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Overcoming Evil
by Greg Williamson (c) 2001, 2006
UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS
ARE FROM THE New American Standard Bible.
| I. INTRODUCTION |
A National Tragedy
On September 11, 2001, America became the victim of an unprecedented terrorist attack which immediately and dramatically impacted millions of people both in this country and around the world. Who will ever be able to forget the incredible, surreal video footage of the two jet aircraft flying straight into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, and their subsequent collapse? Nor will we forget the damage done to the Pentagon by a similar means, or the plane that was forced to crash short of its intended target.
Upon first hearing of these tragedies I, like countless others, experienced a dizzying array of emotions: anger, fear, frustration, a sense of vulnerability, a sense of loss. Like many of us, my initial thoughts turned toward God. My prayers mingled with the millions of others asking God to aid, comfort, and strengthen the victims, their families, and the rescue workers. But along with the prayers came the questions: Why did this happen? Is this the beginning of the end? Where was God when this happened? Why didn't he prevent it? Can any good come out of this?
As always, I took my questions to the only sure and complete source of truth: God's inspired, authoritative Word, the Bible. Using a question and answer format, below I share some of what I found. The information is grouped under three headings: The Nature of Evil, The Explanation for Evil, and The Remedy for Evil.
| II. THE NATURE OF EVIL |
What is evil?
In the days following 9/11, President Bush repeatedly used the term "evil" in describing the attacks on America, a word that certainly epitomized the national sentiment at the time. And at least one firefighter said in a television news interview that the so-called educated elite of this country who claim there is no such thing as evil are wrong, very wrong.
Webster defines evil as: "1 a: the fact of suffering, misfortune, and wrongdoing; b: a cosmic evil force. 2: something that brings sorrow, distress, or calamity." [1] As a descriptive term, the Old Testament (OT) (Hebrew) word for "evil" means "bad, disagreeable, malignant," [2] and in general "evil" carries with it a double meaning of something that is both counter to God's intentions and harmful to humankind. [3] Within the New Testament (NT) Gospels (Matthew - John), the most common word for "evil" (ponēros) describes whatever is "full of labours, annoyances, hardships; bad, of a bad nature or condition." [4] The most often used word for evil (kakos) in the remainder of the NT refers to what is "of a bad nature; not such as it ought to be," and on the moral level indicates thoughts, feelings, and actions that are "base, wrong, wicked, troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful." [5]
These definitions reflect the fact that there are actually two types or categories of evil: evil committed by persons (moral evil) and evil produced by nature (natural evil). Moral evil involves that "which can be traced to the choice and action of free moral agents. Here we find war, crime, cruelty, class struggles, discrimination, slavery, and injustices too numerable to mention." [6] Put simply, moral evil is when someone willingly does what he or she knows to be wrong. [7] Natural evil involves "the destructive forces of nature: hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, and the like," as well as "diseases such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, [and] multiple sclerosis." [8] These are apparently random events or situations that cause massive devastation.
It is important to establish from the outset that evil is not a substance or entity in or of itself. Rather, evil is a corruption or spoliation of what is good. Like rust on a car, evil is a distortion and/or corruption of the good that is already present. [9] The Bible uses a number of images when describing the reality and results of evil, such as darkness and light, the wrong and right way, weeds and plants, etc "All the scriptural images of evil in one way or another point us back to the good. ... In all these images the Bible tells the whole story of evil and good, pointing continually toward the one good God who is the story's beginning and end." [10] This relationship between good and evil makes sense when we remember that
God has always existed.
God alone is completely good.
Evil entered the universe following a deliberate rebellion against God's good and rightful rule -- first by Satan and his cohorts, and then by our first human parents, Adam and Eve.
God has promised that at some presently unknown (from our perspective) point in the future he will remove all evil and completely restore the good.
As a part of the preparation for their attack on America, the terrorists actually learned to fly right here in this country. Thus they took the good that was already present -- the opportunity to learn to fly -- and used it for evil.
How does evil impact us as individuals and as a society?
Because each one of us is a fallen person living in a fallen world, each one of us is both the victim and perpetrator of evil. We become the victims of both moral and natural evil whenever evil committed by others or produced by nature hinders our freedom, limits our potential, or robs us of peace. We are the perpetrators in that all of our thoughts, feelings, and actions are tainted by evil. Even our very longing for what is good is not completely good, since in many instances it is self-seeking. "Good is not to be defined in terms of what brings personal pleasure to man in a direct fashion. Good is to be defined in relationship to the will and being of God. Good is that which glorifies him, fulfils his will, conforms to his nature." [11] Hence any/every decision or action on our part that glorifies God and fulfills his will for our lives is good. Conversely, any/every decision or action on our part that detracts from God's glory or works against his purpose for our lives is evil. Thus Jesus could rightly claim, "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters" (LUKE 1:23).
