Evil II

I surveyed the New Testament in its use of the word, "evil." Granted, this was not an exhaustive search. However, I think I can make a few accurate observations about the nature of the word.

First, evil describes certain human actions. For instance, in James 4.13-17 we read, "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." Knowing that it is wrong to boast and to not rely on God's purpose for our lives and doing it anyway is an act of evil.

Second, evil describes spiritual entities that inhabit and subdue human beings. They wrestle personal control from people, cause them to be less than the Lord has created them to be, and incite actions that bring harm to the possessed and to others around them. We might say that these entities are all about control. (Is that the very nature of evil?) "When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones" ~ Mk. 5.2-5.

Third, evil characterizes the essence of the adversary. Jesus euphemizes thusly, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" ~ Mt. 6.13.

Fourth, evil describes behaviors that find their genesis in rejecting Christ and/or in embracing that which is of the evil one. Jesus says in Mt. 15.19, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." A heart out of step with the Lord produces actions that are outside of the will of the Lord.

Fifth, and somewhat more obscure, is evil that is personality-driven and intent on sabotage. Take a look below:

Mt. 13.18-19, "Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart." The evil one recognizes vulnerability in a person who is on the verge of faith. He does what he can to keep that person from choosing the Lord.

Listen to Jesus' prayer for His disciples, "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one" ~ Jn. 17.15. We can see in this that Jesus is concerned that His disciples will be hurt or misled by Satan and so He asks the Father to help them.

Romans 7.21-23, "So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members." Conscious wickedness is here appearing to keep Paul from doing God's will. It is unclear whether this is in the form of temptation, battling wills, or, most likely, that part of Paul that awaits sanctification.

Ephesians 6.16, "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." This reminds believers that life in the Lord is not without very real dangers. Trust in the Lord, however, is an antidote.

2 Thess. 3.3, "But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one." This final text seems to be frosting on the cake in regard to the idea that evil is real, intentional, and even bent on derailing us in faith.

Do you buy it?

My next question is about the reality of evil spirits - demons. Matthew through Acts are filled with stories of people being harassed or possessed by untoward spirits. The 21st century mind is relatively closed to this possibility. Have we really come to our senses in this regard?