What Does Theodicy Mean in Christianity?

Theodicy is a big word with an important idea: where is God when bad things happen? Rather than ignoring this question, Christianity faces it, but with answers you may not expect.

 

How long must I suffer? 

How long will You allow this evil? 

How long, God?

In a world of natural disasters, wars, and violence, we all look for someone or something to blame. Usually, this falls at God’s feet. How can a good God allow such evil to continue or even exist? It is a question for the ages and the subject of theodicy—which is a big word for a complex issue. We will all face trials and suffering in this world, but a deeper understanding of the term theodicy and its implications can help us look at the issue from a different perspective.

 

What Does the Word Theodicy Mean?

The term theodicy combines the Greek words theos (God) and dikaios (justification). It is an attempt to justify or vindicate God for the existence of evil. Theodicy was first used in 1710 by Gottfried Leibniz in his book Theodicy: Essays on the Goodness of God, the Freedom of Man and the Origin of Evil. The problem of evil and suffering has been debated for centuries. It is the subject of great literature, such as The Divine Comedy by Dante, Paradise Lost by John Milton), Candide by Voltaire), and Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. In Christian circles, one of the best-known discussions is by C.S. Lewis in The Problem of Pain. Lewis proposes that pain and suffering are not evil but the way God draws us closer to Himself:

 

“We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

 

Dr. Mitchell of Dallas Baptist University gives three key approaches to theodicy as follows: the logical problem, the evidential problem, and the existential problem.

 

The logical (deductive) argument states that God exists, and is good, all-knowing, and all-powerful, so how can a good being allow evil to exist?

 

The evidential approach argues that a good God would not allow so much unjustified evil that appears to have no good purpose, as evidence shows to exist in large amounts in the world.

 

The existential approach is the personal argument of, “Why am I suffering?”

 

Next time we will continue our look at Theodicy as it relates to Christianity. Until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/theodicy.html#google_vignette