A society is "a community, nation, or broad grouping of people having common traditions, institutions, and collective activities and interests." [12] Just as with its individual members, the actions or trends of a society can be either good or evil. History confirms that prosperous, peaceful societies soon begin occupying themselves with whatever brings them the most pleasure with little regard for the long-term consequences. Along those lines, the three most common evils involve the misuse/abuse of sex, money (and the things money can buy), and power. Anyone making an honest, nonbiased appraisal of our society would agree that those evils have increasingly characterized we as a people, particularly over the course of the past several decades. However, because -- and only because -- God has not given up on the human race, there remains a great deal of good in our country (and our world). The many heroic acts surrounding the tragic events of September 11, 2001 is proof enough of that.
| III. THE EXPLANATION FOR EVIL |
Where did evil come from?
This question reflects the apparent incongruity that exists between the presence of evil and two foundational biblical teachings: 1) God is all good (or all loving), and 2) God is all powerful. The presence of evil, say some, disproves one or both of these cherished beliefs. Their argument is:
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The problem for the sincere, committed Christian is that he or she "not only believes God is all-powerful and could destroy evil, but he is all-loving and should destroy it." [14] A number of responses to evil have sprung up, including: 1) denying God's goodness and/or his power; 2) believing that good and evil exist side by side in the universe as two equally powerful but opposing forces, 3) claiming that we suffer in this life for the sins we committed in previous lives, and 4) denying the reality of evil (along with everything else in the world). [15] [16] [17] "Of the three major worldviews, Atheism affirms the reality of evil and denies the reality of God. Pantheism affirms the reality of God but denies the reality of evil. Theism affirms the reality of both God and evil." [18]
God's inspired, authoritative Word, the Bible, teaches us that the evil in our world came into being as a direct result of deliberate rebellion against God's rightful rule. "Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. The LORD God commanded the man, saying, 'From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die'" (GENESIS 2:15-17). The biblical record shows how, after being tempted by Satan, Eve did indeed eat of the forbidden fruit, with Adam then joining her in disobeying God's clear, direct command. The consequences were immediate and universal, as a life of ease and comfort gave way to one of toil and hardship. God told Eve, "You will suffer terribly when you give birth" (GENESIS 3:16, CEV). And he told Adam, "The ground will be under a curse because of what you did. As long as you live, you will have to struggle to grow enough food" (GENESIS 3:17, CEV). Until that time, Adam and Eve had known only God and the good things he had graciously and generously provided. Their rebellion introduced evil into God's perfect paradise, and Adam and Eve experienced firsthand it's devastating consequences as their harmonious relationship became forever marred by discord within themselves, between each other, and between themselves and God.
Evil, once actuated, did not take long to spread. "The LORD saw how bad the people on earth were and that everything they thought and planned was evil. He was very sorry that he had made them" (GENESIS 6:5-6, CEV). And so God started over. He wiped the world clean except for Noah and his family. He also set into motion a chain of events that led to the coming of Jesus Christ, the one whose life, death, and resurrection is the key to overcoming evil with good. And so, far from creating evil, as some have proposed, God created free, fully human beings who could choose whether or not to know, love, and serve him. True love always includes the possibility of rejection. God loved Adam and Eve enough both a) to allow them to reject him, and b) to allow them to fully experience the consequences of their actions. What's more, he extends the same opportunity to us today, and the vast majority of the evil in our world comes about as a consequence of people's decision to reject God.
Could God have created a world without the potential for evil?
This question, having to do with God's power, involves a common misunderstanding. Some well-intentioned people claim that God can do anything. This is not entirely true, however, since there are some things that not even God can (or should) do.
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[God] cannot arbitrarily do anything whatsoever that we may conceive of. He can do only those things which are proper objects of his power. Thus, he cannot do the logically absurd or contradictory. He cannot make square circles or triangles with four corners. He cannot undo what happened in the past, although he may wipe out its effects or even the memory of it. He cannot act contrary to his nature -- he cannot be cruel or unconcerned. He cannot fail to do what he has promised. [19] |
When it comes to evil, freedom, and God's power, it's important to remember that "God cannot create a genuinely free being and at the same time guarantee that this being will always do exactly what God desires of him." [20] God could have created a planet full of robots, but he chose not to do so. Why? Because rather than automatons, God wanted genuine people who could and would freely choose what was right and good (the highest of which is God). But, someone will ask, why did God give us human beings free will and allow us to misuse it? Because: 1) to be human is, by definition, to have free will [20], and 2) the freedom to choose the good includes by definition the freedom to choose the non-good or evil. "When there is no moral free choice, then there is no possibility of moral good. Unless hate is possible, love is not possible. Where no creature can blaspheme, no creatures can worship either." [21] And even common sense dictates that God cannot be held accountable for our misusing the freedom he has given us. "Free will is a value of the highest order, which God should have given. However, God is not the one who uses such free will to commit evil; humans do, so humans are responsible for evil." [22]
| IV. THE REMEDY FOR EVIL |
Does any good come from evil today?
