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December 2001 |
An Answer to Evil
How does a loving Deity deal with evil? Not just evil in the abstract. Not the theoretical evil of theological discourse and philosophical debate. But evil in the specific. Evil that has a face, name, and specific act or deed.
That God is Love, is universally accepted by Christians of all theological perspectives. The God of Love is preached about, celebrated, lauded and described. The God whose nature is love is embraced, and in a world where there is so much evidence of ill will, hate, mean spiritedness, evil -- if you will -- such a God is needed. Lest, a conclusion be drawn that the ultimate nature of reality is evil.
Sometimes evil is so evil! It cannot be ignored, glamorized, rationalized or sanitized. It is just naked evil, able to be viewed from all sides, every angle; and from whatever view, it is still evil.
What makes evil evil? Strange however, obvious to one, another may see it as something else, even "good." Is it so relative after all? Evil only from a particular perspective. Is it gender, culture, national or theologically specific?
There are times when it is more personal than others. The nearer evil comes to us, the more real it becomes. Armchair evil is different from touching evil -- evil that embraces body, spirit, possessions, loved ones.
However defined or described the question remains, how does a good God respond to evil? How does God say, "Enough!" "Stop!" " No!" What, then, is the nature of God's judgment, God's final Word? What happens when ultimate evil meets ultimate Good?
Years ago a young, popular and controversial theologian friend of mine said, "God takes sides." There were those who did not like the manner in which he contexted God's side taking. But my friend was right! God does choose good over evil. Ours is not a neutral Deity, God in the Judaic Christian tradition is a side-taking God.
It is not a new question. We wrestle with it again and again.
What, then, is God's answer to evil? Perhaps it is so obvious to be frequently overlooked. It is God's ultimate No and God's ultimate Yes.
God sent the Son into the world that good would ultimately triumph over evil.
That is a message of Advent and Christmas.
Rejoice!
Last updated on 01/14/2004