The Bible makes a distinction between natural evil and moral evil. Natural evil refers to bad things that happen in the world such as natural disasters, diseases, birth defects, and animal suffering. These types of evil and suffering are not caused by the moral choices of free creatures. Rather, they are the outworking and consequences of living in a fallen, corrupted world filled with decay and imperfection after the fall of humanity in Genesis 3. The world we live in is tainted by the effects of sin at a systemic level.
In contrast, moral evil refers to immoral actions done by free creatures out of their own moral agency. This includes human acts of evil such as murder, theft, lying, adultery, and so on. Moral evil stems from the abuse of the free will given to morally accountable beings, when they choose to rebel against God’s good design and purposes.
The Bible teaches that all evil and suffering in the world, both natural and moral, ultimately stem from the effects of the fall and the cursing of creation because of human sin (Genesis 3:14-19, Romans 8:20-22). However, there is an important distinction between natural evil and moral evil in terms of proximate causes and who bears responsibility.
Natural evil is part of the outworking of living in a corrupted world corrupted by human sin. While God is sovereign over it, natural evil does not imply any direct moral wrongdoing on the part of individual free creatures. No one bears direct moral culpability when a natural disaster hits or when someone falls ill. Rather, natural evil serves as a reminder of the corruption of creation and our own mortality as fallen creatures awaiting final redemption (Romans 8:18-25).
Moral evil, on the other hand, results directly from the sinful misuse of human free will and moral agency. While God is ultimately sovereign over moral evil as well, he does not directly cause moral evil. The moral responsibility and blame for moral evil lies squarely with the free creatures who choose to think, speak, and act in sinful ways against God’s commands. This includes demonic beings and humans who abuse their wills (Luke 10:17-20, Romans 1:21-32).
Therefore, while both natural evil and moral evil stem from the fall and the curse upon creation, they have different proximate causes and different implications for responsibility and blame. Natural evil is part of the outworking of the fallen world, while moral evil results from free creatures rebelling against God’s will out of their sinful wills. But in both cases, evil is an intrusion upon God’s good creation that God will ultimately defeat.
Key Biblical Support
Here are some key biblical passages that illuminate the distinction between natural evil and moral evil:
Genesis 3:14-19 – This passage describes how God curses the creation because of human sin, implying the introduction of natural evil.
Romans 5:12 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” This verse teaches that death and suffering entered the world through human sin.
Romans 8:20-22 – “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.” This passage speaks of creation being in “bondage to corruption” and groaning in suffering because of the effects of the fall.
Luke 13:1-5 – When questioned about those who suffered under Pilate and a tower collapse, Jesus redirects the discussion from focusing on natural evil to human repentance from moral evil.
James 1:13 – “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” This affirms that God does not directly tempt people towards moral evil.
Genesis 6:5 – “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” An example description of widespread human moral evil.
1 John 1:5-10 – This passage contrasts God’s moral perfection with humanity’s sinfulness, making a distinction between God and moral evil.
Revelation 12:7-9 – Describes a war in heaven in which Satan and demons are cast down to Earth, implying these beings rebelled and committed moral evil against God.
These verses illustrate how the Bible distinguishes between natural evil as part of the fallen world, and moral evil that stems from free creatures rebelling against God. This sets up the biblical narrative of God working to defeat evil and bring redemption through Christ.
The Origin of Evil
Given this distinction between natural and moral evil, it is also important to consider the question of how evil originated in the first place. The Bible traces the ultimate origin of evil to the rebellion of Satan and demons against God’s authority. Though created good, Satan and other angels abused their free will to oppose God’s will and purposes (Isaiah 14:12-14, Ezekiel 28:11-19). Satan then tempted the first humans, Adam and Eve, to distrust and disobey God as well which brought sin and death into the human experience (Genesis 3).
Therefore, while natural evil results from God’s cursing of creation because of human sin, moral evil originated prior to humanity’s fall with the initial rebellion of Satan and demons against God’s good authority. This rebellion brought sin into the cosmos and precipitated the subsequent human fall as well. So while only God is inherently good and perfect (Mark 10:18), evil originated with rebellious free creatures rejecting God’s good purposes.
Why Does a Good God Allow Evil?
Given this biblical teaching on evil, a common question raised is why a good and all-powerful God allows evil to exist in the first place. There are several key points to consider in response:
1) Allowing free will – For free will and genuine love relationship to exist, God had to allow for the possibility of evil by free creatures through rebellion.
2) Temporarily allowing evil – According to the Bible, God is completely sovereign over evil and uses it for his ultimate purposes, and promises to eventually defeat all evil and suffering (Revelation 21-22).
3) To bring redemption – God’s defeat of evil through Christ’s redemptive work displays his justice and mercy. The fact that God redeems this evil for an even greater good displays his perfect goodness (Romans 5:20-21, Genesis 50:20).
4) For greater glory – God’s goodness is even more magnified when contrasted with evil’s darkness. His redemption shines brighter because of the backdrop of sin and evil.
5) Pointing to the need for God – Our inability to defeat evil on our own points to our need for dependence on God. Evil’s consequences call us back to relying on God rather than ourselves.
Therefore, while evil poses difficult questions, the Bible teaches God has sovereign purposes for allowing evil for a time while promising to redeem it through Christ for an even greater glory in eternity. This highlights God’s infinite goodness, wisdom and power against the darkness of evil.
Practical Implications
Understanding the difference between natural and moral evil has many practical implications for the Christian life. Here are a few key ones:
1) Compassion – Being able to distinguish natural evil from moral evil enables appropriate compassionate responses. We should not blame people for natural disasters or illnesses, but extend compassion.
2) Justice – The category of moral evil means people can be held morally culpable before God for their sinful actions.
3) Grace – Even in cases of moral evil against us, God calls us to extend grace and forgiveness as he has forgiven us (Matthew 18:21-35).
4) Spreading the Gospel – Natural evil reminds us people need redemption, while moral evil shows the need for changed hearts through Christ.
5) Faith in God’s promises – We can have hope that God will ultimately defeat all evil, natural and moral, in accordance with his sovereign purposes and timing.
6) Rooting out sin – We can root out moral evil in our own hearts and cooperate with God’s work redeeming us from sin’s effects.
Understanding natural vs. moral evil helps us respond to suffering with wisdom, grace, and in alignment with God’s will, as we trust him to ultimately resolve all evil through Christ.