Since evil is a distortion of good, and since literally everything in our world is tainted by evil, God cannot completely wipe out evil without also doing away with all that is good. [23] Even so, in ways that only he can, God is constantly working to bring good out of evil. For instance, one major benefit in his allowing evil to continue is that it affords people the opportunity to experience salvation: "The Lord isn't slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost" (2 PETER 3:9, CEV). Although at times evil strains the limits of our understanding, particularly in the case of what appears to be unjust suffering (see Job), nonetheless we can identify several tangible benefits that result from the evil in our world, including:
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Here we should also mention the fact that when it comes to enduring pain and suffering, far from being a passive observer, God is an active participant.
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The Triune God knew that the second person would come to earth and be subject to numerous evils: hunger, fatigue, betrayal, ridicule, rejection, suffering, and death. He did this in order to negate sin and thus its evil effects. ... God himself became the victim of evil so that he and we might be victors over evil. [29] |
Will evil always be a part of our world?
While God cannot completely destroy evil without also destroying good, he can use good to defeat evil. He does that even today whenever a good thought or deed triumphs over an evil one. And in the end those persons who have chosen to pursue good by loving and serving God will be eternally separated from those persons who have chosen to pursue evil rather than God. [30]
In the end we will all experience the full consequences of the choices we make in this life. Those who have chosen to accept God's love through a personal, committed relationship with Jesus Christ -- along with all the privileges and responsibilities it entails -- will abide forever in "a place filled with nothing but moral good and natural good or blessedness (heaven)," while those who finally and completely reject the love God offers through Jesus Christ will abide forever in "a place filled with nothing but moral evil and natural evil or suffering (hell)." [31] (see: MATTHEW 18:8–9; 25:31–46; JOHN 3:16–18; ROMANS 2:1–11; 1 JOHN 5:11–12; REVELATION 22:14–15)
For the present, and in a way understood completely only by him, God can and does use evil to bring about good. In that respect, it can be said that "God's solution to evil is like a fairy tale; he 'writes straight with crooked lines.' In his painting, each dark shadow contributes to the overall light; in his plot, every terrible event aids the wonderfulness of the End. We are not yet at the End, so this cannot yet be seen or proved. But it can be believed and lived, as the 'theological virtue' of hope." [32]
What can/should we do about evil today?
We as Christians await the full consummation of our salvation, when evil will be forever banished from the face of the earth (ROMANS 8:18–25). In the meantime, however, we are called to be anything but idle. To put it simply, we are called to serve God, avoid evil, and promote good. Jesus put it beautifully when he said that the two greatest commands are to love God with every ounce of our being, and to value our neighbor as must as we value ourselves (see MARK 12:29–31). How can we overcome evil in this present world? Answer: with good (ROMANS 12:21). In relation to ourselves and those around us, overcoming evil with good calls for fearing and obeying God, the result being a life that is upright and blameless, guided by God's Holy Spirit. [33] As regards our government, overcoming evil with good involves financially and prayerfully supporting our government officials as they work for justice and to help the helpless (see ROMANS 13:1–7).
How can we know if we are winning the war against evil in our own lives? Answer: by regularly taking a personal inventory. Our lives should be characterized decreasingly by the fruit of the flesh and increasingly by the fruit of the Spirit.
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People's desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds. They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with. People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well. I told you before, and I am telling you again: No one who does these things will share in the blessings of God's kingdom. God's Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. (GALATIANS 5:19-23, CEV) |
| V. CONCLUSION |
Finding What We're Looking For
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The (semi-fictional) story is told of two men who went to church one Sunday morning. At church that morning Jim:
Jim quickly slipped out of the church during the closing hymn, promising himself never to return to that church again. Ron Jones had a very different experience when he went to church. Ron:
Ron left the church feeling closer to God and the other people who had gathered to learn more about and worship him. He could hardly wait for next Sunday's service. The odd thing is that both men attended the exact same church service. The not-so-odd thing is that they both found exactly what they were looking for. [34] |
Yes, for now God does allow evil to continue in our world. He does so for many reasons, some of which are not completely known to us. But he also allows, fosters, and develops much good in our world. God wants us to see the good all around us, to acknowledge and praise him for it, and to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to the only one who is completely good. He makes this possible through a new nature that longs for what is true and right and good, which is the free and permanent possession of all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (2 CORINTHINAS 5:17). As we make a real and sincere effort to cooperate with him, God will change us from the inside out. Then we will be able to both see God's goodness all around us, and work to further his good kingdom on this earth.
SOURCES
(Click on the title for more information.)
Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Definitions
Dictionary of Biblical Imagery
Evangelical Dictionary of Theology
Handbook of Christian Apologetics
The Harper Collins Dictionary of Religion
Holy Bible, Contemporary English Version
Holy Bible, New American Standard
New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis
Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
Merriam-Webster's 11th Collegiate Dictionary
The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Ethics
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