Skeptical Theism

The third major explanation for the problem of evil and suffering is that it is “above our pay grade.” We are either not informed enough to answer it or not smart enough to answer it. This is the “you gotta have faith” option.

Certainly, we know “in part” (1 Cor. 13:12). We see in part, “in a mirror dimly” (ESV). God sees the whole picture. He sees all the potential consequences we cannot see. Ultimately, it comes down to faith. As Abraham said when he bartered with God, “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen. 18:25). 

Dr. Blehm argues that the answer to the problem of evil is likely some mixture of all three theodicies. Evil and suffering result from our free will, which is a good thing. God allows suffering in part to help us to grow. It allows good to result from our facing of those challenges. And, yes, ultimately, it is above our puny understanding.

This seems like a good place to mention Pascal’s wager. Blase Pascal (1623-62) was a famous philosopher and mathematician in the 1600s. He had some friends who were skeptical about the Christian faith. But they loved to gamble on all sorts of things. He proposed a wager for them.

A good bet is one in which the potential win is great in comparison to the cost of the bet. Pascal suggested that betting on God was a great bet. After all, what did it cost? A life of virtue that brings meaning and happiness? If you turn out to be wrong about God existing, you’ve lived a purpose-filled life. If you’re right, you have eternal life with eternal happiness with God. Not a bad bet at all!

On the other hand, if you bet against God and are wrong, you’ll have eternal damnation – a really bad consequence. And if you’re right, you only get the momentary pleasures of sin (Heb. 11:25), which usually results in plenty of pain in life anyway. It’s a bad bet.

God is a great bet!