The spiritual condition of America, politics, culture, and current events analyzed through the lens of scripture. Welcome to the Alex McFarland Show. If God exists, why is there evil in the world? Is anything objectively evil? Hi, Alex McFarlane.
Welcome to the program. This is part two. In a series that we're doing really in the response to the shooting of Charlie Kirk, our friend and colleague, September 10th, 2025, where, as the whole world knows, biggest news story. Of the year, really. In front of 3,500 students and attendees, Charlie Kirk was gunned down.
in the middle of answering a question about transgenderism. And so the question is begged A godly man, a patriot, a one of the world's top 10% of influencers. I mean, his social media presence, his podcast and radio broadcast presence, he was in the top. 10% of social media influencers globally. I'm talking Taylor Swift level of notoriety.
And why, in public view, would he be gunned down? And then, really, in the aftermath, though, you know, the vast majority of the response has been to praise him and acknowledge his incredible accomplishments at age 31, by age 31. And yet, there have been the people that have said very disparaging things. In fact, some of the people that attended our event August 21, we had Charlie less than three weeks before he was killed. And there have been several people that emailed our office with just expletives and blank, blank this, and he deserved it.
No, no, he did not deserve this. No one would deserve this. The Bible says that the state has the right to engage in national defense. And the Bible says that convicted murderers will give their own life and be executed. The Bible does teach capital punishment for convicted murderers.
And the Bible says in Romans chapter 13 that the state does not exist. Does not bear the sword in vain. That the ability of the state to enforce. Punishment is not a terror. Or and literally in the Greek the word is phobia, for those who do good work but bad work.
And the state has the right to punish evildoers. Charlie Kirk, in the eyes of God nor man, he was not an evildoer. He was a truth-teller. And so people are asking the question: how could this happen?
So we began to talk about this, and several of the points that are worth bringing out, and then I want to get back to. the reception of moral content. In a world that has to a degree rejected truth and morality. We acknowledge some things. In fact, I would say the Christian response would include seven acknowledgments.
And let me lay these out and then we'll revisit each one of them. But number one, evil is present in this world. Number two. Praise God, evil is limited. Number three, Evil is Temporary.
Number four. Evil is defeated. And I'll come back to that. and then five, six, and seven. Angels and humans were made to have a relationship with God, and to have a legitimate relationship there has to be the element of choice.
This is called free will.
Now, point number six. Christ helps all people in If they're willing to resist temptation and And choose good over evil. And then finally, Christ's resurrection is proof that evil is defeated. and the world must be told.
Now, we'll come back to these, but for a moment, let's talk about how we got to this point. Because the sad thing is, as Jimmy Kimmel, whose show got canceled, and others that have, some people who, frankly, morally, spiritually, Constitutionally. Are clueless. People have said some horrendous things because Charlie Kirk said things that any medical doctor, any biologist, any scientist, any geneticist would say that a man is not a woman. A woman is not a man.
Gender is not fluid. But here is the thing: in a world of identity politics, in a world of assumed and even enforced egalitarianism. We're living in a time of economic egalitarianism. That's why Momdani is within striking distance of becoming the mayor of New York.
Socialism, there's got to be this economic equality. Hillary Clinton herself said it. Quoting the Das Kapitel by Karl Marx, Hillary Clinton said, from each according to his ability, to each according to their needs. That's communism. That's not.
Jude or Christian. Free market. Principled capitalism, which is what our system has been built on. And so there's this egalitarianism. And yes, there's even an assumed.
and state sanctioned to a degree. enforced biological egalitarianism. I mean, there are parts of this nation, and certainly in most of the government run school systems, that you could face litigation if you say that a man is not a woman. But Charlie Kirk and and the rest of us, I as a as a Christian minister have gotten all the emails and been on live shows and stages during Q and A where people have to um you know rail against the truth that they find so problematic you forfeit your right to dignity and respect, If you speak against the prevalent narrative. And so Charlie Kirk was called a racist and a homophobe, an Islamophobe, a transphobe.
And the radical left. That is the worldview of government-run schools. I used to say public schools, I said government schools. That is the narrative. And the ideology of secular universities because independent thought.
Is just not encouraged, and to speak against the narrative. It takes courage, it takes a real resolve to do that, and so Charlie Kirk. who everywhere he went he shared the gospel. The night that he was with us, he said. You know, politics is boring.
I only speak about politics because I have to. The real message is the gospel. And he gave the gospel from our stage.
