Why doesn't God intervene to stop evil?

[tonyrey]

Perhaps this God is not able to.
Or perhaps, does not want to.

Or, far more likely, wants us to be capable of choosing what to believe, how to behave and who to love - rather than stooges incapable of shaping our own destiny!

 

[tonyrey]

I get that God gave us free will, but hear me out. If a police officer was to catch a man getting ready to shoot someone, they would obviously intervene, and this wouldn’t be taking away free will.

Why doesn’t God do the same thing? Intervene to stop atrocities like murder?

If God prevented every atrocity it would be evident there is a benevolent Power protecting us and we would no longer be free to choose what to believe. It would be like knowing Big Brother is constantly watching us at every moment of the day and night wherever we are… There would be no such thing as privacy or independence. Our lives would no longer be our own and the world would be a prison from which there is no escape except perhaps by death. Yet even then who knows what follows?

To die, to sleep–
To sleep–perchance to dream: ay, there’s the rub,
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause.

• Hamlet

 

[Mort_Alz]

I get that God gave us free will, but hear me out. If a police officer was to catch a man getting ready to shoot someone, they would obviously intervene, and this wouldn’t be taking away free will.

Why doesn’t God do the same thing? Intervene to stop atrocities like murder?

Because when the police officer does it, the action does not eliminate his own free will. In fact, his action is an illustration of why free will is good. His free will decision causes a manifestation of bravery/courage and charity towards one’s neighbor which is a good thing. Therefore, we are to do this whenever possible.

However, if God does it, it not only destroys the free will of the murderer, but also the potential free will decision of the police officer that resulted in a manifestation of courage. If God stops the murderer, there is no manifestation of courage because it is nothing for Him to snuff out the evil. Therefore, it is a greater good for there to have been an occurrence of courage than it is an evil that there was a murderous intent.

 

[MPat]

I get that God gave us free will, but hear me out. If a police officer was to catch a man getting ready to shoot someone, they would obviously intervene, and this wouldn’t be taking away free will.

Why doesn’t God do the same thing? Intervene to stop atrocities like murder?

Have you noticed you use a police officer as an example? Why? Let’s replace that police officer with a random private citizen. Will the example work? No, it doesn’t work. The private citizen is not certain to intervene directly and we do not demand that he would. In many cases it is enough for him to ask someone else to intervene (that is, to call the police).

So, what’s the difference? Police officer has promised (or sworn) to fight crime and is paid to do so. Private citizen has made no such promise.

So, has God made a similar promise to intervene directly to stop every murder? Doesn’t look like that. Thus it doesn’t look like He has a duty to do so.

As for that asking someone else to intervene, God has given each of us a conscience. Shouldn’t that be as good, as calling the police?

Now, sure, we make lousy “policemen”. But He’s working on it…

For that matter, aren’t many of those cases we’re dealing with evil similar to training exercises? And in that case your question becomes “Why didn’t instructor just do the job himself, instead of waiting for trainee to do it?”. I guess the answer to this question is obvious…

 

[Richca]

I get that God gave us free will, but hear me out. If a police officer was to catch a man getting ready to shoot someone, they would obviously intervene, and this wouldn’t be taking away free will.

Why doesn’t God do the same thing? Intervene to stop atrocities like murder?

If God intervened to stop every evil then there would be no reason why he should create humans in his own image with free will. St Augustine says “Since God is the highest good, he would not allow any evil to exist in his works unless his omnipotence and goodness were such as to bring good even out of evil.” The evil and murder of the crucifiction of Jesus Christ, the God-man, brought about the redemption of the human race and the opening of the gates of heaven. The evil of tyrants brings about the good and the patience of the martyrs. We can be sure of this that where ever there is evil, God will bring good out of it particularly for the salvation of the just and growth in virtue and charity as St Paul says “all things work together for the good of those who love God.” We can also consider that there is going to be a day of reckoning, immediately after our death and the general judgement where perfect justice will prevail and be meted out to all. The good will go off to eternal life and the wicked to eternal punishment. Perfect justice is had in the next life, not in this life. God is patience with sinners and the wicked desiring their repentence for he wills all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. God also knows the best and the right time of the death of every single soul; for the just, their salvation, and for the wicked so that they will not be able to commit any more evil on the earth. The eternal fires of hell are not a pretty site to say the least so God is patience with sinners.

 

[o_mlly]

I get that God gave us free will, but hear me out. If a police officer was to catch a man getting ready to shoot someone, they would obviously intervene, and this wouldn’t be taking away free will.

Why doesn’t God do the same thing? Intervene to stop atrocities like murder?

He does. We call it actual or prevenient grace.

 

[Charlemagne_III]

I get that God gave us free will, but hear me out. If a police officer was to catch a man getting ready to shoot someone, they would obviously intervene, and this wouldn’t be taking away free will.

Why doesn’t God do the same thing? Intervene to stop atrocities like murder?

God is not a policeman.

Case closed.

 

[BobCatholic]

Why does God have an obligation or responsibility to intervene?

In order for God to have a responsibility, he must have it to someone superior to him. Since there is no superior to God, therefore, God has no responsibility.

 

[tonyrey]

Why does God have an obligation or responsibility to intervene?

In order for God to have a responsibility, he must have it to someone superior to him. Since there is no superior to God, therefore, God has no responsibility.

