A Believer’s Attitude Toward Evil – Part Two

July 30, 2011

Eddie Evil, Forgiveness, Persecution, Perspective, Revenge Leave a comment

This is the second installment on this topic adapted from “The Cross of Christ,” by John R. W. Stott

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. (Romans 12:9 NIV)

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. (Romans 12:17 ESV)

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21 NIV)

For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good…They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. (Romans 13:4 NIV)

 

It appears that these verses clearly define what our Christian attitude to evil should be:

1) Evil is to be hated.  God hates evil because his love is holy love;  we must hate it too.

2) Evil is not to be repaid. Revenge and retaliation are absolutely forbidden to the people of God.  Instead we are to do what is right.

3) Evil is to be overcome.  Hating evil is one thing; refusing to repay it is still another.  It is still better to overcome/conquer it.  A few verses prior to verse 21, namely verse 14, Paul wrote “Bless those who persecute you.”  In verse 20 he writes, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him.”  Clear echoes of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). This is how evil is conquered.  The supreme example of this is the cross!

4) Evil is to be punished.  Stott points out if we stop with the first three we will be very much out of balance.  In these passages and their context we are instructed to not avenge ourselves, God will do that.  We are told to NOT repay anyone evil for evil; God will repay.  Vengeance and retaliation is God’s prerogative, not ours.

How does God punish evil?   …next time.

A Believer’s Attitude Toward Evil – Part One

July 26, 2011

Eddie Evil, Love, Obedience, Persecution Leave a comment

The following is adapted from “The Cross of Christ,” by John R. W. Stott

     I could not resist sharing this with whomever visit this page.  It is rich and “right-on.”  The same could be said for the entire book!  I enthusiastically commend it to the reader!

  • Does the cross of Christ commit us to a non-violent acceptance of all violence?
  • Does it invalidate the process of criminal justice and the so-called just war?
  • Does it prohibit the use of every kind of force, so that it would incompatible for a Christian to be a soldier, police officer, magistrate or prison officer?

We turn to Romans 12 and 13 for our answers.  Our answers to these questions do not come from the wisdom of humanity for there is a buffet selection of answers presented there and one is left confused.  Our authority is from God’s very Word!

The first eleven chapters have seen Paul unpack God’s mercy both in giving his Son to die for us and in how he has graced us with full salvation by that death.  With that said, what should be our response?

  1. Present our bodies to God — a living sacrifice.  With renewed minds we are to discern and do his will (12:1-2).
  2. Be level-headed in our thinking about ourselves; not flattering nor despising ourselves (12:3)
  3. Love each other, using God-given gifts to serve each other and living together in harmony and humility (12:4-13, 15-16)
  4. Bless our persecutors and do good to our enemies.

So when God’s mercies envelop us, it will transform our relationships:  we obey God, understand ourselves, love one another and serve our enemies.  Reflect on the life of Christ Jesus in all these areas!

The focus of the next several posts will be concerning the fourth relationship.  We assume there will be opposition from non-believers.  The cross is a stumbling-block to unbelievers for it is an offer of salvation that involves no aspect of human effort and is simply and undeserved gift.  The command to love God and neighbor leaves no room for self-love (that’s a tough one!).  The call to take up our cross seems threatening.  All of these arouse opposition from the unbelieving world to Christ and His Gospel.

You have people who persecute you (Romans 12:14), who do “evil” to you (Romans 12:17), who may even be labeled an “enemy” (Romans 12:20).

What should our attitude be?   ….next time.

Don’t You Care?

November 4, 2010

Eddie Encouragement, God is Sovereign, God's Power, Hope, Jesus Christ is God, Persecution, Perspective, Protection, Rescue, Salvation, Savior Leave a comment

Jesus Calms a Storm
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:35-41 ESV)

This is one of those events in the life of Jesus we remember from childhood.  The account of Jesus in the boat asleep when a storm comes up and terrifies the disciples.  Matthew and Luke also carry this account, but Mark includes a statement the disciples made to Jesus that the other two writers did not include.  They asked Jesus, “do you not care…?”   Oh, there have been storms occur in my life and at times I wondered if the Lord even cared that this was happening to me.  But He did care and He did get me through the storm.  I ask myself, “Why didn’t the disciples get Jesus sooner?  Why did they wait until it appeared they would capsize?”  They were probably like me in my storms:  “I can tough it out!”  “I can handle it!”

“Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more,
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky;
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.”

My Shield is with God!

August 9, 2010

Eddie Encouragement, God is Sovereign, God's Power, Persecution, Perspective, Protection, Rescue, Strength Leave a comment

When I read Psalms like this especially from David when he cries to the Lord because of his enemies who are in pursuit of him, I cannot relate to it in natural way.  I mean, I don’t have enemies pursuing me physically.