So did I. But here's the thing: he spoke truth. And in the eyes of a world, And remember what Jesus said. He said, If the world hates you, remember they hated me first. In a world that really ultimately is at war with God, And they can't reach God, so they strike out at His church.
you forfeit the right to respect and dignity. even in death. you're called names, epithets, your Cursed at. and profanity bombs are dropped on you, if you say that marriage is between a man and a woman, if you say that our Constitution guarantees legal protection for the unborn. If you say that there's a difference between XX and XY chromosome human beings, And so, Charlie Kirk did all that, and it needs to be done.
And you need to say it as well, folks.
Well, we've got to take a break. We're going to come back and talk about how we reconcile the goodness, the power, the wisdom of God in a world where evil exists. Stay tuned. The fight for truth continues. after this break.
Fox News and CNN call Alex McFarland, a religion and culture expert. Stay tuned for more of his teaching and commentary after this. 100 Bible Questions and Answers for Families. That's the newest book that Bert Harper and I, Alex McFarlane, have put together from hundreds of questions from actual radio listeners to our nationally syndicated radio show, Exploring the Word. Published by Broad Street Publishing.
100 Bible Questions and Answers for Families. Ask questions like: How are children a gift from God? How can I build my family around the teachings of God's Word and Jesus Christ?
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Thanks for reading, and may God bless you. He's been called trusted, truthful, and timely. Welcome back to the Alex McFarlane Show. Welcome back to the program. Alex McFarland here.
The Bible says in John 16: In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. That's the promise of Jesus Christ. And, you know, it's important that we talk about these things. It's important that we give the church, and especially young people, a reasoned faith, a fully orbed biblical worldview, and that they understand how to defend the Christian faith.
Now, in the days after Charlie Kirk's shooting, Ben Shapiro was on television and he gave something that I think was very, very important. He was trying to answer the question about what. Why?
Some people Get radicalized. And I don't know about you, but if you've shared the gospel in recent years, I'm not just saying stood up for conservative politics or heaven help you if you speak up a good word for Donald Trump. Which I've done. I've been a Trump supporter since I first met him in 2015. In fact, my wife and I were yelled at, I mean, yelled at by a pretty high-ranking Starbucks executive that we met.
He was out walking his dog, and I won't reiterate that story right now. But if you speak up for truth and the gospel, And just things that, for world history, like male and female, are different. Marriage is between a man and a woman, a male. Cannot. be impregnated and give birth.
I mean, we're living in a time where people will argue with you about such things.
Now, Ben Shapiro was addressing the question of why. Why one person might just walk away rejecting you, and someone else like a Tyler Robinson. or the shooter in Minneapolis, or the shooter in Tennessee at Covenant Christian School, why would some trans people take up arms?
Well, Ben Shapiro, very intellectual. We've interviewed him. He's fantastic. He basically says this: there are five groups that have this. Vigilante mentality.
He says Islam Marxist. be a limb, White supremacist, although that's pretty rare. But I would argue also. atheists.
Now not all In fact, I've got friends that are former atheists. I've got friends that are atheists, that were trying to win to Christ. But he says there are three characteristics of those like the trans and it seems like the trans people like Islamic terrorists are most susceptible to this line of reasoning.
Alright, number one, there's a conspiratorial view of the universe. Number two, belief that you Personally, they are targeted. And number three, that violence is self-defense.
Now, a conspiratorial view of the universe. I've talked to many college students, and they believe that if you have a roof over your head, conversely, somewhere else, somebody is homeless. If you have food on your table, somewhere else, somebody else went to bed hungry. And it's like rich people are an existential threat to poor people. There's this conspiratorial cause and effect.
It's a non-sequitur. That's Latin for it, doesn't necessarily follow. Just because someone else over here is wealthy or successful, it does not necessarily follow that someone else over here is poor and hungry. There is no causal relationship between one person's health and another person's illness, one person's prosperity and another person's indigency. That doesn't necessarily follow at all, but there is this conspiratorial view.
That Cause and effect is present where in reality it isn't. Secondly, there's a belief that you personally are targeted. Tyler Robinson, when Charlie Kirk was giving facts, and science. undeniable biological truth about male versus female. Tyler Robinson felt like it was a personal attack on him.
