Is All For The Best?

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Is All For The Best? 
In the book Candide, the author, Voltaire,  portrays a story about a young naive boy and his journey where he is forced to discover the harshness of the world and that life is filled with many evils. The young naive boy, Candide, was brought up in a castle and was taught lessons by an oracle named Pangloss. Pangloss held and taught the philosophy that we live in the best of possible worlds, everything is necessarily for the best end, and everything that happens, no matter how bad it appears, is for the best. This philosophy seems apocryphal and unrealistic. However, from a Christian standpoint, the question arises that Pangloss’s beliefs may actually be true. Even though Pangloss’s philosophy has a questionable impression, it has the possibility to line up with the Christian view of God and the Bible. 
When Voltaire is introducing the tutor Pangloss he says, “ Pangloss taught metaphysico-theologo-cosmolo-nigology. He proved admirably that there is no effect without a cause and that, in this best of all possible worlds (2).” If one looks at the world today, they definitely do not see an amazing or perfect world. They see something that is flawed and destroyed. However, God created this world, so from a Christian standpoint, how can this world not be the best? Psalms 18:30 states, “This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.” God is flawless and deliberate. He is true. Therefore, God had to have created this world as the best of all possible worlds. The reason the world is horrible is because of humans and sin. Sin was not created by God. He cannot exist within it. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” This means that sin cannot enter the kingdom of God. Humans are filled with sin in themselves which spreads outside to the world. Therefore, God did create this world as the best of all possible worlds; humans and sin are what has poisoned it. 
The next part of philosophy Pangloss believes in is that everything is for the best end. For example, Pangloss states, “It is demonstrated”, he said, “that things cannot be otherwise, for, everything being made for an end, everything is necessarily for the best end (2).” This philosophy is saying that everything that has been created, was created for the best reason and holds up throughout to the end. However, once you go deeper into this part of Pangloss’s teachings he has things backward. He says, “ Note that noses were made to wear spectacles, and so we have spectacles. Legs were visibly instituted to be breached, and we have breeches. Stones were formed to be cut and to make into castles (2).” This statement is of course incorrect. God made noses and spectacles happen to fit on them. He did not create noses just for spectacles. But, if one only takes the first half of this principle, it can be compared to a Christian position. Romans 1:20 states, “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” This verse is saying that ever since the very beginning and up through now, all things have been made with complete intention. God does create everything for a purpose and for a “best end”.
The last part of Pangloss’s philosophy is that all is for the best. Pangloss says, “...consequently, those who have asserted that all is well have said a foolish thing; they should have said that all is for the best (2).” Throughout the rest of Voltaire’s Candide, the main character tests this philosophy by going through numerous trials. He wonders how all can be for the best when so many bad things are happening in his life. This can be applied to people today. How can everything be for the best when awful events happen all of the time? Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God has a plan for everyone that is full of hope and prosperity. If God has this path for everyone, he is not going to lead anyone in any way that is not the best for them. If bad things happen, it is because it is part of the journey and is leading someone to a better future and closer to Him. God uses terrible events as a step in his amazing plan for us. For those reasons, all is for the best. 
In the book Candide by Voltaire, the character Pangloss teaches some controversial philosophies. These philosophies basically say that we live in the best of all worlds, everything is made for the best end, and everything that happens is for the best. At first look, these ideas seem unsensible. However, if one looks deeper they can actually be correlated with a Christian view of God and the Bible. There is so much scripture that can support Pangloss’s teachings. Because God is perfect and He has no flaws, everything He creates or does has a purpose that is only benevolent.  In conclusion, this world, the end of things, and anything that happens along the way is the best and is for the best because of God. 
Voltaire. Candide. New York. New American Library, 1969

ESV Bible 

Comments

  1. Edward JewellFebruary 22, 2020 at 9:59 PM

    Hello Nat,
    After I had dealt with the formatting issues and actually read your paper, I must admit I was surprised at what you had to say. It's not often that someone writes defending Pangloss (most think he's nuts.) I, for one, think you have a valid point, which I failed to make a good case for in class last semester. When we went over the problem of evil in my Omnibus Primary class the solution I was taught was that it is actually to the benefit of the elect that evil has come into the world. Why? Because there are attributes of God we could not know if we had not sinned, for example, his mercy. I think Boethius would back you up nicely. He writes, after he has asked Lady Philosophy why fortune is not measured by virtue, "'If the true causes of something are not understood,' she replied, 'it can appear to be random and confused. But although you cannot understand the way things are ordered in the universe, you can rest assured that a good governor does indeed keep order and has a plan. You should not doubt that everything happens as it should." (129). Boethius would say that everything goes according to God's will.

    But here is where I must break off from your argument and make an important distinction. You argue, "If God has this path for everyone, he is not going to lead anyone in any way that is not the best for them". The issue is, I must deny your premise. Boethius says, "as it should," not "for the best." The Scriptures you cited all specifically refer to God's elect (either Israel or the church,) and so do others of the same kin such as Romans 8:28. They do not apply to those who are not saved. And "narrow is the way, and few are they who find it" (Matthew 7:14). All may be for the best, but it is not for everyone's best. Of course, it is not for you or me or anyone else to judge whether a particular person is among the elect. But I believe it is unwise to be like Pangloss and simply do nothing because "all is for the best". We have responsibilities as representatives of Christ, and we do not know what God's plan is. It may be that his plan is for us to interfere right in that moment. See you in the TaleGate,

    J. Edward Jewell

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