Why Ask at All

Recently in the UK , a taxi driver went on a shooting spree that killed 12 at last count and left a swath of grief across the land. Now I'm sure many who do not believe in  God will thunder , see I could never believe in a God that would allow that to happen. Of course they could raise other major events but the question is always the same. But I think they are asking the wrong question . In fact why are they so adamant at all. If  they believe in no God then what is perceived an evil act is nothing more than just random acts that  have no moral depth. So if someone kills 12 people , that is all it is . The person who did this just happened to have "bad" wiring . If we are nothing more than walking evolved cells , having no more value then any other organism , why is it different when a insect eats its own .

You have heard it said , I think you do protest too much . That is why I have a problem with all who cry , how can you believe in your God if He allows this to happen. At the heart of the cry is a deep truth that these things are wrong . We are made in God's image , even though we haved sinned and in open rebellion against God , we still have the image of right and wrong. It is totally fractured but intact enough to know certain acts are evil. The first few chapters of Romans give us a solid starting point to enter into a dialog.

When someone comes at you with these arguments we can have solid answers . That is the beauty of the  Bible. It is no naive book. We would have a problem if it was full of stories of flowers and perfect lives . However it reveals the real human condition. It doesn't explain it all but in its narrative of creation,fall. reconciliation and consummation , God in His wisdom gives us the tools to defend and take the offensive. As Peter tells us 1 Peter 3:15
"but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect"
Finally ,the one great truth that differs Christianity from all religions is that God entered into this sinful,fallen ,evil age to redeem man . When Jesus came , God in the flesh , He came to undo what we were responsible for. The fact of the cross stands as a answer to the evil we see . God is no spectator but an active participant. That for me answers so many of the questions .