How should CHRISTIANS react to EVIL?
November
18 Bible Reading: Romans Chapters 10-12
How should CHRISTIANS react to EVIL?
"Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for
good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on
you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather
give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says
the Lord. Therefore ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give
him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome
evil with good.” (Romans 12:17-21)
Repaying
evil for evil is a common practice in this world. However, this delight in
vengeance should have no place our lives if we are to be Christ-like. We must
resist the tendency to avenge wrongs that are done to us. Vengeance is God’s
prerogative, and He will repay at the proper time and in the proper manner (Deut.
32:35). Lenski writes the following on this subject: “God has long ago settled the whole matter about exacting justice from
wrongdoers. Not one of them will escape. Perfect justice will be done in every
case and will be done perfectly. If any of us interfered, it would be the
height of presumption.”
Actually Christianity
goes beyond non-resistance to active
benevolence, and attempts to convert enemies by love. “To heap live coals on a person’s head” means to “make him ashamed of his hostility by
surprising him with unconventional kindness.” The great African-American scientist,
George Washington Carver, once said, “I
will never let another man ruin my life by making me hate him.” As a Christian
believer he would not allow evil to conquer him!
Evil may
tend to make us feel powerless. However, Apostle Paul instructs us that we
should ‘hate evil’ (v. 9), ‘not repay evil with evil’ (v. 17) and ‘not be overcome by evil’ (v. 21a). We
should instead let the goodness of God shine through our lives, and overcome
evil with good just as light overcomes darkness. We can be confident in the providence of God and the certainty of His judgment.
As Christian
believers, we must resist the impulse to retaliate but rather we should promote
our sanctification by doing good to those who do evil to us. Through this
attitude we exhibit our life of transformation before a watching world. This can
be done only through the phenomenal power of God’s love in our lives. If we let
God have His way, He will even use our enemies to build us and make us more
like Christ!
"Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing." (1 Peter 3:8-9)
