Article March 1, 1913 ISSUE

When we analyze the claims of evil, it of necessity is...

Ezra W. Palmer

Denver (Col.) Post

When we analyze the claims of evil, it of necessity is apparent that either God made evil or He did not. And it is because men for long ages have had a confused conception of God that they have been equally confused as to the validity of the claims of evil, and have believed either that evil was created by God, or that it is an entity of itself, acting contrary to God's wishes and frequently overruling them. Christian Science brings order into this chaos. It teaches that there is one supreme, governing intelligence, the one Mind, God; that the one Mind is Spirit, perfect the sum total of all good, and that His creations, man and the universe, partake of His qualities and likewise are spiritual and perfect. Jesus had this ideal in view when he said: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." In Genesis we read that God created the heaven and the earth, and that everything He had made was very good. If, therefore, God is good and supreme, where, then, is the necessity for evil, which would, if permitted, set at naught the divine decrees? And if God's creations are good, like Him, of what avail is any foreign element which would endeavor to impair the happiness of His children?

If God created evil, then God must know evil; evil would therefore be a part of the divine consciousness, eternal and immortal, and for mortals to strive to overcome it would be to attempt to overthrow the divine order and integrity. Such a concept would only land us in chaos and despair. If we refuse to make God responsible for evil, and at the same time contend that evil is a reality, where do we land? We must inevitably set up evil as a kingdom in itself, arrayed against God's kingdom, warring against Him, overturning His power, condemning men to sin, sickness, and death, and disrupting the supremacy of God's government. The theological concept of Satan, as portrayed by Milton and other writers, expresses this so-called dual nature of the universe. Since evil in its very nature is the antipode of God, it were impossible that He should create evil. In Habakkuk we read: "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity." Jesus spoke of himself as "the light of the world," and in John, God is spoken of as "the light of men." Now, darness is the antipode of light, and where light is, darkness cannot exist. Darkness is incapable of analysis, because it is nothing, being the mere absence of light. Light, however, cannot by any process of reasoning be shown to be responsible for darkness, nor is there any possible connection between them. In like manner, God is not responsible for or in any manner connected with evil.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
A recent issue of the Spokesman-Review, in reporting the...
March 1, 1913
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit