The presence of evil often raises doubts about God’s goodness. Yet, the very ability to call something “evil” presupposes a standard of “good.” Without God, moral categories collapse into personal preference. If we can declare genocide or cruelty as truly evil, it implies a higher, objective moral law. That moral law points to a good Lawgiver.
Christianity teaches that God is perfectly good, but He allows free creatures to act, and freedom entails the possibility of evil. Evil is not created by God; it is a corruption of the good, much like rot is a corruption of wood. God made a good world, but humanity misused freedom, introducing sin.
The cross demonstrates God’s goodness even amid evil. At Calvary, the worst act of injustice—the crucifixion of the innocent Son of God—brought about the greatest good: salvation. This shows that God can bring beauty from brokenness and justice from tragedy.
God’s goodness is not proven by a pain-free world but by His redemptive plan. Scripture assures us that evil will not prevail forever. One day, all wrongs will be righted, and God’s goodness will shine without the shadow of sin. In the meantime, His goodness is experienced through grace, mercy, and the hope He provides.