we should strive to see justice for innocent victims. We should express outrage and demand justice when individuals do so much harm.

Another important point: God is not sitting in heaven unmoved and unconcerned about our state. The Christian message is one of God coming in human form (Jesus Christ), and partaking in our suffering. Subjecting himself to all sorts of evil and identifying in a real, concrete way with enormous pain. He's suffered injustice, lies, deceit, and brutal murder. I do not like to hear Christians respond to people who suffer injustice that It's ok God is in control. It's not OK! From Genesis to Revelation, God say's it's not OK. We should cry with those who cry and hurt with those who hurt, and do our best to see that the will of God is done via justice to evil doers and compassion and concern for victims.