The Problem of Moral Evil
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OBJECTION: The presence of moral evil in the world proves that an all-powerful, all loving God simply doesn’t exist. If such a God did exist, and we, as humans, were supposedly created in His "image", why would people be so inclined to do immoral things? And why doesn't this all-powerful God do something to stop evil, immoral behavior? This God is either not powerful enough to stop evil, not loving enough to care one way or the other, or simply does not exist in the first place.
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 The Answer Lies in Our Personal Freedom and Eternal Life
Which is more loving: a God who creates a world in which love is possible or a God who creates a world in which love is impossible? It seems reasonable that a loving God (if He exists at all), would create a world where love is possible and can, in fact, be experienced by creatures who are designed "in His image". But a world in which love is possible can be a dangerous place. Love requires freedom. True love requires that humans have the ability to freely choose; love cannot be forced if it is to be heartfelt and real. But people who have the freedom to love often choose to hate. Freedom can be costly. A world in which people have the freedom to love and perform great acts of kindness is also a world in which people have the freedom to hate and commit great acts of evil. You cannot have one without the other. You and I already know this intuitively. Let's consider an example.
Every year, millions of scissors are manufactured and sold in the world. Everyone knows how valuable and useful scissors can be. No one is arguing for laws to prevent the manufacturing or sale of scissors; we all know how useful and important they are. Yet every year, across the globe, hundreds of homicides and assaults are committed with scissors! While they were designed for a good and useful purpose, scissors are often used to commit great evil. In a similar way, our personal "free agency" is a beautiful gift that allows us to love. It was intended to provide us the means through which we can love one another and even love God. But this freedom, like a pair of scissors, can be used for great evil as well if we choose to reject its original purpose.
As Christians, we believe that God created us in His image. We have the freedom to love and we are eternal creatures who will live beyond this short life on earth. Our free agency allows us to love and perform acts of kindness, and our eternal life provides the context for God to deal justly with those who choose to hate and perform acts of evil. God WILL do something to stop evil, immoral behavior, He IS powerful enough to stop evil completely, and He DOES care about justice. But as an eternal creature, He will take care of it on an eternal timeline. It's not that God has failed to act; it's simply that He has not chosen to act YET. Compared to eternity, this mortal existence is but a vapor, created by God to be a wonderful place where love is possible for those who choose it:
 1 John 4:7-8
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
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