Defeating Evil: How God Glorifies Himself in a Dark World

Scott Christensen (MDiv, The Master's Seminary) is the author of What about Free Will? He worked for nine years at the award-winning CCY Architects in Aspen, Colorado: several of his home designs were featured in Architectural Digest magazine. Called out of this work to the ministry, he graduated with honors from seminary and now serves as the associate pastor of Kerrville Bible Church in Kerrville, Texas.

Endorsements:

"The problem of evil is widely considered the hardest of all theological conundrums: If God is omnipotent, sovereign, and good, why does evil exist? Where did it come from? Why does it persist, if a benevolent God has the power to eliminate it? Scripture is full of truths that shed light on those questions, and Scott Christensen skillfully brings them together in this helpful, insightful, and ultimately satisfying analysis. As a matter of fact, the ultimate biblical answer to the problem of evil is condensed and implied in this book's title and subtitle: Defeating Evil: How God Glorifies Himself in a Dark World. I don't know of a better or more readable unfolding of that truth than Scott's excellent, well-written work."
--John MacArthur, Pastor-Teacher, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California; Chancellor Emeritus, The Master's University and Seminary

"Christians have responded to the problem of evil and suffering in various ways. Some attempt to play down the horrors of the world. Some appeal to human free will to get God 'off the hook' for the evils of history. Some diminish God's power in other ways, arguing that although God wants to prevent all evil, his hands are somehow tied. Some simply try to change the subject and to shame those who raise it. Scott Christensen, to his great credit, takes none of these paths. He portrays the terrible evils of the world without varnish and tackles the problem honestly and rigorously with God's Word as his guide, expounding and defending the 'greater-glory theodicy' woven into the grand story of a sovereign Creator and his redemptive plan for the world. This book will not take the sting out of suffering-no book can do that-but it dispels the shadows of confusion with the light of Scripture and casts a vision of God's good purposes in our suffering that will evoke praise and thanksgiving."
--James N. Anderson, Carl W. McMurray Professor of Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte

"Scott Christensen's previous book What about Evil? was a robust work that demanded a lot from-but also provided ample rewards for-the reader. This new book might be a little less demanding, but the rewards are there for those who wish to come to grips with the problem of evil in this fallen world. There are many highlights in this book, but what strikes me most is the emphasis on Christ not as a solution, but as the solution to the problem of evil. This is a book that confronts you not only with some strong arguments, but also with the Savior, who alone can solve the problem of evil."
--Mark Jones, Senior Minister, Faith Vancouver Presbyterian Church (PCA); Research Associate, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; coauthor, A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life

"A few years ago, Scott Christensen penned perhaps the greatest theological treatise written on theodicy in this generation. His exhaustive masterpiece, What about Evil?, expertly made the case for the greater-glory theodicy-the view that God superintends all things, good and bad, in accordance with the demonstration of his divine glory. Scott proves this position through the exposition of Scripture, an assiduous examination of historical writings, and an evaluation of the philosophy and implications of the doctrine. The only unfortunate aspect of his book is that its size (nearly six hundred pages) is too dense for most readers. But I'm overjoyed to recommend Scott's skillful abridgment of his thesis in this new work, Defeating Evil. Not only does this book help answer one of the most difficult questions posed to Christianity-how can a good God allow evil in the world?-but it also serves as a devotional exercise that puts the glory of God on display. Personally, it ministered to my own soul! I continue to be thankful for Scott Christensen's heavy-lifting ministry to the church. May God receive the greatest glory through the life of this amazing book."
--Nate Pickowicz, Teaching Pastor, Harvest Bible Church, Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire; author, Better than Life: Beholding the Kindness of God in a Cruel World

"Evil stares us all in the face. No one can escape it, try as we might. In this illuminating and readable work, Scott Christensen stares right back at evil. His excellent text points us to the wisdom of God, the folly of man, and the wonder of the cross. At Calvary, Jesus suffered from evil, took on evil, destroyed the power of evil as the object of the Father's just wrath, and secured our ultimate release from evil. Jesus the Warrior-Savior is truly the answer that unlocks the problem of evil. This truth sings in these pages, lifting our troubled hearts and minds to God."
--Owen Strachan, Author, The Warrior Savior; Provost, Grace Bible Theological Seminary

"The problem of evil maintains its long-held place as the number-one objection to theism in general and Christian theism in particular. Many Christian attempts to address the problem are philosophically driven but biblically and pastorally weak, biblically rich but philosophically and pastorally shallow, or pastorally savvy yet philosophically and biblically misguided. In Defeating Evil, Scott Christensen offers us a 'greater-glory theodicy'-a rare and compelling trifecta of a biblically profound, philosophically deep, and pastorally uplifting answer to the problem of evil. But best of all, Christensen offers us an answer centered on Christ-God's ultimate solution to evil."
--Thaddeus Williams, Professor of Theology, Biola University and Talbot School of Theology; author, God Reforms Hearts: Rethinking Free Will and The Problem of Evil