Calvinists: Why does God allow evil?

Answer 1

I'm not a pure Calvinist, but the short answer would be it somehow allows God to demonstrate his glory -- most likely by allowing God to show either his justice (on the unrepentant), or else to demonstrate his mercy (on the elect).

Answer 2

I am neither a Calvinist, nor an Armenian. I am a Confessional Lutheran. I must agree 100% with Mr. Ed's answer. I do not know why God allows evil.

I do know why it exists. God gave the angels in heaven free will, just like he gave it to us. Some chose to rebel against God, the same way people do. That's why there is evil in this world.

Mark

Answer 3

Well IF the God that Christians believe in exists, then it's not relevant because then that would mean there's also a heaven and Mitt probably wouldn't be going there. Why would things on earth be relevant IF there's an afterlife and a reward for being good?

Answer 4

A true Calvinist will say "I don't know".
Not knowing why something exists, of course, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
EDIT: I'm not sure a non-Calvinist (an Arminian) could give a more satisfactory answer.

Answer 5

We are given free will and it was us humans that have chosen to turn from God and choose to sin. Evil comes from man. We were not promised a perfect life once we got saved but we were promised that God would always be with us.

Answer 6

God does not allow evil. It is the absents of God. Similar to cold, there is no cold, what you feel is the absents of heat, there is no darkness, it is the absents of light. Evil is the absents of God. Fill the world with God......there is no evil.

William M. Butler, a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ

Answer 7

WAIT A MINUTE! Wasn't this ? directed to those who hold to GODS SOVEREIGNTY, otherwise known as "Calvinism"? OH! forgive me my ignorant, brainwashed bros. & sis. I know you so desperately need to believe that your "all powerful will" determines the future but your "WAY DELUDED" . Why dont you go STUDY your bibles for yourself and stop swallowing every lie that comes out of your false teachers mouth. GOD WORKS ALL THINGS AFTER THE COUNCIL OF HIS OWN WILL, NOTHING IS DONE ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL. Until you "free-willers" learn this you will be spiritual weaklings. As for why God allows evil, He allows it for the same reason He allows or decrees all things, "FOR HIS GLORY" He does everything for His own glory. As finite, mortal creatures we cannot hope to "figure Him out" He is absolutely inscrutable. "Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom ofGod as a little child, he shall not enter therin Mk. 10:15.

Answer 8

well u cant say well God alowed evil he didnt want to he loves us so much that we have a chance to repent from evil and go to heaven so his son died on a cross (most painful death u could have at that time) for our evil and sins and evil comes from the devil and us makin that choice

Answer 9

I'm not a Calvinist, but I do think there is an answer to this if you'll let me introduce it:

Quote 1: ""Your Father in heaven, by endowing you with the power to choose between truth and error, created the potential negative of the positive way of light and life; but such errors of evil are really nonexistent until such a time as an intelligent creature wills their existence by mischoosing the way of life. And then are such evils later exalted into sin by the knowing and deliberate choice of such a willful and rebellious creature. This is why our Father in heaven permits the good and the evil to go along together until the end of life, just as nature allows the wheat and the tares to grow side by side until the harvest."

Quote 2: ""Evil is the unconscious or unintended transgression of the divine law, the Father's will. Evil is likewise the measure of the imperfectness of obedience to the Father's will.

"Sin is the conscious, knowing, and deliberate transgression of the divine law, the Father's will. Sin is the measure of unwillingness to be divinely led and spiritually directed.

"Iniquity is the willful, determined, and persistent transgression of the divine law, the Father's will. Iniquity is the measure of the continued rejection of the Father's loving plan of personality survival and the Sons' merciful ministry of salvation.

"By nature, before the rebirth of the spirit, mortal man is subject to inherent evil tendencies, but such natural imperfections of behavior are neither sin nor iniquity. Mortal man is just beginning his long ascent to the perfection of the Father in Paradise. To be imperfect or partial in natural endowment is not sinful. Man is indeed subject to evil, but he is in no sense the child of the evil one unless he has knowingly and deliberately chosen the paths of sin and the life of iniquity. Evil is inherent in the natural order of this world, but sin is an attitude of conscious rebellion which was brought to this world by those who fell from spiritual light into gross darkness."

and

Quote 3: ""But, my son, you should know that the Father does not purposely afflict his children. Man brings down upon himself unnecessary affliction as a result of his persistent refusal to walk in the better ways of the divine will. Affliction is potential in evil, but much of it has been produced by sin and iniquity. Many unusual events have transpired on this world, and it is not strange that all thinking men should be perplexed by the scenes of suffering and affliction which they witness. But of one thing you may be sure: The Father does not send affliction as an arbitrary punishment for wrongdoing. The imperfections and handicaps of evil are inherent; the penalties of sin are inevitable; the destroying consequences of iniquity are inexorable. Man should not blame God for those afflictions which are the natural result of the life which he chooses to live; neither should man complain of those experiences which are a part of life as it is lived on this world. It is the Father's will that mortal man should work persistently and consistently toward the betterment of his estate on earth. Intelligent application would enable man to overcome much of his earthly misery."

Answer 10

God does not want robots, everyone has the ability to do good or evil, its up to you, we are believers or unbelievers, there is nowhere in between.