Ah, the age-old question; “If God is so good, why does He allow evil in the world?

Maybe we should first answer this question; “What is evil?”

Evil, in a general context, is the absence or opposite of that which is described as being good. Often, evil denotes profound immorality. In certain religious contexts, evil has been described as a supernatural force. Definitions of evil vary, however, elements that are commonly associated with evil involve unbalanced behavior involving anger, revenge, fear, hatred, psychological trauma, expediency, selfishness, ignorance, or neglect.

According to the definition of evil, we all are guilty of committing evil acts. So, if God were to remove the evil from the world he would have to remove the entire human race.

Although God does not remove all of the evil from the world all at once (thank you God), He does provide the antidote for evil: Do not let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good.

God has given each one of us the power to destroy evil, and He has also given us practical examples on how to do this:

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Let us ask this question instead: Will WE allow evil in our world?