CYPRESSWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

October 17, 2004

LIFT UP THE FOLLOWING:

Our congregation                                                        Our college students

Our nation, military and leaders                                 Various friends, relatives and co-workers

David and Leon in the Navy

COMING UP:

Oct. 24 - Pot Luck and Baby Shower

Oct. 30 - Hobo Party

Oct. 31 - Set clocks back

Nov. 2  - Election Day

GOOD AND EVIL

“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).

In the context of the above text, God speaks to His vineyard, which He planted but which has failed to produce good fruit.  He asks what more could He do.  Then He explains to the nation a number of “woes” and the sins they were committing.  Among them is calling good evil and evil good.

Today we see the idea of calling something “evil” as politically incorrect or intolerant.  One should not make such value judgments on subjects, lifestyles, people or nations.  It is insensitive to others and we are called to love all.  Even from a Christian perspective, we are to love our enemies, not call them evil.  Hence, when Presidents refer to an “evil empire” or an “axis of evil” they are wrong to label some group that way.  That is not the way of love.  Of course, many have already used different words to change the stigma of sin: gay for homosexuality, affair for adultery, righteous indignation for anger, etc.  To identify something as evil is just plain wrong, so we are told.

How far has this gone?  Two college professors in different colleges discussing ethics of all with their classes have asked whether human sacrifice was wrong and whether the holocaust was wrong.  Students in both classes said that it was wrong for us but maybe not for them.  It was their culture and maybe that was the norm.  The professors were stunned by the answers.  The culture of moral relativism has been ingrained into these young “skulls full of mush.”  So we cannot be judgmental about evil. 

Well God has made it clear that there is evil in this world.  A month or so ago, radical Islamic terrorists took over a school in southern Russia and when it was all over, over three hundred adults and children were dead.  One could argue over the civil war in the neighboring Muslim province and the Russians response to that.  But this act is clearly evil, and if you read any of the facts about some of the murders, you could clearly see that.  Attacking unharmed and innocent civilians is evil, such as the September 11 events show.  Many have tried to blame America for the “root causes” of those events, but in reality they were evil, done by people whose corrupted religion teach hatred.  We cannot call these actions good or right for they are not.  We must recognize that there is sin in this world and call it such.

“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:  haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers” (Proverbs 6:16-19).  The word “detestable” is used 111 times in the NIV and is connect mostly with idolatry and sexual perversion.  Solomon mentions the shedding of innocent blood and devising wicked schemes.  The prophets often mentioned these as problems facing Israel, which cause them to be carried into Babylonian captivity.  Today, the deliberate killing of children in schools or riding in buses is the same thing.  And there are those who rush into evil, whether in these activities or in other sinful events.

This is not to say that we are innocent in all of this.  Forty million abortions in thirty some years is not something to be proud of; it is the shedding of innocent blood.  Calling homosexuality and “gay marriage” alternatives are lies to what they really are: detestable in the sight of God (see Leviticus 18).  “It’s good for you but not for me” just isn’t the answer.  One can ask how we got to where we are today?  Some have forgotten God; others have declared that there is no God.  Some have no fear of God and so no fear of judgment, so they lie and deceive with impunity.  What happens without the constraints of God?  The 20^th Century is littered with the bodies of societies that forgot God and abused their own people in peace time to the tune of over 100 million dead.  All of that was evil as well.

I understand the problems with labeling people.  Not all people in those “evil” nations are evil.  Many are terrified and suffering.  However, we must understand that God has defined sin clearly in scripture.  If it is detestable to Him, it should be detestable to us.  When Islamic terrorists kill innocent civilians and fellow countrymen in Iraq or Gaza, that is evil.  When Hollywood glorifies sinful lifestyles, homosexual or straight, sleeping around without consequences, that is evil.  When politicians claim that they are personally opposed to abortion but follow the laws and will of the people in supporting it, that is evil.  When people are judged by the color of their skin instead of the content of their character, that is evil. 

As Christians, we need to be different from society, radical in nature.  We are to love our enemies and pray for them, as well as our leaders even if we do not agree with them.  The “church” hasn’t been as successful in dealing with differences as it could be.  We need to work at or make a great effort at keeping unity within the body.  That means we need to distinguish between opinion and matters of salvation.  My opinion should never be equated with matters of salvation.  We can disagree on who wrote the book of Hebrews, how long creation took, whether instrumental music is sinful or not, whether the Lord’s Supper is done in the context of a full meal or a part of an assembly, whether the assembly is worship or edification or both, and any number of things.  It is not an all or nothing perspective; there is room for differing opinions.  Humility should be the attitude of our hearts, seeking what is best for others (Philippians 2:4, NRSV and 1 Corinthians 10:24).  We should lead the world in how to resolve various conflicts.  We should express the attitude of Christ in our thinking, actions and speech.  In doing this there will be hard choices, politically, morally and theologically. 

In the end, we understand that Jesus Christ came and died for our sins and the sins of the world.  He has identified what displeases Him, what are detestable and abominable to Him.  While not popular in today’s society, we can use careful and reasoned speech, call evil evil and explain why it is such.  That will be our challenge to radical living in Christ.

                                                                                                            George B. Mearns