Ultimate Evil
Depart from evil, and do good. Psalm 34:15
Evil – What can we do about all these terrible things in the world? We live in the age of the worst genocides in history. We are exposed daily to man’s inhumanity. We see corruption all around us. We can hardly go through a single day without being touched by evil. Is there any answer? Is there any hope?
The world recognizes the problem of evil, but its solution is woefully inadequate. Why? Because the world’s solution is the attempt to lift moral consciousness, to make us better by appealing to our inner goodness. The world’s solution to evil is education in good thinking. It claims that all we really need is more training, more enlightenment, more sensitivity. This is not the biblical solution.
“Evil is not man’s ultimate problem. Man’s ultimate problem is his relation to God. . . . The Biblical answer to evil is not the good but the holy. It is not an attempt to raise man to a higher level of existence, where man is not alone when confronted with evil. Living in “the light of the face of God” bestows upon man a power of love that enables him to overcome the power of evil.”
As long as we act on the basis that evil is reduced through human solutions, we will make no substantial difference. Evil confronts holiness, not goodness. To combat evil we must do righteousness. Why? Because doing righteousness is redemptive. Every righteous act implants God’s character in the world. Every righteous act is the fulfillment of His will on earth. Every righteous act, not just the big deal charity choices. God invades this evil world in the smallest moments of righteousness.
Wait! Doesn’t this psalm tell us to do good? It most certainly does. But the difference is who decides what is good. Doing good is not doing what I think is good. Doing good is doing what God says is good. Only the goodness that God gives really counts. My versions of doing good mean nothing in the battle against evil because my versions are not aligned with His holiness, no matter how altruistic they might seem to be. What counts in the fight against evil is only what God counts.
So, what does that mean? How do I do righteousness? You don’t have to guess. God actually tells us how to do righteousness in the smallest details. It’s simple. Just do a mitzvah. What? Mitzvah is essentially an act of kindness. Does that mean that all acts of kindness are evil-combating righteousness. Yes, they are, but God has given us a special insight into His mitzvot (plural). He actually lists them in the Torah. Every time you and I follow one of His commandments, we perform a mitzvah and we bring His character to bear on the world. Every time! Not just when we offer the hungry food or the thirsty drink. Combating evil occurs when we honor the Sabbath, loan to the poor, guard our tongues or act as stewards of another’s property. In fact, God has given us 613 specific ways to bring holiness into this world.
Here’s the bottom line. It’s very easy to think that our definitions of human kindness are the critical weapons in fighting evil. So, we think that diet has nothing to do with combating evil. But the evil is not the opposite of good. God doesn’t see it that way. The opposite of evil is holiness and holiness is acting according to God’s character and instructions. So, if I decide not to eat clams, I bring holiness into the world. I might not understand how that happens, but I know what God asks and when I do it, He is glorified and evil is defeated. I participate in God’s victory over evil. God is the victor, not me. I’m just following His lead.
Today you and I can do mitzvah – one tiny act of obedience at a time. Each act is victory over evil, even if it’s as simple as saying a blessing after the meal (Deuteronomy 8:10). J
Topical Index: mitzvah, evil, good, holy, Psalm 34:15, ra
Forgive my ignorance, but I’m guessing I don’t understand the “not eating clams” and other dietary law restrictions because I don’t have a Jewish background. What then does Romans 14 refer to concerning “nothing being unclean of itself”? We have been raised in the Reformed Protesant tradition.
We have begun to understand the value of keeping the Sabbath.
By His Grace,
beth
The topic of kosher foods is generally misunderstood among Christians. Can I suggest that you read Todd Bennett, Kosher, before we begin this discussion. Or anyone else who wants to provide insight.
This is insight that I gleaned after listening to Rabbi Bob Gorelik’s teaching series on the covenants, which is excellent by the way!
Regarding the passage in Romans 14, I believe that the issue specifically being addressed there has to do with the common practice in the Roman world of offering meat as a sacrifice to idols. The concern was how could a Christian eat meat after it had been sacrificed to an idol? For the strong, it was not an issue because the idols were nothing and meant nothing to the believer, but to the weak it caused them a problem.
Also very interesting is the Hebrew word for meat or flesh which is Basar and the fact that Hebrew didn’t have a word for body. So, when Moses tells Israel they can eat any meat as long as the blood is not in it, he is not telling them that armadillos, porcupines, pigs and human meat is okay to eat, only meat that was created by God as food – which of course is just the kosher meats.
I would suggest reading Acts 9-15 (mainly 9,10 and 15). There are comments that seem to express clarity and focus. Hear what James says, “Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles”. (notice he does suggest some restrictions in the next verse – abstain from food polluted by idols…from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.) I also think statements such as “Who am I to get in God’s way.” and “…what God has made clean..” (Peter in Acts 11) are important to this discussion. These concerns about things “kosher” must not interfere with “as we go” mentioned in the Great Commission. If your neighbor needs help on a Sabbath or invites you over for pork and beans, we are NOW under the law of liberty.
I like what is written in the book of James “So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. ” James 2:12-13
Jesus makes it clear that nothing that goes into a man from the outside makes him unclean. Read Mark 7:17-19. The focus in this renewal of God’s Covenant is to turn hearts back to Him (as it’s always been.) The real issue is in regard to where our heart is as shown in the context of the Mark 7 passage. “..their heart is far from Me.”
If we’re near Him, we’ll tend to want to treat our God created vessels as not our own. Either way, as Jeremiah said, “the Potter… remakes it as it best pleases Him to do so.”
Please consider Bob Gorelik’s response to the previous discussion on Acts 15. The law of liberty DOES NOT negate the Torah. Torah IS liberty, for I know longer am left to myself to determine how God would have me live.
https://skipmoen.com/2009/06/30/bob-gorelik-comments-on-acts-15/
Your reply really helped. It does seem like those with knowledge of Hebrew can interpret the Word far superiorly to the rest of us. Thank you for helping me gain a whole new perpective.
Yes, Hebrew helps. After all, that’s the way it was written. But, all the books that are on my reading list are useful ways to get at this stuff without being a Hebrew scholar. Take advantage of them.
I really like this TW.
People often say, “He was a good person” in relation to someone’s moral character or their relationships in their social circle.
But was he holy? (Set apart for God’s purposes) As God proclaimed Israel.
Question: What is a saint? Someone who is holy?
Interestingly, the New Testament never uses the word “saint” in the singular. It is always “saints” and it always refers to those who are followers of Yeshua. So, I suppose a “saint” is one who is set aside for His purposes.
Phl 4:21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you.
I stand corrected.
Skip, what is the Hebrew word for evil?
ra or ra’ah (Resh-Ayin) – Strong’s 7451. TWOT 2191
Hi Carl,
Go the http://www.blueletterbible.org/index.cfm, Select desired version, type in a scripture reference that contains the word evil. When the verse is visible, go to the left of the scripture and press the blue “C” icon. This will break out the verse in Hebrew with the english beside it the Strong’s number is also available for each Hebrew word. Great tool to bookmark for study!
Any insight Skip, on (Resh-Ayin)? I do remember your comment about evil from some time ago.. “anything outside of the will of G-d is evil.” Wow! This really causes me to live with a focused attention on G-d’s words (since they reveal His will).