Confronting Evil: A Christian Responsibility

Woe to those who call evil good,

and good evil;

who put darkness for light,

and light for darkness;

who put bitter for sweet,

and sweet for bitter!

Isaiah 5:20

There is an evil which I have seen

under the sun and it is common

among men;

Ecclesiastes 6:1

This is an evil in all that is done under the sun:

that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of

the sons of men are full of evil; madness

is in their hearts while they live, and after that

they go to the dead.

Ecclesiastes 9:3

            There is nothing new under the sun. Men are men and have been men from the beginning of time, and when evil corrupted the souls of men by the fall of Adam, men have been men and have done much evil. Oh, yes; they have done much good as well, in science, in better living conditions, health has improved (of course this was necessary as more and more diseases came about), we drive cars and have airplanes, our travels are easier, all much good, and yet man is man, men are men and they do much evil. This evil offsets the good they may do as evil brings up man harm. There is an evil presently presented as good and acceptable seen everyday, in every way, by men, and women. Watch TV, go to the movies, watch the dress, the tattoos that are common among both men and women, a desire to have an acceptance and look independent when all that done is to join the group; and interdependency. I speak of one type of evil, and there are more and yet I am examining and studying Romans and find that Paul speaking to the Church spoke of this evil and warns the Church to avoid such evil. It is not a new evil, it is an old evil, and this evil seen in the Church came about as it did in the Corinthian Church, and later when Emperor Constantine gave approval to the Christian Church: an influx of pagans bringing into the Church their pagan ways. This fight against evil is not new and it is still a fight that needs fought in the present day Church. Paul wrote on this evil and we must examine this evil as well and then follow God’s word to teach the truth and to do what the Bible commands us to do to clear away evil from the Church. We as a Church are too quick to give acceptance into the Church before the one entering the Church and an examination after teaching that one to know whether or not that person clings to the old evil or has embraced and converted to the truth of God’s word. We baptized too soon! We give jobs in the Church to those that are unprepared and untaught by God’s word. We somehow think if we just get them, busy in the “work of the Lord” they will be upstanding Christians. This thinking allows heresy to invade the Church, false teaching. This has occurred in some “Christian” Churches. What is the evil? Let Paul speak:

“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting” (Romans 1:26–28). Do we not see this everywhere, in advertisements, sitcom shows on TV, and in the movies, men, and women displaying that which was considered pornography or “soft pornography” in times past. Now, there is some idea that we are “modern” and sophisticated, and above such as was done and said in the past. God states His decision on matters of continual sin: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:26–27). Paul speaking to the Corinthian Church spoke these words that we should attend to with seriousness: “Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame” (1Corinthians 15:34). It is clear that we, as converted, called by God to be the bride of Jesus Christ, are to ensure that our congregations are cleared of evil, removed, and yet we do not do this well for we seem to have forgotten that we are responsible for ourselves and that extends to our brothers and sisters, to keep unrighteousness out of the Church: “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, wo is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioners––not eve to eat with such a person” (1Corinthians 5:11). Now: some of us were of this sort and have allowed the faith that God has instilled in you that when you heard the Gospel you repented and turned from your evil ways: “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1Corinthians 6:11). Live the life that God has given to you, eternal life, now and experience when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ come again for His bride. Rejoice in that you are saved, and are presently, legally, in heaven and nothing can change that. Prepare now that when you enter into heaven the words: Welcome, well done, good and faithful servant…” (Matthew 25:23a). 

GLORY be to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Glory to Thee who givest me sleep
to recruit my weakness,
and to remit the toils
of this fretful flesh.
To this day and all days,
a perfect, holy, peaceful, healthy,
sinless course,

Vouchsafe O Lord.

Bishop Andrewes, Lancelot (1555-1626)

Live as one of God’s Saints

Richard L. Crumb