The thought does cross my mind that I do have spiritual enemies, those of the “underworld” (Ephesians 6:12) who desire to tear my soul apart.  I’ve got to really believe that is true!  I must remember verse 10:  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”

My Shield is with God!

Lord in light of Psalm 7:17:  I give thanks to you due to your righteousness and will sing praise to your name, Most High!

A Minister: Sober, Suffering and Serving

July 26, 2010

Eddie Commitment, God is Sovereign, God's Word, Happiness, Obedience, Persecution, Perspective, Purpose, Service, Strength, Truth Leave a comment

As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
(2 Timothy 4:5 ESV)

Second Timothy is part of what is called the Pastoral Epistles (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus).  Although it may be considered books to be read just for the preacher/pastor, one mest remember that all scripture is given to all of us and there will be some principles that we all can get from the teachings within these books.

Let’s begin considering the admonition Paul makes to Timothy to be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Consider ”sober-minded.”  The basic meaning is clear-headed.  It is an imperative.  Thus, we are commanded to be clear-headed.  The NIV translates it “keep your head in all situations.”  This subject could be elaborated on totally by itself, but think of how important it is that we remain clear-headed as we go through our daily lives.  We must have the mind of Christ in all things.  Keep His perspective on our situations, lest we get discouraged and overwhelmed.  Recently I had so many things building up on me, projects to complete, that I began to get foggy in my thinking and discouraged.  I contacted some close people to pray for me and that same day I became clear-headed and got the right perspective on all that needed to be accomplished.  Remember Romans 12:2.  We must be transformed in our *mind* so that we can be sober-minded.  We must make it a point to be in the Word daily so that we can see life’s situations through the eyes of Christ.

The next command is to endure suffering; another imperative.  We are commanded to endure affliction, suffering, evil.  Now remain sober-minded about this command!  We cannot do this in our own strength.  We must let God fight our battles and trust Him to get us through.

Then, do the work of an evangelist.  This is very much directed toward the pastor and his ongoing ministry.  But there is an application to all believers.  We should be ready to share the good news of Jesus Christ at every opportunity.  That is within the scope of the Great Commission and other Biblical teachings.

Finally, fulfill your ministry.  Dear reader, as Paul was commanding Timothy to fulfill his ministry, you and I have a ministry.  We have a purpose ordained and directed by God.  Maybe you have never considered it, but please do.  Consider the talents and gifts God has given you.  The greatest sense of fulfillment in our life is when we are seeking to fulfill our life’s potential for the One who gave us life.  He must be central in our life.  Our purpose must be coincident with His purpose. Purpose in your heart to fulfill your ministry.  Whatever line of work you are in, God has put you there, equipped you to minister — to serve Him.  Have you given that work to Him?  Have you declared, “Lord this work I am doing, I am doing for you!”  ?

Be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

The Source of Our Troubles

July 9, 2010

Eddie Comfort, Encouragement, God is Sovereign, God's Word, Hope, Persecution, Perspective, Protection, Rescue Leave a comment

“my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ” (2 Timothy 3:11-15 ESV)

Today’s devotional is about persecution.  Paul talks about the persecutions and sufferings at the hands of his enemies in particular cities.  What we know about Paul, we know he endured much persecution for his Lord.  In each case, the Lord rescued him until it was time for Paul to come home, after completing God’s mission for Him.

I have it soooo good!  I do not know what it’s lke to suffer like Paul.  So my thoughts today are concerning the fact of persecution and its source.  Our enemies are three-fold:  the flesh, the world and Satan who is the god of this world and both tempt the flesh!  Whew!  Arguably the greatest Biblical Greek scholar of the 20th century, A.T. Robertson, pictures the translation of the word for persecution here as “shall be hunted as wild beasts.”  No doubt Paul was in the classical sense of persecution from human enemies.  Yet I want to take this to more of the spiritual warfare.  Under the God-breathed work of inspiration, Paul says, “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”  We must remember that Satan is our enemy, this world system caters and entices our flesh and our flesh is our fallen nature that would be enough of a problem without the first two, right?

Now look at verses 12-15.  The evil people and imposters (of this world) are going to continue to get worse.  They are deceiving and being deceived!  So, how are we to survive?  Note, verses 14-15:  “continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with  the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”  What we learn from the sacred writings of Scripture will keep us with the correct perspective when “bad things happen to good people.”  We are made wise.  We understand that just as Paul was rescued each time from his persecution, we have the promise of our Father that so will we!  He makes a way of escape from the flesh (temptation), “greater is he that is in us that he that is in the *world* and Satan is a defeated enemy.  I can’t defeat him.  I must resist him and let my Savior defeat him.

So, yes we will be persecuted, if not from flesh and blood, then from a spiritual level.  But the victory is ours in Christ!!

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