#STRask Is God “Divided Against Himself” When He Allows Evil?
Aug 14, 2025
The discussion delves into the complex nature of evil and its place within divine purpose, raising whether God's allowance of evil implies a division in His nature. The speakers explore theodicy, suggesting that evil can serve higher purposes, as seen in the crucifixion. They examine Eve's primary sin of disobedience, questioning the interpretations of her actions in relation to God's laws. The metaphor of military strategy illustrates how human malice can become part of a divine narrative, highlighting the interactions between good and evil.
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Jesus' Argument Targets A Specific Charge
- Jesus uses a logical parallel: if Satan cast out Satan his kingdom would be divided and collapse.
- That argument targets the specific charge that Jesus was empowered by Beelzebub, not a general principle about God permitting evil.
Permitting Evil Is Not Self-Contradiction
- Allowing evil isn't the same as causing it, so God isn't 'divided against himself' by permitting wrongdoing.
- God can allow evil for reasons that avoid the alleged contradiction in Jesus' parallel about internal division.
The Cross As A Clear Example
- Amy Hall points to the cross as a clear example where people committed great evil that God used for good.
- The perpetrators didn't intend God's purpose, yet God sovereignly worked that evil into his redemptive plan.