God has no responsibility to others but by creating us He chooses to impose obligations on Himself because He becomes responsible for our welfare. He loves us as His children and does everything He can to ensure we are united to Him forever. He sacrificed Himself for us on the Cross and has far more responsibility than we shall ever have…

 

[Aloysium]

God’s interventions I see primarily in the form of conscience.
This is not to say that he does not intervene through guardian angels among other ways unknown.
The dialogue between God and Cain would be an example where he tries to alert the murderer to what he is about to do.
We are here for a very short time, its purpose being who we want to be for eternity.
That would determine how and why He intervenes.

 

[BobCatholic]

God has no responsibility to others but by creating us He chooses to impose obligations on Himself because He becomes responsible for our welfare.

If he were responsible for our welfare then he cannot say no to any reasonable request for aid. If an out of work person asks God for a job, clearly that person needs a job, so the answer must be yes. If someone is ill and wants to be healed, the answer must be a yes.

But since God can say no to things like that, AND we can’t do anything about that → game over, he has no responsibility whatsoever.

 

[tonyrey]

God has no responsibility to others but by creating us He chooses to impose obligations on Himself because He becomes responsible for our welfare.

If he were responsible for our welfare then he cannot say no to any reasonable request for aid. If an out of work person asks God for a job, clearly that person needs a job, so the answer must be yes. If someone is ill and wants to be healed, the answer must be a yes.You are assuming we always know precisely what is in our best interests. Isn’t it possible that responding to our request could lead to a worse evil?

But since God can say no to things like that, AND we can’t do anything about that → game over, he has no responsibility whatsoever.

On the contrary a loving Father doesn’t pander to our wishes when He knows it will lead to more misery for us and/or others in the long run… No matter how useless we feel there is usually some way in which we can help others - even if it’s just by staying alive…

 

[hu324b]

God has every intention of stepping in and stopping evil and bringing peace and joy into the world - although it will be the new heaven and the new earth not this one - but not until the Gospel has been preached to all those who are saved - this can be seen in the Books of the Prophets in the old testament and in the Book of Revelations. It will happen in Gods time not ours.

 

[Fox]

God will not impede our free will ever. Evil comes from the free will of others who choose to do perceived evil things. All you need to know is the God can pull good from such evil things/events and leave it at that. You may not see the good from it in a day, week, year, or ever. You may have to wait until you get up there to find out what good came out of it. There are plenty of good things though throughout history that came from evil events/happenings et al.

 

[tonyrey]

God has every intention of stepping in and stopping evil and bringing peace and joy into the world - although it will be the new heaven and the new earth not this one - but not until the Gospel has been preached to all those who are saved - this can be seen in the Books of the Prophets in the old testament and in the Book of Revelations. It will happen in Gods time not ours.

To disagree implies we know better than God what is best for the world!

 

[BobCatholic]

On the contrary a loving Father doesn’t pander to our wishes when He knows it will lead to more misery for us and/or others in the long run… No matter how useless we feel there is usually some way in which we can help others - even if it’s just by staying alive…

I’m not talking about “wishes” I’m talking about actual needs like a job or healing of a disease.

I’m NOT talking about why God doesn’t give me a sports car for my birthday.

It is a shame that things like a job or healing of a disease now is considered “pandering to our wishes”

So, how does saying no to needs is the same as saying God has a responsibility to us? A responsibility means NOT being able to say no to needs.

 

[davidv]

I’m not talking about “wishes” I’m talking about actual needs like a job or healing of a disease.

I’m NOT talking about why God doesn’t give me a sports car for my birthday.

It is a shame that things like a job or healing of a disease now is considered “pandering to our wishes”

So, how does saying no to needs is the same as saying God has a responsibility to us? A responsibility means NOT being able to say no to needs.

Neither a job, nor a healing from disease, are needed for salvation.
So, neither of these are needed in the ultimate sense.

 

[BobCatholic]

Neither a job, nor a healing from disease, are needed for salvation.
So, neither of these are needed in the ultimate sense.

If I’m out of work too long, I won’t be able to pay my bills, and lose my house and everything, I’ll wind up on the streets and will be forced to steal, and rob to survive.

So unless you’re saying stealing or robbery to survive does not affect salvation, a job MUST be required for salvation or else I’m going to become an evil person.

And healing from a disease is a sign of God’s favor. No healing means no favor from God. No favor from God means no salvation.

 

[tonyrey]

I’m not talking about “wishes” I’m talking about actual needs like a job or healing of a disease.

I’m NOT talking about why God doesn’t give me a sports car for my birthday.

It is a shame that things like a job or healing of a disease now is considered “pandering to our wishes”

So, how does saying no to needs is the same as saying God has a responsibility to us? A responsibility means NOT being able to say no to needs.

It isn’t God who says no to our needs but other people. There are enough natural resources for everyone but as the result of human greed and selfishness they are not shared equally.

 

[BobCatholic]

It isn’t God who says no to our needs but other people. There are enough natural resources for everyone but as the result of human greed and selfishness they are not shared equally.

God has the ability to provide without having to compromise someone else’s free will. How? I don’t know, that’s his details, not mine to know.

When he chooses not to do things this way, that’s a “NO” to the prayer request.