Why Didn't God Just Prevent Evil?

Theodicy is the area of Apologetics defined as "the defense of God's goodness and omnipotence in view of the existence of evil." The defense has been ongoing for a long time in Christendom. We have works from Iranaeus (120-200 AD) and Augustine (354-430 AD), but it has been even longer than that. The very first challenge to God's goodness was in the Garden of Eden when the serpent asked, "Did God say ...?" Consider the problem. If the biblical God exists, He is omnipotent and omniscient and loving and morally perfect and would, therefore, have the power to eliminate all evil. Evil exists. Therefore, the biblical God does not exist.

Now, there are problems with this argument. For instance, if such a God does not exist, on what do we base our assessment of evil? That is, if "no God," then "no evil." Evil is just an opinion, a preference. What is our popular term today? A social construct. And -- poof! -- the problem goes away. But that's not a satisfactory answer for anyone. God had to have known that Adam and Eve would sin and had to have been able to prevent it, so why didn't God just prevent evil? The ultimate problem with that objection would be "What if that biblical God had a good reason for allowing evil in the world?" Is there an answer that will retain God's nature while allowing for evil? I think so. I even think it's biblical.

First, let's look at what we know. God created the world (Gen 1:1); Man sinned (Gen 3:1-7). Thus, God did not cause sin; He made a good world (Gen 1:31). Beyond that, we know that God cannot be tempted by evil and He Himself tempts no one (James 1:13). He made everything for its purpose, including the wicked for the day of trouble (Prov 16:4). He works all things according to His counsel (Eph 1:11) while taking no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek 33:11). There are people destined to disobey the word (1 Peter 2:7-8) and people pre-designated for condemnation (Jude 1:4). And we know that God holds people responsible for their evil while using it for good (Gen 50:20). Ultimately, though, God gives His reason for allowing evil. It is His will to make known His power and wrath (Rom 9:22). If we deny any of this, we deny any reliable source of knowing anything else about God beyond our own meager feelings.

There is the other side to consider. Let's say that God did prevent all sin. In this case, we must first acknowledge that Man would have had no free will. If you cannot choose to sin, you have no free will. Maybe very limited free will at best. Beyond that, what would we know about justice if there would be no injustice? What would we know about grace or mercy if none would ever be applied? What would we know about love without hate as a contrast? What would we know about forgiveness if we were never forgiven? In fact, in so many aspects of God, we would be clueless. It would be an anemic view of God.

In Romans 1 Paul explains that the gospel reveals the righteousness of God. He takes three chapters to unpack the magnitude of the problem of sin and then goes on to uncover the heights of this salvation we've been given, this mercy and grace we've received, this love that we've been overwhelmed with. If we had not sinned, none of that would be possible. Conversely, having sinned and received all this, the response to God is much greater. Jesus said, "He who is forgiven little, loves little" (Luke 7:47). That would certainly stunt our love for Him and blind us to the vastness of His love for us. The presence of evil is a contrast that makes the glory of God shine. I think that's actually a good reason for Him to allow evil.