Why does God allow evil?

Ezekiel 28:15

“You were blameless in your ways From the day you were created Until unrighteousness was found in you

Video - Adrian Rogers - "Refutes" Total Depravity & Destroys Calvinism. Without the T, TULIP Collapses

Objection

If a good and powerful God exists, he would not allow pointless evil, but because there is much unjustifiable, pointless evil in the world, the traditional good and powerful God could not exist. Some other god or gods might exist, but not the traditional God. [1]

Response

We can’t say that it is pointless. In Genesis we read about Joseph who was hated by his brothers. In their anger at him, they imprisoned him in a pit and then sold him into a life of slavery and misery in Egypt. Joseph’s character was refined and strengthened by his trials and rose up to become the prime minister of Egypt, saving thousands of lives and even his own family from starvation. [2]

Not all idols come in the form of golden calves. An idol can be a god you have created in your mind that doesn't agree with Scripture. A god who "would not allow evil" is an idol your mind has invented. 

Former atheist C.S. Lewis writes: My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how did I get this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he knows what is straight. What was I comparing this universe to when I called it unjust? In the very act of trying to prove that God didn’t exist, I was forced to realize my idea of justice was full of sense. [3]

How do we know instinctively that we live in a world that ought not be? Where did that knowledge come from? Where did evil come from? Why doesn’t nature just cooperate? Why do people misbehave? Why do children not have to be taught to do wrong? Why can’t countries just get along? The bible answers the question about evil, even though it may not be emotionally satisfying. We know that God didn’t create the world in the state that it is in today. When God created the earth and had it just the way He wanted it. It was just the way we want it to be now. What happened?

Genesis 2:15-17

Christian theism acknowledges that God created the potential for evil because God created humans with freedom of choice. . We choose to love or hate, to do good or evil. Without choice, love is meaningless. God is neither a cosmic rapist who forces his love on people, nor a puppeteer who forces people to love him. God, the personification of love, grants us freedom to choose. Without such freedom, we would be like preprogrammed robots. [4]

The fact of history shows when humans are left to their own will, they fall short fall short of God's righteous standard and will reject God (Total Depravity). When the Holy Spirit changes the heart we don't become robots. Our will is in tact and being transformed. 

1 Corinthians 12:3

no man can say, Jesus is Lord, but in the Holy Spirit. 

God is sovereign and could remove evil from our lives today. Someday He will. If you haven't trusted in Jesus for eternal life, consider God's patience and the evil in the world a blessing. There is still time for you to be transformed  by the Holy Spirit and enter His Eternal Kingdom. 

Revelation 21:1-4

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,a for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying:

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Cited Sources: 

[1] The Miracle of Theism by J. L. Mackie, 

[2] The Reason for God by Timothy Keller, 

[3] Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis,

[4] The Complete Bible Answer Book by Hank Hanegraaff