A message to parents from Richard

How do you talk to your children about the problem of evil? How do you answer their questions when they see someone go into an elementary school and shoot and kill 10 children? How do you explain to your children how a loving God would let Adolph Hitler kill millions of people during World War II? Or how terrorists could fly planes into the World Trade Center and kill thousands of people? 

Evil is a significant problem. In fact, it’s the number one reason why so many people deny the existence of a loving God. There’s a woman by the name of Deborah Mitchell who wrote an essay for CNN, and the title of the essay was “Why I Raise My Children Without God.” And as you can probably imagine, it went viral. But what was interesting is, she argued that there is no way that a loving God exists, particularly when you look at all the horrific events that have taken place throughout the course of history.

She said, so, what I’ve done is I’ve explained to my children that we’re just material beings. We’re products of nature and that we’re really insignificant in this grand universe. But if you think about what she’s done, she’s taken the word evil out of her kid’s vocabulary. Yet what do they do when they look around and see all the violence and the horrific things that are going on in our world? 

So what is evil? What does this word really mean? Christian apologist Greg Koukl had some interesting insights into this. He gave a real simple definition of evil. He said, when you see something and you know that’s not the way it’s supposed to be. In other words, someone walks into a school and shoots 10 children, you recoil because you realize life’s not supposed to be this way. And he goes on to say that we all seem to have this standard of goodness, and the standard of goodness tells us the way things should be.

And it’s this standard of goodness that enables us to identify that which is evil. But where does this standard of goodness come from? He says that’s a real problem if you have an atheistic worldview, because this standard of goodness, in order for it to be absolute, has got to be handed down to us by a divine source. 

This is why the great philosopher Alvin Plantinga says, “Is there any way, when you see horrifying wickedness – is there any way for there not to be a God? And he said, “I think not” because he recognizes that if there is no God, there is no ultimate good. And if there is no ultimate good, evil cannot exist. And then he goes on to say, and I think this is very powerful. He says, when you see horrifying wickedness in the world, it’s a powerful argument for the existence of God.

So, how do we identify evil? Well, in the Christian worldview, God has revealed it to us. He’s revealed it to us through the prophets, through the apostles, and most significantly through his son Jesus. And so we have a Bible. We have the written word of God, and it identifies that which is good, and that which is evil. For instance, in the book of Deuteronomy, I’ll give you a good “for instance.” We’re told:

“This day, I shall call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you, that I’ve set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life.” —Deuteronomy 30:19-20

This is how God identifies evil. He sets before us the option of life or death, blessing or a curse, basically good or evil.

And he says, “Choose life for you and your family.” And how do we do that? He says, we’re to love him. We’re to listen to his voice. We’re to hold fast to him. 

So I would just say to you parents, it is absolutely crucial that you be intentional in raising your children today, that you spend time with them talking about the serious issues of life, that you help them memorize scripture. That was one of the greatest things me and my wife and I did with our children who are now all gone.

Limit screen time. Teach them apologetics. I think this is very important. And finally, let your children know if they have questions, if they have doubts, have them come to you and discuss them. We as parents need to realize that we are responsible for equipping our children to be able to effectively go out into the world and engage a secular, skeptical culture that they’re growing up in. 

And my prayer for you is that God’s favor would be on you in all of your efforts.

—Richard E. Simmons III, best-selling author of Reflections on the Existence of God

Part 2 – Discussion questions for you and your family:

1. What does the word evil mean? Give some examples. Who decides what is evil and what is good?
   
   
2. What did you think about the woman who is raising her kids without God? She concluded that we must accept “the realization of our insignificance.“ Would that kind of attitude give you hope in life, or hopelessness? Why?
   
   
3. What questions do you have about evil? When bad things happen, how does it make you feel? Where did those feelings come from? Discuss the standard of goodness that we all have, and how in the Christian worldview, God has put that into our hearts.
   
   
4. Read Deuteronomy 30:19-20. How does God address the problem of evil? What is He calling each of us to do as a family? What 3 ways can you do that? Discuss how you can help each other in those 3 areas.

* Look for ways to engage with your kids on this topic. Ask your kids to come up with their own questions, then take turns answering them. Ask God for creativity to bring this into daily conversations with your family.

Core Scripture:

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have placed before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life.” —Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NASB)

Quote from Reflections on the Existence of God:

“I build molecules for a living. I can’t begin to tell you how difficult that job is. I stand in awe of God because of what He has done through His creation. My faith has been increased through my research. Only a rookie who knows nothing about science would say science takes away from faith. If you really study science, it will bring you closer to God.” 

—Dr. James Tour | Synthetic Organic Chemist, specializing in molecular electronics and nanotechnology

Looking for More?

Reflections on the Existence of God is a well-researched, accessible apologetics handbook for parents to equip themselves and their children to engage our atheistic and agnostic culture with the evidence for God’s existence. Each essay can be read in 10 minutes or less. 

Our companion Study Guide can be used for group and individual study, family worship times, college ministry studies, or as a course curriculum for private and home education. It is also a valuable tool to equip you to engage with skeptics, friends or family struggling with doubt using thought-provoking questions and conversation.

I hope parents will read it with their families to shore up their own understanding of the evidence of God’s existence and to give time to address any doubts their kids may have. My prayer is that you will encounter truths and reasoning to challenge and bolster your faith. 

—Richard E. Simmons III | best-selling author of Reflections on the Existence of God

Watch the complete 4-Part Series

Part 1 – Equipping Our Children To Defend Their Belief in God

Part 2 – Contending With Evil & Violence As A Believer

Part 3 – Are Science and Religious Beliefs at War with Each Other?

Part 4 – If God exists, what is His name?