Since God created everything, did He create evil? I refuse to believe that, but I am left with no other thoughts; I am not a struggling disciple, and no matter what the answer, satisfying or not, I'll still not be so bold as to question the goodness of God. I will simply have to wait until the day when all hidden things of God are revealed for all to know. -- Jeff Morris (Nashua, New Hampshire)

You are right to insist on goodness of God, just as Abram did in Genesis 18:25. The answer is, Evil was not created, any more than good was created. Evil is what happens whenever free moral agents resist the will of God. And yet it does not exist, in and of itself. Our universe is not somehow dualistic -- with two opposite forces, "Good" and "Evil," keeping one another in some sort of cosmic balance. God is good. Whatever resists God's will is evil. Evil exists only where there is rebellion against God. God never willed that free moral agents choose evil! Are we going to blame God for the sinful choices we have made?

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