Fantasy and a Christian Worldview, Part 24

Another reminder about Stop Number Two in the SF/Fantasy Blog Tour featuring Donita Paul. I’m very excited because I’ll have a two-day interview with Ms. Paul along with a review of DragonKnight (WaterBrook, 2006) which is officially being released June 20.

Oh, and on Monday I’m announcing a special two-day treat that you can only enjoy here at A Christian Worldview of Fiction.

We had such a good discussion yesterday, I hate to ruin it by revisiting the subject, but I think we are at the crux of the issue—evil.

I find it interesting that I had no trouble identifying the secular comments I quoted as being off base, but when it comes to clarifying the Biblical point of view, I’m having a harder time than I imagined.

When we talk about good vs. evil, particularly in fantasy, as Mark pointed out, there is often a dualism, stated or implied, as if evil were a power equal to good.

That, of course, would mean it exists without having been created, is at least as all powerful as the all powerful good, has as much a chance of winning the war as does good.

None of that is true.

I think it’s important to keep in mind who the enemy is—a liar and the Father of Lies. It was his desire to be equal with God, and I contend it is he who would love for Mankind to believe that the fight in the heavenlies is between co-equals.

This is just not so. Satan is a created being who, in turning his back on God, sullied his nature. I believe he is still powerful, but in no way does his power compare to Omnipotence.

One person brought up the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Since God planted that tree, does that mean that He created evil?

That was an interesting point to ponder. I think the book of James comes the closest to addressing that point:

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt any one. (NASB)

First, the tree was a tree of knowledge, not a tree that caused good and evil. This tells me that evil was in existence at the time of this world’s creation. So were the angels created prior to this world?

It’s interesting to think about, but God has not revealed the particulars of bringing the spirits into being. That He brought them into being, we know. That Satan and a group of other angels rebelled, we know. That the enemy has set himself against God and His purposes, we know.

It is this that we define as evil, I think—Satan and his rebels and their plots to undermine God.

That plot obviously involves Mankind and translates into evil acts, evil thoughts, our own evil intentions. I think Satan is looking to multiply the size of the rebellion and overwhelm God by sheer numbers.

As if!