Ben vs. Epicurus

Someone posted the following quote by Epicurus in the comment section of a blog post.

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him God?”

Epicurus

Now, I don’t usually engage in comment wars, but I did feel compelled to answer the question. My response:

God is able, but not willing to stay the hand of evil
Though, neither malevolence nor impotence are to blame.
‘Tis His omniscience that allows the darkness amidst the daylight.
His perfect knowledge that permits us to feel pain.

A loving father allows his children to fall
As children, sometimes we wish this wasn’t so
But inside each trial is a lesson to be learned
Without the pain, we would not grow

He knows the pain we bear each day
He sees our lives’ affliction
He also knows each painful step
Raises us towards perfection

In fire’s path, a forest burns
But new life springs from the black sod
Through painful means, life is perfected
And that, is why we call Him God”

As you can imagine, the discussion didn’t stop there. Feel free to read the following comments yourself, if you like. It got me thinking though. I truly believe that we who know truth have a responsibility to stand up for it when it is called into question, as is done so frequently on countless websites and blogs on a daily basis. Elder Ballard urged members of the Church last December to

join the conversation by participating on the Internet to share the gospel and to explain in simple and clear terms the message of the Restoration.”

What we do need to remember, however, is to keep contention out of the conversation. He goes on to say-

There is no need to argue or contend with others regarding our beliefs. There is no need to become defensive or belligerent. Our position is solid; the Church is true. We simply need to have a conversation, as friends in the same room would have, always guided by the prompting of the Spirit and constantly remembering the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, which reminds us of how precious are the children of our Father in Heaven.”

Let’s join the conversation then, shall we?