If God Didn’t Create Sin, Where Did It Come From? by Martin Wiles

Series: Hey God…I Have a Question

Many things that don’t appear bad have the potential to be.
For more than a year, my wife and I have enjoyed being first-time grandparents. I had always heard how wonderful the event was, but I had to experience it for myself to understand the pleasures. If you saw us interacting with him, you would assume we thought he was incapable of wrong. Wakes up with a smile. Never cranky unless he’s fighting the nap he needs to take. Helpful. Draws a crowd wherever he goes. Even has a following of students at the school where I teach. But all of his positive characteristics are overshadowed by one negative: he has the potential to be bad—and sometimes proves it. 

If God is the Creator of all things—and sin exists, does that mean he created sin? Some say yes, but I disagree. Apparently sin made its presence known in heaven before it arrived on earth. Lucifer, an angel created by God, intended to assume God’s position. For you said to yourself, “I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars…I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:13-14 NLT) After God removed him and his followers from heaven, he tried his hand on the earthlings God had created. Eve was an easy target, and Adam followed willingly. The rest of the story we see unfolding every day through media sources.

Rather than maintaining that God created sin, I choose to say he created the possibility of sin. Evidently he wanted even the supernatural beings known as angels to have freedom of choice—as well as the humans he planned to place on earth. No robots in his heavenly realm or on his earthly kingdom. 

Freedom of choice is what makes me human. The ability to embrace my Creator or snub my nose at him. I don’t fault him for the evil present on earth. I blame myself—and all others like me, for choosing to go my own way rather than his. When I do, sin results…and it’s not his fault. 

Prayer: Father, may we blame no one but ourselves when sin erupts. Prompt us to work diligently to allow Your kingdom’s righteousness to overrule it. 


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