Podcast Episode 164: Questions on Suffering, Free Will, and Predestination

Release Date:  September 13, 2023

Questions 

When asked why evil and suffering exist, at least a couple apologists, Ravi Zacharias and Frank Turek, use the explanation – in order for there to be love, there has to be free will….otherwise you have robots who are forced to obey. And when you have free will, you have the opportunity for evil, sin, and suffering. Total free will is usually (always?) an Arminian belief, whereas Reformed theology would teach the reason behind the reason behind the reason is God (pharaoh hardened his own heart AND God hardened pharaoh’s heart…..yet God is never blamed for sin. In the same vein, somehow God willed that satan would sin but yet did not cause it….so satan is to blame for his sin but he didn’t have TOTAL free will in the sense Satan’s sin was done within God’s will and according to his plan). Turek also uses the argument that God will not force someone to be with him forever if they do not want to be with him….again eluding that the person has free will to not choose God. So, even though we would hold to a Reformed theology, do you see value in this type of Arminian answer to help an unbeliever get over the hurdle of how a loving God can allow evil and suffering? It seems it may be helpful even if not theologically completely accurate, and that a converted person could grow into the Reformed view (at first I thought I opened the door when Jesus knocked, and in some sense I did, but now I believe he called me with an irresistible call and he gets ALL the credit and glory for saving me). Here’s an example of a Turek video where he gives an answer to this question: https://youtu.be/HN53uHzOoXs //  (3:05)

PS, bonus question – do you agree with Piper that it seems there’s a hint in scripture that somehow God hid his face/glory from Satan and that’s likely/perhaps how Satan was able to sin while in heaven? Either Piper or Grudem said this is the hardest question – how did Satan sin while in heaven/ in the presence of God. (15:55) 

If God is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil  by Randy Alcorn

The Goodness of God: Assurance of Purpose in the Midst of Suffering by Randy Alcorn  

Grace Unknown:  The Heart of Reformed Theology by R C Sproul

Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities by Roger E. Olson