The Problem of Evil

The other day I was presented with the following argument:

(1) Gratuitous evils probably exist.
(2) Gratuitous evils are incompatible with the God of theism (omnipotent, omniscient, all-good).
(3) Therefore, the God of theism probably does not exist.

After analyzing this argument, I found several errors with this line of thinking. The entire argument rests upon the premise that gratuitous evil exists. Yet, the argument says that gratuitous evil probably exists. It's not definitive. To answer the question whether or there is gratuitous evil, we must first answer the question what is evil? Evil has become a word so flippantly used that its true meaning has been lost.

Evil has been commonly defined as "something that deliberately causes destruction or violates morality." Now its vital to understand the essence of morality. There are two leading theories in regards to morality. Relative morality and absolute morality.

The theory of relative morality is flawed for several reasons. 1. Relative morality can be summed up simply: There is no absolute truth, there is no absolute standard for right and wrong. Yet, notice that this term is said to be true. How then can it be true that there is no absolute truth? It makes no logical sense. 2. C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity that there is the "Law of Nature" which provides a basic sense of right and wrong. This "moral conscious" is present in every human being. Cultures throughout history have all regarded selfishness and stealing as a vice. Think of it this way: Will an argument of "my truth does not find stealing wrong" be upheld in a court of law? Never! Such an argument is ludicrous. Likewise, an argument of relative morality is ludicrous.

The Constitution of the United States is the absolute law of the land. It was created by the creators of the country to be the Supreme Law. For absolute morality to be absolute, it must be set by the leading authority. But by what authority can morality be set? Standard for morality and decency vary in each culture. Is there a man alive who has the authority to create such a important standard? By what authority can he create such a standard? If man is indeed equal, then we a equally qualified to set the standard for morality. However, since the standard for morality cannot change as was stated earlier, someone, something, more powerful than man must have created the standard for morality.

This leads to an important conclusion. God is the ultimate standard for morality. He defines immorality as anything that breaks His commands. This is called sin. Sin originated not in the Garden of Eden, but at the feet of God. Satan, head of God's angels, grew jealous of God's power and wanted to become like God. Satan sought to overthrow God, yet he was unable to match God's limitless power. Satan fled to earth and tempted Adam and Eve with power, telling them they could be like God Himself. After their rebellion, evil entered the earth.

To understand gratuitous evil, we must first look at the definition of gratuitous. Gratuitous can be defined as "pointless, meaningless, random, or unnecessary." But can evil be "pointless, meaningless, random, or unnecessary?" Evil can be summed up as this: Anything that seeks to rebel against God's absolute power and holiness. Under this definition, can there be gratuitous evil? No! When we choose to rebel against God, we choose evil. Evil is not the random result of eons of time, but the deliberate and purposefully choices of beings with an eternal soul. Therefore, gratuitous evil does not exist and theory that God is a myth falls to pieces.

Lessons from 2009

I've gone through a lot in a year. I look back and I see how I've changed so drastically. I've gone through the fire and come out again, yet I did not return without scars. Nonetheless, I've learned many lessons that others don't learn for years. The following are ten life lessons I learned in 2009.

1. Guard your heart. Your heart is the most precious thing you have, protect it. When you love someone romantically, you give away a piece of your heart. That's something you can never regain. Don't awaken feelings of romantic love until you're ready for marriage. Also, be careful who you trust. It's important to guard yourself from those who don't have your best interests at heart.

2. People wear masks. Everyone wears a mask. There isn't one person alive who doesn't wear a mask in some way. People use masks to hide their fears, their insecurities, and their secrets from the world. Try to identify that mask and see the person behind the mask. Analyze a person's words, actions, and body language to determine their true character.

3. Take off the mask. Show the world the real you. Tell it what you really think. Don't be afraid to stand out and speak up for what's right. When you're around those who honestly care about you, take off the mask. There should be no reason that you should be ashamed to show everything about yourself.

4. Live life with no regrets. When you take off the mask, there should be no deed that would bring you shame. Don't do anything that you would be ashamed of if everyone knew. On the other hand, don't let fear stopping you from living a joy-filled life. Time is precious. Nevertheless describes it best in their song "Live Like We're Alive:" We're here only for a second, but then we're gone when we least expect. So do more than survive, let's live like we're alive.

5. Your legacy is what you make it. People won't remember how much money you had, the size of your house, the popularity you achieved; people will remember for how you made them feel. Influence those around you to do good, encourage them to persevere, and comfort them in tough times. You do these things, you'll have a wonderful legacy.

6. Life is full of pain. It doesn't matter what you do in life, you'll experience pain. Happiness just doesn't work, it's impossible to ignore the pain withing becoming numb to the world around you. How you respond to pain reflects your character. Some people shut down, some gut it out, while others want revenge. Few people reflect and learn from their pain. Never let yourself become numb to the pain. It's better to feel pain than nothing at all. For if you can feel pain, that means you are capable of feeling love.

7. Never take things for granted. It's true, you never know what you have until it is gone. This is true for both material possessions and or the relationships that you have. One day, you can be best friends with someone, the next day worst enemies. Don't take things for granted.

8. Dream big. You have dreams for a reason, pursue those dreams. Find out why God gave you those dreams. Use those dreams for God's glory. Napoleon Bonaparte once said, "Glory is fleeting, but obscurity lasts forever." Even if you make a small difference in the world, it's better than settling for mediocrity. Set aside your fears and stand out. Make a difference in the world.

