DOCTRINE OF EVIL: GOD IS A GOOD GOD BUT HE HAS GIVEN MAN A FREE-WILL, PART 1

According to Millard J. Erickson, “the problem of evil then may be thought of as a conflict involving three concepts: God’s power, God’s goodness, and the presence of evil in the world.”1 Some people question that if God is all-powerful and all-loving, then how can evil be present in the world? I believe that God is a good God but God has given Man a free-will and he has a tendency to sin as he has inherited the DNA of Adam and Eve who were the ones who brought the Fall! With the Fall, the first sin, a radical change took place in the universe, as for example, death came upon humanity as is seen in Genesis 2: 17: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

God is a good God, but He has created humans with a free-will, who will not always do exactly what God wants for them; and He knows this and He cannot break His promises. Some ask why God does not wipe out all evil but this would mean He had to get rid of all of us, maybe with the exception of very young children, who at some point would sin themselves! And He cannot break His promises: Genesis 8: 14-15 shows Noah and the flood, where He promised that He would not wipe out virtually the entire human race!” When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember My covenant that is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.”

Sometimes what appears evil, only takes a short time compared to the good that will come in the long run. For example, natural evils such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes , volcanic eruptions and the like, which do produce large losses of life as well as property and cause suffering such as seen in earthquakes all over the world; but it has shown much good come onto the countries with many Christian organizations coming in to help and who keep helping with medical help, with building shelters , with much humanitarian help from around the world bringing such things as food, water and necessary equipment and specially from Christians in bringing in the message that Jesus saves, that Jesus loves them and He wants to help them all the way through eternity!

Also natural evil such as a host of diseases such as covid19,cancer, bipolarism, multiple dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, where there is much suffering , there comes a reminder that medical doctors have knowledge of good and evil in matters of the human body! Good doctors are also from the hand of God! And if this brings them to trust in Jesus they will enjoy the goodness of eternity! They may even come to see the miracle workings of Jesus in their midst, bringing them healings! So even if evil may be for a short time there is always the eternal goodness! “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8: 18).

NOTES
1Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology,(Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006),437.

AGAKIZA TUZOBA BICIYE MURI YESU KRISTO!

Uko amateka ya gikirisu yagenda aratera imbere, izina ‘Yesu’ ryamenyekanye ko ari ‘Yahweh ni Agakiza’. Kuva mu vyiyumviro vyo mw’Isezerano rya Kera vy’Umukama, Umucunguzi, Umucunguzi, Imana, izo nsobanuro zari zarimuriwe kuri Yezu n’ingene abakristo bamwemera. 1 Birumvikana, munyuma, turabona ubu Yesu nk’Umucunguzi n’Umucunguzi w’ivyaha n’umwijima wo mu mpwemu, yasheshe amaraso ku musaraba kugira ngo yishure ivyaha vyacu, niba twizeye! Kandi ko ariwe nzira yonyene ijana ku Mana! Niho rero ari Umukiza wacu!

Ubu rero turakeneye kugira ubumenyi bwo kuvuka ubwa kabiri kugira ngo tugire ubucuti na We! Muri Yohana 3:3,16 havuga ngo: “ ‘Yesu aramwishura ati: ‘Ni ukuri, ndakubwiye yuko umuntu atavutse ubwa kabiri, ntashobora kubona ubwami bw’Imana’….’Kuko Imana yakunze isi cane, ku buryo yatanze Umwana wayo w’ikinege, kugira ngo uwumwizera wese ntapfe ubuzima buhoraho muri Yohani1: 25-26 havuga ngo: “ Yesu aramubwira ati: ‘Ni jewe kuzuka n’ubugingo, uwunyizera naho yopfa azobaho, kandi uwubaho wese akanyemera ntazokwigera apfa, ivyo uravyemera?’ “

Turakeneye rero kwizera no kwihana ivyaha vyacu kugira ngo ubu tugire ubucuti n’Imana buza gusa biciye mu kuvuka ubwa kabiri na Yezu Umukiza wacu n’Umwami wacu! “Intango y’ubuzima bwa gikirisu isaba kwemera ko umuntu ari umunyavyaha no kwiyemeza guheba ubuzima bw’ukwikunda.”2.

IBIMENYETSO

1Sinclair B. Ferguson, Dawidi F. Wright na J.I. Packer, abanditsi, Inkoranyamagambo Nshasha y’Ivy’Imana, (Downers Grove: Ikinyamakuru c’amashure yisumbuye, 1988), 610.
2Millard J. Erickson, Ivy’Imana vya gikirisu, (Ivyigwa vya Baker, 2006), 959.

VUGA ISENGESHO RIKURIKIYE KUGIRANGO UVUKE UBWA KABIRI:
«Yezu ndavyemera ko wapfuye ku musaraba, .
gusesa amaraso yawe kugira ngo mbabarirwe ivyaha vyanje ;
Kandi arazuka ku musi ugira gatatu!
Ndazi ko ndi umunyavyaha. Ndagusavye umbabarire ivyaha vyanje;
Ndagusavye uze mu mutima wanje!
Ngwino unbere Umukiza n’Umwami w’ubuzima bwanje!
Urakoze Yezu”