And you know, I've had this conversation too when I've done QA with college students. And I, with my training in my master's program at Liberty in developmental psychology, you know, I've said this many times, but it's true, we had a professor from UCLA Med School. Telling us about the antecedent factors that cause same-sex attraction or gender confusion. And it's always a means of trying to deal with pain. Homosexuality and transgenderism.
is a means of trying to deal with pain, pain from abuse, No one is born gay. No one is born true. Trans. It is a behavioral choice as a means of attempting to deal with emotional psychological pain.
Now, when I've shared things like this, I've had college students that are gender-confused say, you're erasing me. as if the record of medicine, science, history, and scripture is a personal affront.
Now the Bible I guess in a way it's true. The Bible does make assessment of the spiritual condition of all people. The Bible says all have sinned. But the Bible also offers that whosoever will may come. and be saved.
But when people get radicalized, when people take up weapons, whether it's jihadist or Marxist or BLM, or trans shooters. There's a belief that you personally have been affronted And they are targeted. And then finally, number three, according to Ben Shapiro, and I think he's right, that violence is self-defense.
Now To plan as Tyler Robinson did. I mean, he scoped it out, and in some of his communication with people he knew, including his trans. homosexual boyfriend. you know, uh, there's a roof, I can get away, I can do the I mean, he had planned it out to the nth degree. This was premeditated murder.
This is not self-defense. You're at home asleep in your bed and you hear an intruder breaking in, and they come in your bedroom while you're sleeping to harm you and steal your stuff. I mean, that would be a place in which self-defense was warranted. But to plan and weeks ahead of time, say, hey, Charlie Kirk is coming to town, I can take him out. That's not self-defense, that's premeditated murder.
But we're living in a time, again, folks, as R. C. Sproll said 30 years ago: ideas have consequences. And we're living in a time where the philosophies of man have a high body count in their aftermath. We must have a revival of truth.
and you and I have a calling of God. To speak truth, to pray, to intercede, to be salt and light. And to call a world to the Lord of life, Jesus. The world is off the path, lost in the weeds. We must help them find their way back to the one who said, I am the way.
The path To truth and salvation, Jesus. Stay tuned. We've got a brief break. We're back after this. Fox News and CNN call Alex McFarland, a religion and culture expert.
Stay tuned for more of his teaching and commentary after this. Christian author and speaker Alex McFarland is an advocate for Christian apologetics. Teaching in more than 2,200 churches around the world, schools, and college campuses. Alex is driven by a desire to help people grow in relationship with God. He arms his audiences with the tools they need to defend their faith while also empowering the unchurched to find out the truth for themselves.
In the midst of a culture obsessed with relativism, Alex is a sound voice who speaks timeless truths of Christianity in a timely way. With 18 published books to his name, it's no surprise that CNN, Fox, The Wall Street Journal, and other media outlets have described Alex as a religion and culture expert. To learn more about Alex and to book him as a speaker at your next event. Visit alexmacfarland.com or you can contact us directly by emailing booking at alexmcfarland.com. He's been called trusted, truthful, and timely.
Welcome back to the Alex McFarlane Show. Welcome back to the program. We're going to go over again the seven responses of the church. to evil in the world. But I want to say to all that have been helping us this year, you pray for us, you financially support with tax-deductible contributions.
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Well, do you know one of the things the church must do in every generation is rise to the challenge of 1 Peter 3.15 and be ready to give an answer. And a response to the problem of evil. that, you know, basically humans have free will. and we know the right, but we often do the wrong. And we use our ability to make moral choices to sin, but the Holy Spirit.
Is always calling people to do what's right. In fact, the Bible says that God will not allow us to be tempted above that which we are able, but will, with every temptation, make a way of escape that we can be able to bear it. No one has to do evil. Tyler Robinson did not have to shoot Charlie Kirk. And before we wrap up, let me give a word about apologetics.
I guess I'm doing an apologetic for apologetics, because I've had a lot of people. Even pastors, they'll say, oh, Alex, all of this evidence for Christianity stuff, you know, I don't need that, I just have faith.
Well, the Bible tells us to be ready to give an answer. 1 Peter 3:15. 2 Peter 1, 16 through 21. Peter lays out evidential apologetics about Jesus. We have not followed classical.
Cleverly devised fables. Jude, verse 3 says that we are to earnestly contend for the faith. even when Jesus rose from the dead, the angel at the empty tomb. Gave the first evidential apologetic. She said, He is not here, he is risen.
Past tense. What's the proof of the resurrection? The empty tomb, according to that angel. Luke 24, Jesus said, touch me. A spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see me have.
