Can God Exist Without Evil?

Many, wise in their own conceits, have concocted a spiritual realm in which there is no evil, certainly not an evil being who heads up an evil kingdom.  What such a stance does is make them easy prey for some of the most absurd notions.  The tragedy is that currently a number of these folk are in the “driver’s seat” in politics, high finance, the arts, public media and higher education, making rules, creating regulations and passing laws that affect everyone, frequently with very negative consequence.  Could it be these persons don’t understand that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10)?

In international relations, one of the most serious mistakes such high-minded persons can make is “To misunderstand the nature and threat of evil only to be blindsided by it” (so said Joel Rosenberg at a Q&A session at a recent “Heritage Foundation” meeting). Because of the nature of our high-mindedness which does not take into account the nature of evil, even its existence, we cannot rightly apprehend what’s going on with the leaders in Iran.

Once when the “Cold War” (between the former Soviet Union and the United States) was at its zenith and it seemed the communists were gobbling up country after country, an old Presbyterian by the name of John Foster Dulles, in his role as Secretary of State, under President Eisenhower, stopped them dead in their tracks, because he understood the nature of evil and formulated policy accordingly.  Later, Ronald Regan also understood evil with regard to the Soviet Union and also acted accordingly.

God understands evil.  Jesus understood the evil one. Paul understood the ways of Satan, saying “we are not ignorant of his devices” (II Corinthians 2:11b).

Like a bombshell it hit me the reason many persons don’t believe in evil is because they don’t believe in God.  Further, show me a man who doesn’t “believe” in God, that is, takes seriously the notion of God even to the way he makes decisions about life, and I’ll show you a foolish man.  The Bible bluntly says such a man is a “fool” (Psalm 14:1).  What’s a fool? “one lacking in judgment or prudence”.

Do you take seriously the existence and activity of the “evil one”?  If not, chances are extremely good he has you within his grasp.