I was recently discussing providence and God's will. Someone was asking, "Since evil exists, how much control is God really in?" Either God is in control of evil or God allows evil to fulfill other purposes.
There are several places in Scripture with a blanket statement saying God is in control of all things, but in case that is in dispute, there is at least one thing that is not in dispute: the Cross of Christ. The torture and death sentence of a knowingly innocent man is an evil act. God predestined it, planned it, ordained it, and used it for his purposes. There are other places in Scripture where we see God using the evil acts of humans to further his purposes, like the story of Joseph or the marriage of Sampson. These are the areas where the purposes of God are revealed. Are we to assume that God doesn't have a purpose for all evil?
Even if God were just allowing sin (God by no means just allowed the crucifixion of Christ) he is still using it or ordaining it for his own purposes. Someone with an extreme view of free-will might say God is ordaining sin so that we aren't robots, so we can freely and truly love. Of course "ordain" sounds too intentional. But if God did not intentionally create us will the ability and will to sin, then what? Was it an accident?
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