9. Know Thyself. Learn as much as you can about yourself. Know your strengths, your weaknesses, and your tendencies. Sharpen your strengths and build up your weakness. Understanding your thought process is a small, but necessary step to success.

10. Love. It all comes down to this. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16. Everything in history points towards this verse. It's all about love. The love we have for each other and the love we have for Jesus Christ.

Our future, our legacy is in hands. It's up to us to decide the legacy we will leave on the world. 33 Miles says in their song "One Life to Love," We have one life, one chance, one life to love. Life is too short to care only about yourself. Look around, take a glance into the eyes of the hurting. There's a world out there that's crying out for love. The best way to leave a legacy is to leave a legacy for Christ.

This generation has the opportunity to be a generation like no other. It's up to us to decide how we will change the world. Will we leave a legacy of love or a legacy of selfishness? What legacy will you have? The choice is yours. The time has come. Life starts now.

Rebels

His black leather jacket and rugged blue jeans contrasted dramatically with the buttoned-down collared shirts and crisp khaki pants worn by his contemporaries. His dress and sullen expression, marked by a cigarette dangling from his lips, reflected his defiant attitude towards authority. Movie star James Dean was the iconic rebel both on and off screen with his reckless behavior and disregard for society’s rules. Rebels are routinely labeled as bad influences due to their destructive behavior. Yet rebels can challenge society’s norms and still have many commendable, even heroic, qualities. Rebels share their visions to give people hope that the world’s injustices can be righted. Through their unwavering courage and resolute perseverance, rebels help us accomplish incredible feats.

Before rebels begin to change the world, they clearly picture what they want to accomplish. Most importantly, rebels share their dreams convincingly in order to motivate others. Sixty year ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a rebel who wanted to end racial conflict in America. In his I Have A Dream speech, he envisioned an America in which men were judged by their character, not by their race. However, is it one thing to have a dream and another to turn that dream into reality. Rebels turn abstract visions into concrete actions. Dr. King’s words were not just rhetoric; they were backed with deeds. Throughout the South, Dr. King staged peaceful demonstrations, marched on state capitals, and boycotted city bus systems, thereby setting the stage for change. Yet when rebels enact their visions, challenges will inevitably occur. Rebels foresee problems and deal with them accordingly. In the midst of fierce opposition, Dr. King had a plan for conflict. Drawing on his solid knowledge of scripture, Dr. King declared, “Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword.” He encouraged his fellow rebels to respond peacefully, thereby refusing to give his opponents a reason for violence and disarming potentially destructive situations. Dr. King exemplified the heroic rebel. Like Dr. King, rebels are unafraid to challenge society’s standards and have the keen ability to see what others cannot see. They not only make opportunities to enact their visions, but also anticipate challenges and overcome difficulties to bring about lasting change.

In the face of overwhelming odds, rebels show uncommon courage. Likewise, they clearly exhibit unwavering bravery when making tough decisions. George Washington courageously rebelled against tyrannical England and helped lead the colonies in their fight for independence. In December 1777, Washington faced a dilemma. Across the Delaware River lay an opportunity to strike a decisive victory for the colonists, but Washington’s soldiers were weary from fighting in the bitter cold. Washington could immediately attack but risk a perilous assault across the river. Weighing the risks, Washington made the difficult decision to cross the Delaware and was victorious. Rebels also respond bravely in the face of danger, even when starring at death. When his commanding officer was killed during the French and Indian War, Washington took charge. He fearlessly dodged bullets while attempting to rally his troops, and two horses were shot from under him. But Washington remained undeterred, saving his unit from slaughter. Rebels have the tenacity, furthermore, to go against popular opinion. At Valley Forge, Washington watched as his army dissolved. Even as his troops became mutinous, Washington refused to surrender, although many of his peers said it was foolish to continue fighting. Rebels such as Washington are unafraid to make tough decisions when facing insurmountable odds. Through their unfaltering courage, rebels remain calm and resolute through the most perilous situations, even when forced to stand alone.

But rebels’ stands are not just one-time events; rebels often undergo many lengthy emotional and physical trials. Rebels posses the resolve to fight for years to achieve their visions. William Wilberforce, a representative of the British Parliament during Colonial times, set out to abolish the slave trade within the British Empire. For twenty agonizing years, Wilberforce met failure but continued to fight. Rebels also persevere through personal attacks. When Wilberforce made his controversial stand against the slave trade, many of his opponents declared that he did not have Britain’s best interests at heart. Since England’s relations with America were strained, Wilberforce’s correspondence with American Thomas Jefferson caused some British to label Wilberforce a traitor. Furthermore, rebels remain headstrong through physical challenges. After two decades of constant stress, Wilberforce’s health was failing. Painful bouts with colitis left Wilberforce weak, and soon he became addicted to opium. Wilberforce had every reason to give up, but he still refused to quit. His steadfast determination was rewarded when, after decades of debate, Parliament overwhelmingly voted to end the slave trade within the British Empire. Rebels such as Wilberforce display uncanny persistence in achieving their visions. Despite the time, personal cost, or physical toll exacted, rebels refuse to back down from their fights.

James Dean personified the classic bad boy in his movie Rebel Without A Cause. Yet rebels can be respectful individuals who bring about much needed change. Rebels envision the impossible as possible. Demonstrating dogged valor, they confront any challenges that await them. Rebels staunchly fight to right wrongs long after others have retired from the conflict. Unlike James Dean, heroic rebels can indeed have a cause. Rebels are true change makers, and the world is a better place because of them.