Overcome Evil With Good

We all saw the news of the pro-Trump protesters that overran the capital building yesterday. We’ve also seen the anger and strife of the past year over many political and social issues. I won’t try to enumerate all the sin and evil we’ve seen, which has come from all sides that people take. 

Instead, I've been thinking about what does a Christian do in times of strife and evil? Essentially, we do what we are always called to do: love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves. That second one is hard when a neighbor is on the opposite side of an issue from you. But just because it is hard doesn't mean it isn't the right thing to do.

The Apostle Paul suffered much as he went on his missionary journeys, recounted in Acts and some of his epistles. Sometimes he used his Roman citizenship to call to account those persecuting them. So we can't say that his love for his neighbor meant rolling over and not seeking justice. However, let's hear what he has to say, speaking to ancient Christians (and us) about living as a Christian in ancient, pagan Rome (and now).

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. - Romans 12:14-21 (emphasis mine)

To my brothers and sisters in Christ: we cannot overcome evil with evil, sinful means. We overcome evil with good. Paul used his Roman citizenship to pursue justice, but that is different from vengeance - actively seeking to harm someone else for a wrong done to you. I urge you, and myself, to consider  how to actively do good, even to those individuals that hate you, to overcome evil.

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Lies

I've been thinking recently about lies. Perhaps we don't think about it, but they are an everyday occurrence in our American culture. Have you looked at any kind of advertising lately? Claims by some local business to be the "best in the world" or other such statement are almost always false.  A department store recently had their "best sale ever." I doubt they had fact checkers look back through all records of all previous sales the store had run to make sure they could say that with accuracy.

There are also the more malicious ones. I get calls from "Microsoft Technical Support" about bad "viruses" on my computer. Somewhat related to those is robocalling and caller ID spoofing. That's where a computer calls but appears to call from a local number in your area to get you to pick up. Lying about your location doesn't encourage me to do business with you.

The problem is, these are the easy ones to see. What about the harder ones? Those are our own.

What about the time you said you would do something, with no intention of follow through? Or shaded the truth to frame a situation so you were in the best light? How about making excuses that may not be a full explanation of what happened? Blameshifting? I'm sure we can think of other ways we have lied and various lies we have told.

I encourage you to not be deceived by lies, but also to not deceive yourself. Don't think you are free of the temptation to lie. Jesus said that he is the way, the truth, and the life. Like him, we must pursue truth, even if it seems to cause us harm. Integrity and sanctification are worth it. That's one part of the temptation to lie; thinking the immediate benefit of the lie outweighs maintaining integrity. Beware, as integrity is hard to gain but quick to lose.

Righteousness and Repentance

Over the past few weeks, we have seen many prominent men accused of sexual assault. Some have lost work. Some have lost political clout. All have lost their reputation.

As the people of God who have his Word, we should not be surprised by sin. Romans 3 is clear in condemning us all starting in v.9, including statements like "None is righteous, no, not one." We expect to find sin in everyone we meet. Looking for sin in someone is like going to the beach to search for the ocean. Each of us has sins that are more prominent than others, but the essential problem is our sinful nature.

Evil vs. The Anchor

The list of wicked deeds in the news seems very long lately. A shooting at a concert in Las Vegas. A shooting at a church in Texas. Terrorists trying to drive into and harm as many civilians as they can. Even in our little community in Cullowhee, we have two recent shootings, one fatal. Celebrities are called out for sexual assault, opening a flood of accusations. Never mind the everyday wickedness we all face of being cheated, lied to, put down, or in some other way sinned against. It is heartbreaking and frustrating.

On top of these, is the sin in ourselves. This is the part we hate the most, or ignore the most, or perhaps both. We, in our anger, pride, lust, greed, and other forms of selfishness do as we wish.

All these together can be overwhelming. The darkness seems so great. What can we do against the evil without and within?

Our pastor gave a timely sermon on Sunday from Hebrews 6:13-20 on hope. First, we flee for refuge to our God who can save (v. 18). Second, we must remember we have an anchor for our souls - Christ himself (v. 19). This anchor is secured in God, who is "behind the curtain."

That is what we do when we are overwhelmed and hopeless, as if in a boat in a storm. Flee to Christ, believe the Gospel, and know you have a sure anchor for your soul.

John 16:33 says "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." We are not promised perfect happiness, wealth, or health in this life. We are promised tribulation. However, we are also promised that our anchor has overcome the world. Flee to Christ, trust in him as your secure anchor, and trust that those of us who are in Christ are secure until the end.

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