The “Problem of Evil” is an often-used argument or complaint against the existence of God.

It goes something like this: If an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good God exists, why does He allow evil and suffering?

Or perhaps in a logical version:

• If God is all-powerful, He can prevent all evil.
• If God is all-good, He wants to prevent all evil.
• Evil exists → Therefore, such a God does not exist.

While many have written books on this subject, either for or against, YoungHoon Kim addresses the issue in a refreshingly concise and yet comprehensive manner.

Therefore, I share it with you as a reference for the future conversations you and I may have.

---

I can solve the Problem of Evil

-by Younghoon Kim

I can solve the problem of evil.

If God is good and God is powerful, why is there evil in the world? This question is called the problem of evil.

Some people think it proves that God is not real. But I believe we can solve it. And the answer is found in the Bible.

First, we must understand something very important. God did not create evil.

In the beginning, God created the world and it was good. There was no pain, no sickness, no death, no war.

So where did evil come from? Evil came when humans chose to disobey God.

God created people with free will. And free will means we can choose. Think about it. We can choose to love, but we can also choose to hate. Love is only real if it is chosen freely.

If God forced us to love him, that would not be real love. So God gave us freedom.

But when Adam and Eve sinned, evil entered the world. Sin broke the world. That is why we see suffering today.

It is not because God is evil. It is because humanity turned away from him.

Second, God allows evil for now, but he does not ignore it. God is patient.

If God destroyed all evil immediately, it would involve the judgement of every sinner.

That includes me. That includes you. But God is giving people time to repent. God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, giving everyone time to turn back to Him.

Third, God does not stay far away from suffering. This is the most important part.

God entered our suffering.

Jesus Christ came into the world. He felt pain. He was rejected. He was beaten. He was crucified.

God did not watch suffering from heaven. He experienced it on the cross. Jesus took our sin and evil upon Himself.

The greatest evil in history, the killing of the Son of God became the greatest good, our salvation.

This shows us something powerful. God can bring good out of evil.

Finally, evil will not win. The story is not over. Jesus rose from the dead and one day He will return.

and

The Bible promises a new heaven and a new earth. No more death, no more crying, no more pain.

God will judge evil and he will make everything right.

So the problem of evil is not a proof against God. It actually points to Him because when we say something is evil, we are saying there is a real standard of good. And where does that standard come from? It comes from God.

Without God, without Jesus Christ, there is no objective good or evil. There is only opinion.

So here is the solution.

Evil exists because humans chose sin.

God allows it for a time because He is patient.

God entered our suffering through Jesus Christ.

God will defeat evil completely in the end.

The problem of evil is not unsolvable. The answer is the cross.

The answer is Jesus Christ and the empty tomb.

That is how we solve the problem of evil.

---

Thank you for reading, love you all!

---

Younghoon Kim’s YouTube video essay, I Can Solve the Problem of Evil.