So Jesus gave his glorified body as an evidential apologetic. That he had risen. And by the way, the technical word is feism. F I D. E I S M Fidei is the Latin word for faith.
Well, fideism is just that, oh, we don't need any evidence. We just, quote, have faith. And I I know that we're saved Through faith. not works, but this faith, this trust, This belief is a faith backed up by evidence. Do you know Maimonides was the Jewish philosopher?
He lived 1135 to 1204 AD. You've heard his words your whole life. Yes, you have. The Jewish philosopher, Moses bin Maimon, and he's commonly known as Maimonides, famously, and you know this quote. Maimonides, this is almost 900 years ago.
He said, Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. teach a man to fish, and he can eat for a lifetime. You've heard that quote. Brilliant guy.
Well, even in his day, he was a Sephardic Jewish philosopher. And there were people that denied the Torah's rationality. See, the first five books of the Bible The books of Moses, the Pentateuch, and the Old Testament, the Torah. Maimonides, and I don't know that he ever knew Yeshua, Jesus, as Messiah. Hope he did.
But the Old Testament, said Maimonides, is very reasonable and rational. and everything about God, because God is omniscient, has all the wisdom, Uh it's reasonable, it's rational, it's truth. And there were even people 900 years ago who said, Oh no, it's not rational.
Now listen to this quote, because we're living in the time of this intellect. Switched off in much of the Western church today. But Maimonides said, quote, There is a group of human beings who consider it a grievous thing That causes should be given for God's law. What would please them most is that the intellect would not find a meaning for the commandments and prohibitions. In other words, you know, oh, don't reason, don't defend intellectually, just switch off the intellect.
Now he goes on. what compels them to feel thus is a sickness in their souls. a sickness to which they are unable to give utterance, of which they cannot furnish a satisfactory account.
Now that sickness, according to Maimonides, is irrationality. And he goes on and he basically says, look, we are made in God's image. Therefore, we can reason. We are rational creatures because the one that created us is the foundation of knowledge and rationality and reason.
Now, why am I saying this? I'm saying this because in our youth groups, in our Sunday schools, in our preaching. And in our discipleship, we have to cultivate the Christian mind. We have to tell young people that, look, there is a battle within you of good versus evil. Paul talks about it.
You must. Follow the Spirit. Feed your soul. Mortify the flesh, learn truth, abandon falsehood. have discernment, and see life from a biblical perspective, and that way, when some one aggravates you, you don't go out and murder them in cold blood.
You grow, you mature, you can engage in self restraint.
Now the responses that we must give. And can you imagine how it would be a different world? Yeah. the Columbine shooters in April of 'ninety nine had been taught the gospel. If Tyler Robinson had been taught the gospel.
Evil is present in this world. But evil is limited. Evil is not unlimited. God did not make evil. Evil comes about when humans use their free will to disobey God.
Praise the Lord. Evil is temporary. Romans 21, 21. says that there's coming a time and the city of God Romans twenty one twenty seven, where there shall by no means enter into it anything that defiles. nor anything that causes an abomination or a lie.
but who will be in God's holy city those written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Number four, evil is defeated. Present tense verb. In John 16, 11, Jesus said, the prince of this world is judged. Evil is defeated.
And while we were made to have a relationship with God, angels and humans have used free will to disobey and fall away from God. Christ helps all people if they're willing. to resist temptation and to choose good over evil. And finally, Christ's resurrection is proof that evil is defeated and the world must be told.
So, church, we are to resist evil. We are to reprove, that means correct evil, that's 2 Timothy 4, verse 2. We are to rebuke evil, and we are to reverse evil. And may we commit ourselves today Two. Work on this and to spread truth and to help people understand it is never right.
to do wrong to ostensibly do right.
So let's remember. That we are in a battle, as Chuck Swindall said, We're not in heaven yet for the Christian. The journey of life is a trip across raw pagan soil. But Christ is king, He's the friend who sticks closer than a brother, and remember. Your labour in the Lord is not in vain.
May we overcome evil. with love, goodness, and of course God's revealed truth. truth. Alex McFarlane Ministries are made possible through the prayers and financial support of partners like you. For over 20 years, this ministry has been bringing individuals into a personal relationship with Christ and has been equipping people to stand strong for truth.
Learn more and donate securely online at alexmacfarlane.com. You may also reach us by calling 1-877-YESGOD and the number 1. That's 1-877-Y-E-S-G-O-D-1. Thanks for joining us. We'll see you again on the next edition of the Alex McFarlane Show.
