A friend told me Calvinists are unable to answer the problem of evil from their theological perspective. How do I answer him?
—Paul

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Dear Paul,

Calvinists cannot explain the existence of evil? What a strange thing to say! What branch of theology has ever explained the existence of evil?

The Bible calls evil the mystery of iniquity. (2 Thessalonians 2:7) So evil is a mystery.

Has your friend resolved this mystery with which theologians have struggled throughout history? If he has, then the world is waiting to hear it. Let him proceed.

Augustine had a comment I like: It would seem that God considered it a greater good for evil to exist temporarily than for it to have never existed at all. That much is obvious, and it is probably best to leave it there.

This brings up a distinction that might help you answer your friend:

Evil, by definition, is a bad thing. This statement is not the same as saying the fact of its existence is a bad thing. Example: The crucifixion of Christ was an injustice, and injustices are bad things. Yet the existence of this injustice is a beneficial thing. It saved us.

Without sin, attributes of God would be unknown, such as grace, agape love, patience, or other virtues.

Another way to describe this is to say, “All you have to do is show that good cannot come from evil, and you will have made your point.” If your friend affirms that that good cannot come from evil, then he must explain the cross. If he agrees that good can come from evil, then he already has all the explanation he and Calvinists need until Christ returns.

Does that help?
Roger

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