Evil

I have been thinking a lot lately about evil. As I look at the condition of our world and our lives, even the Church, I am more convinced that evil is a hyperactive, conscious and intentional force at work against us. There are times when I wonder if our enemy has been so effective in its work of deceiving us that we find ourselves all the way back in pre-flood Genesis: "The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time" (Gen. 6.5). We really do struggle to resist the temptations sends our way.

As a younger man, I believed that evil was real but more the absence of good than a volitional power. I believed that when we choose not to do God's will the result will most often be problematic because we have ignored the Perfect Truth that aids us in escaping disasters. In my mind, evil was dependent on humans to make errors in order to cause problems. I thought it was kind of like water only getting into your basement if it was not sealed properly not because the water wanted to get into your basement.

Though I certainly believe that evil takes advantage of our moments of disobedience, I also now believe that evil charts its own course and plans its own plans and does not require the assistance of human fallibility in order to be destructive.

For instance, is it too far-fetched to believe that the devastating spread of malaria by mosquitoes is the result of a demonic plan? Humans are not responsible for malaria and yet it destroys gladly. Or how about the proliferation of depression in our nation? Often this malady is not the result of ungodly human choices but instead brain circuitry gone haywire and/or chemical imbalances. This seems like a wicked scheme to me or at the very least the culmination of our souls being pressed upon by evil for millenia.

Or how about personality disorders, especially those of the egotistic variety? A pathology such as a narcissism is destructive to sufferer and bystanders alike. Yet it is very resistant to any form of treatment or behavior modification. Further, it is clearly not simply the result of faulty nurture but involves other vague factors that are difficult to pinpoint. What would evil like more than to corrupt humans in such a way that they become a corrupting, disruptive influences on their own? A clever scheme indeed.

Ephesians 6 reads in part like this, "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Seems evident to me from a scriptural perspective that evil is an intelligent, active force that is seeking to bring chaos out of God's order and for all people to perpetually dwell in fear in the valley of the shadow of death to their own detriment.

So what do you think? Is evil a real force or is it just the absence of good? Does it plot and plan or does it simply creep into the void when we disobey the Lord?

I will look forward to your wisdom!


Jeff

The Unpreached Sermon

In light of the cancellation of our worship service this morning due to a water-line break, I am posting what my sermon might have sounded like.

“The American Reality”
Sermon – “Let Justice Roll” series #2 - Racism
Text: Galatians 3:26-29

Take a moment and answer "true" or "false" to the questions in this short quiz:

1. I am afraid if I am in a neighborhood that is predominantly a race other than my own.
2. I am suspicious and tempted to call the police if I see an African-American walking in my neighborhood.
3. I believe that racial separation is best for everyone.
4. I occasionally use racial slurs like nigger or spic.
5. I would be upset if a Chinese family moved in next door to me.

If you answered “true” to any of these questions, it is time to address prejudices lurking in your heart. This does not mean you are ready to join the KKK, but it may mean that there are areas of racial woundedness within you that require the Lord's healing touch. Keep this in mind as we move forward.

In writing to the church at Galatia, Paul is attempting to correct a false belief that has been introduced to it following his departure. The belief that was introduced by Judaizers was this: if non-Jewish believers really want to be saved, they must be circumcised and follow the whole Law of Moses. If they want to be saved they must become Jews.

Paul, a Jewish man himself, argues throughout this letter that being saved does not come from circumcision nor from becoming Jewish (Gal. 3:1-14). Instead, it comes from entering into a relationship with Christ Jesus, the messiah. We read in 3.26-29 how this relationship changes everything for the believer:

• Faith in Christ makes one a child of God (v.26).
• True faith in Christ leads to a change in character (v.27).
• Faith in Christ destroys barriers between people (v.28).
• A relationship with Christ Jesus leads to becoming a recipient of all of God’s promises (v.29).

We can see in this passage that our relationship with Christ gives us a new identity and new character. We are changed and take on the character of Christ.

The character of Christ, amongst other things, is love (Gal. 5:22), "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness..;" acceptance (Jn.4:9), "The Samaritan woman said to him, 'You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?' (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.);" forgiveness (Acts 5:31), "God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel;" and proximity (Phil. 4:5), "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." When we are in relationship with Christ, these are some of the fruits we bear.

In contrast, there is the character of evil. Galatians 5.19-21 reads, “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” When we bear fruits such as hatred, discord, fits of rage, and dissensions, something other than the character of Christ is shining through.

This comes into play even as we consider our treatment of people of other races. If we treat them with contempt and hate and separation, we are not exhibiting Christ-likeness. And if we are not Christ-like in regard to race, the very authenticity of our faith in Jesus is brought into question.

I confess today that I am a recovering racist. In years past, I said and thought nasty and ignorant things about African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, Arabs; anyone who was not Anglo. I uttered hateful things like, “Speak English or die,” “They are taking over” and “Why can’t they stay in their own country?”

At some point, the Lord convicted me of this sinful behavior, and I repented of my wicked attitudes and asked God to restore my soul that had a gaping, pus-filled wound as a result of this untreated hatred I was harboring. I know that I have been forgiven of this evil and am more Christ-like as a result.

Many of us are indeed recovering racists though some of us persist in racist tendencies. To be clear, racism is prejudice against people of other races or belief that one race is superior to another. It should be noted, however, that racism has its greatest impact when the racist is a part of the dominant race in any particular culture. The combination of hate and power is lethal. This is what has made Anglo racism in America so destructive.

Early in American history, Anglos looked down upon Native Americans and treated them abominably, nearly wiping them from the face of the planet. At the same time, Anglos were enslavingAfricans and transporting them to this nation where they had no freedom and no rights whatsoever. When slavery was abolished, the attitudes left over from slavery did not change and separation and contempt ruled the day.

Fortunately, race relations have improved. And yet there remains percolating hatred that manifests itself amongst races. We see this in Anglo suspicion of anyone who is Middle Eastern. We see this in broad American negative attitudes toward Spanish-speaking immigrants. We see this in ugly prejudice toward those who are Jewish. We see this in our snobbery toward Pakistanis and Indians who have made their mark in commerce and other professions in this country.

It is time for we who are the church to close the door on racism. We can do this by refusing to give into hatred and by throwing ourselves headlong into an intimate relationship with Jesus. Our being in the arms of the Lord more fully cannot help but change the essence of our character and heal the wounds of hatred that we have harbored.

Practically speaking, we can engage in these behaviors:

1. Repent of hatred that lingers or has been expressed openly in the past.
2. Root out prejudices that emerge in our daily behaviors and attitudes.
3. Intentionally seek out a relationship with someone of another race.
4. Refuse to tell or listen to racial jokes, slurs, or stereotyping.
5. Immerse yourself in another culture.

I agree with MLK that this country at its core provides an awesome opportunity for all people to thrive and to live in right relationships. What a shame, then, that Satan has enticed us to reject so often that very opportunity. Instead of being willing to share the blessing we have been granted with those around us, we snatch it away and try to keep it for ourselves as if there was not enough to go around. It is not too late. We can now shut the door on our hate-filled past and live out more fully in our hearts and actions the Kingdom values that our Lord has called us to.