How do we handle evil?

Evil abounds. A seventeen-year-old on trial for murder. A fifteen-year-old kills four and injures eleven. This is just the beginning. Civil liberties ignored or, at worst, stolen. Government entrapment. Police officers ambushed, and some executed. Again, this small list is just the beginning. How do we handle evil?

This question comes up over and over. Today, I speak to an ethics class on evil. Here are some of my thoughts out of Romans 8.

Wrestling with Evil

God’s Provision

My examples above primarily speak to the extremes of evil; however, evil happens at a much greater extent in just daily living and interaction. We must, then, have a theology that accounts for both – the extreme sin and the daily sin that plagues each one of us. In Romans 7, Paul describes how even followers of Christ still struggle with sin. Sin is always with us. Paul writes:

25 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. (Rom 7:24-25)

He describes in real terms how hard it is to live a life that honors the Lord, even though the desire is there.

Yet, thankfully, God provides forgiveness of our sin even as strugglers. Notice the very next verse:

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Rom 8:1)

Although we struggle with evil, God provides a foundation from which we can fight our own sinfulness. Instead of languishing under the weight of our sin and guilt, God provides a place of advantage to progress in sanctification. The desire to sin is bad enough without the overwhelming burden of guilt too. The discouragement from guilt zaps the energy necessary and clouds the perspective which helps fight sin. Therefore, God provides the foundation of “no condemnation.” Why? Not because you or I did something OR because we are not accountable for our sin, but because Jesus Christ took upon Himself our sin burden and became the wrath-bearing sacrifice for us. “He became sin who knew no sin so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (1 Cor 5:21).

God’s Adoption

God adopts you into His family.

15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Rom 8:15-17)

We are His children. Deservingly so? No, simply adopted. And because of our adoption, we have the hope of future glorification. This helps bring us hope even in the midst of our own sin struggles. We can look forward to a future day even while we wrestle with our own sanctification in this day.

God’s Promise

God promises a future redemption for the whole world. Everything which is not corrupted by sin will eventually be changed. God promises.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Rom 8:26-27)

On the days we struggle most, the Holy Spirit prays most. When we do not know where these crazy desires for sin come from or what exactly we will do with them, the Spirit, knowing the mind of God, prays according to God’s will. Further, when we face suffering and stare square at pressures/struggles of various kinds, the Spirit prays for us. Even when we forget to pray for ourselves.

God’s Purpose

In the midst of all of this, God reminds us of our purpose. Notice, again, what Paul writes:

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (Rom 8:28-30)

In the midst of pressure, suffering, and our own sin struggles, God reminds us that all things work together in God’s plan for good. What good? That through these things we will become like Jesus Christ. In other words, He reminds us of our purpose. In the middle of the struggle with evil in the world and evil inside our own hearts, God reminds us that these things work together in order for us to become more like Jesus Christ.

Our purpose? Being conformed to the image of Christ. God’s plan? He uses evil without and evil within to help us get there. Our goal then? To strive to become like Jesus Christ.

God’s Love

Even when and while we struggle becoming more like Christ, sin willingly, and even forget to pray, God never one time changes His love for us. Think about how encouraging that is!

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:31-39)

Did you catch that? God loves you in Christ. Son of God, Daughter of God, God loves you. He does not stand in condemnation of you; instead He loves you.

So what about evil?

Evil abounds. In the world – yes. In our own hearts – yes. Thankfully, God calls on us to be a conqueror through it. Let me suggest four things right now which will provide you immediate hope:

  1. Remember your relationship with God through Christ in the midst of the struggle
  2. Join the Spirit in praying while you face evil without and evil within
  3. Pursue God’s purpose for your life – to become like Jesus Christ
  4. Along the way, enjoy the fact that you are loved by God in Christ and will eventually conquer all of these things

Greetings to Kansas Baptist Bible Fellowship

I want to give a shout out to the pastors of the Kansas Baptist Bible Fellowship. I appear there today via Zoom discussing writing and blogging as a pastor. Although I can’t make it in person, I am grateful for the time we can spend together through technology. My prayer is that something I say blesses you. Happy writing!

 

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