Why does the church say God did not create evil...?

Question

...when he himself claims that he did in Isaiah 45:7, Lamentations 3:38, and Amos 3:6?

Answer 1

It was the knowledge of good and evil that God wished to spare the human race from, but having made them in His image and likeness He granted them free will and He was aware of the ramifications of their disobedience (hence "the Lamb who was slain from the foundations of the world"). Evil had already been introduced into the creation by that time through the fall of Lucifer, a glorious angel also possessing free will, who willfully rebelled against God as vividly disclosed in Isaiah 14:12-17 and Ezekiel 28: 11-19.
So in a sense God did not create evil, but created beings who had within there power to introduce evil into the creation by their rebellion.
The above passages you cite are not referring to evil in the absolute and original sense, but in the context of a specific situation. (readers - see for yourself)

Answer 2

Isaiah, using the original greek or hebrew....there are several translations for the original word. Let me post the different words "evil" (in Isaiah 45:7) has been translated into and the number of times that usage is used on the bible.

- evil 442, wickedness 59, wicked 25, mischief 21, hurt 20, bad 13,
trouble 10, sore 9, affliction 6, ill 5, adversity 4, favoured 3,
harm 3, naught 3, noisome 2, grievous 2, sad 2, misc 34; 663

So....that is not the only translation, and considering evilness is like darkness in that it is a lack of light....evil is a lack of God's perfect nature.


Lamentations 3:38
Same exact word and usage as above. (The original word is " ra' ".


Amos 3:6

Again "ra'".

You definately lose something in translation so be open minded and remember, CONTEXT CONTEXT CONTEXT. Compare scripture with scripture.

Answer 3

My particular Bible, which is paraphrased, does not use the word evil. But I understand where you are coming from. If God created everything, then the potential at least for evil was incorporated into God's design. Yes, as some have already alluded too, Lucifer sinned as God and became evil. Yet God created the angels, including Lucifer with this potential. As humans, we struggle between doing good and evil as well. As Lucifer did, we justify our actions or turn from our evil and ask forgiven. Interestingly, according to scripture there is no redemption for fallen angels. In closing, if we did not struggle with the potential of evil, then would the Christian faith be able to state that God gives the sinner the choice of turning from evil? Plus, isn't the proverbial balance between the forces of good and evil prevalent in every faith and/or religion?

Answer 4

He makes no such claims.
Isaiah:
He was speaking directly to Cyrus, and how He would assist in Israel's victory. Please read the whole chapter in context.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=29&chapter=45&version=31

Lamentations:
Again, out of context. It's a poem, in which the writer first speaks of all the horrible things that have befallen him. Then, he begins to speak of God's mercy and compassion, and that he knows God has never left(and WILL never leave) him.
The verse you use is where he is saying that sin will be punished, and good will be rewarded.

Amos:
There is nothing about creating evil in this passage. Instead, Amos 3 is prophesying about what is to come for Israel, in retribution for their disobedience.

Nice try though.

Answer 5

Maybe, the chuch does not know the word of God. In the Book of Isaiah, the Lord says, " I create good and evil. I, the Lord, do these things." I told people I read that and they would not believe it. God did, after all, create Lucifer and gave him such great gifts that he became vain and wanted to be as God, and he took one third of the angels down with him when he was thrown out of heaven.

Answer 6

Only because it is true.
The source of all is good. Good is God. Where is the room for evil, if all is good?
Where does this seeming evil get recognition? Only in the human thought, not God.
As we sleep (human consciousness), both evil and good seem to be real.
It is like asking, how does a flashlight shine darkness and light at the same time, when it’s design is to shine light? This will be a life raft, so read it a couple of times.

Answer 7

When God said in his Word that He created evil, He is speaking of the evil of punishment; what men receive when they choose to follow the ways of evil, rather than to trust in God, or in Jesus, as their Lord and Savior of their soul. When a person refuses to be obedient unto the Word of God; and refuses to believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and allow Him to be their personal Savior and Lord, then they must receive the punishment which God's Word very plainly warns us of; which is eternal torment in the fires of Hell. This is the evil which God's Word is speaking of, when it says that God created evil. It does not mean that God created, or caused, the evil things which are going on upon the earth today.

Answer 8

That is a pretty weak proof-texting. You didn't even cite the example of God heardening the Pharoah's heart. You need to find a knew atheist website to copy and paste from. Or you could actually learn about the subjects your pretend to criticize.

Answer 9

Because the Denominations want thier Teaching = INSTEAD OF THOSE OF THE HOLY SCIRIPTURES!

(John 12:43-to-50) For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

(Joh 12:44) Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.

(Joh 12:45) And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.

(Joh 12:46) I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

(Joh 12:47) And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

(Joh 12:48) He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

(Joh 12:49) For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

(Joh 12:50) And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

Thanks, RR

Answer 10

The people create evil.