© 19 Colin Melbourne
Q: How do we answer accusations that God is cruel for allowing infants to die of Leukaemia, or Central African children to be made blind by parasites in their water supply?
A: Christians encounter such opprobrium from adherents of the humanist and atheist religions; typically when they roll out of drinking holes, and find a Christian street-preaching.
Indignation rises in their darkened hearts, and they hurl vociferous abuse.
If coherent, the rationale is; that since Christians proclaim that God is omnipotent, and loving, He should not “allow such innocent” people to be afflicted by deadly disease.
Atheists foam and snarl whatever you reply, and in their ignorant idolatry, quickly become abusive.
I’ve learned not to waste my time trying to convince a sinner who claims to be an Atheist or Humanist. Like the rebellious Diana demon-worshippers at Ephesus, they cherish their idols, and detest the truth. (See Acts 18 KJV)
Consequently, with zero interest in obtaining understanding, they are, by definition, their own idol, and self-condemned.
Our Boss told us not to cast pearls before suchlike, Mtt. 7:6KJV;
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Instead, I suggest you seek the LORD for a word for such individuals when you encounter them, deliver that word, and leave them wallowing in their folly.
If however, you do find a sincere seeker putting the question, usually absorbed from their celebrity idols, such as Sir David Attenborough, the answer is given in Genesis of the Holy Bible.
The questioner assumes God is responsible for what happens in the world, and so He should stop the obvious injustices.
Wise Christians reply by giving the Gospel message, starting from mankind’s origin in Genesis. Gen. 1:1 KJV;
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Remind them that Almighty God created everything in six days, and repeatedly pronounced it was good. Gen. 1:31 KJV;
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
When Our Creator tells us that something’s good, it means far more than sinners comprehend by that word.
The divine very good means perfect, complete, without corruption, righteous in His sight.
Recall Christ’s word when pointing the Jewish Yuppie to wisdom, Lk. 18:19 KJV;
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
Therefore we know that everything God created was perfect originally.
There was no; sin, death, disease, deformity, corruption, or unbelief of any sort in the Garden of Eden.
Now here’s the key passage to convey to a sincere enquirer, Gen. 1:26-28 KJV;
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Now answer; who was in charge of Earth at this time?
Whose duty was it to rule this earthly creation in righteousness?
Was it God’s responsibility to subdue the Earth, to fill it with people and care for His Creation?
Plainly not, it was the first couple’s task, and their progeny.
Adam and Eve had the divine authority and power required to fulfil their God-given task, just as Spirit-filled believers today have all they need in the Living Word and Spirit of God.
Next show the curious sinner what went wrong; the first couple doubted and rejected God’s word, and thereby invited sin into God’s Creation, and in so doing they forfeited their rulership, authority, and power: The Fall.
They sold out to The Serpent, lost all fellowship with their Creator, Who cannot fellowship with sinners, and Adam’s dominion was passed to Satan.
God is perfectly just, and recognising that Adam had broken faith, and trusted the Father of lies, the Earth was now legally in Satan’s power.
That is how sin and disease arose, with its awful toll on the offspring of Adam and Eve for the six millennia since then.
Whose fault is that?
Certainly not God’s is it?
Especially since He has already provided the perfect way out of man’s predicament, restoring the righteousness, authority and power man needs to walk at peace with our Maker: In Christ Jesus.
The LORD Jesus Christ has totally satisfied every divine claim against sinful man.
He has dealt perfectly justly with Satan, and removes the Devil’s authority over each and every sinner who repents and believes on Christ: Col. 1:12-14 KJV;
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Born again believers instantly become new creatures in Christ Jesus. 2 Co. 5:17 KJV;
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Then point them to who Jesus really is; why He came, what He’s already done, and how they are to respond.
Listen to the Lord as you relate this, and do what He says.
Let Him fix them, if they want to be fixed.
It’s still up to each individual, just as it was with Adam and Eve.
Meanwhile, Humanist and Atheist idolaters remain wallowing in their filth, consuming their own vomit.
Summary:
Atheist and Humanist idolaters have no desire for truth, so leave them clinging to their idols.
Almighty God is not to blame for the death, disease, and sin, in the world. The culprits are the ones who rule this perishing world: Originally, Adam and Eve who quickly abdicated their dominion to Satan.
The LORD Jesus Christ has already fixed man’s sin problem by taking the consequences of our rebellion on Himself, and offers perfect eternal redemption to whoever will repent and believe on Him, and what He’s done for them: Only Believe!
Bookmark our homepage and check the daily headlines so you don’t miss: Why it is vital that you believe God’s Creation account in Genesis is historical.
You may also be interested in reading:
Why We Believe Genesis is Fact
Answering Sir David Attenborough
Richard Dawkins’ Lieutenant was my Tutor
Jonah’s Whale, Monster, or Fish?
The case against evolution has massive scientific proof that proponents choose to blindly ignore. Here are some excellent Creationist tools to help you convince sceptics
© 12 Colin Melbourne