DELIVER US FROM EVIL

October of 2023 turned out to be a profoundly remarkable month in world history, and not for encouraging reasons. Without question, the biggest event of the month was Hamas’s ruthless attack on the nation of Israel. In an article dated October 10, 2023, Lawrence Richard described the horrors of the attack by writing, “More than 700 Israelis, including men, women, children and the elderly, were indiscriminately killed in one day — the largest terror attack in a single day in Israel’s history.”[1] The brutality of this violent act was undeniable, causing some in the media to refer to the surprise attack as a massacre. In one community, forty dead babies, some of which were decapitated, were discovered. The attack was so vicious President Joe Biden described Hamas’s actions as “pure unadulterated evil.”[2]

Personally, I find President Biden’s pointed description of Hamas’s attack not only accurate, but also profoundly intriguing. Interestingly, even in the midst of a morally confused culture, the President of the United States publicly and dogmatically declared the murder of women and children as “evil.” Such moral clarity is not often spoken into today’s world where what God calls evil is typically paraded about and glorified. This is particularly true when it involves the sitting President of the United States. In a country that dogmatically declares there is no absolute morality and no absolute truth, such declarations are rarely spoken, especially when one’s political livelihood is on the line. Even in a morally corrupt nation that prefers moral ambiguity, certain heinous acts are not only labeled immoral, they are declared to be evil.

Evil is real. And in this current moment in history, the majority of Americans are actually willing to admit it. Following Hamas’s initial attack, tensions continued to rise throughout the month of October and warfare claimed many lives. As the fighting continued in Israel and Gaza, the fallen nature of humanity became increasingly evident.

The reality of evil is well-established in Christianity. Scripture is clear concerning the sinfulness of humankind and the presence of evil in this world. When we think of evil, we can separate it into two basic categories:

1.     Natural evil: this includes disease and natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes that affects the physical wellbeing of people. Natural evil is one of the consequences of sin entering the world.

2.     Moral evil: this includes the sinful choices and actions of human beings that violate God’s commandments. Moral evil is the result of people’s volitional choices.

Massive storms, like Hurricane Otis that struck Acapulco, Mexico in late October, do not choose to kill. They simply do. People have no agency when it comes to hurricanes striking a populated coast. Humans do not cause Hurricanes or direct them. People, however, can choose to kill, making us morally culpable for our actions. As John Piper once said, “The core essence of evil is preferring anything more than God, loving anything not for God’s sake. Evil is an act of preferring. Where there is no will, no volition, there is no evil. Evil is a function of willing — Satan willing, demons willing, humans willing. It is not a function of stuff — it is a function of willing.”[3] In this context, Piper is describing moral evil committed by people.

Piper’s point is illustrated in the horrifying events that transpired on the evening of Wednesday, October 25, 2023 in Lewiston, Maine. Eighteen people were murdered and thirteen others were injured in a mass shooting that took place in two separate locations. The evil actions of the gunman placed the entire community on lockdown and spread fear throughout the area. No reasonable person would consider this man’s actions as anything other than sheer evil.

It is easy to see that beheading babies and mass shootings are acts of evil. But does something have to be this egregious to be considered evil? Biblically speaking, the answer to that question is a dogmatic no. According to Scripture, the essence of evil is feeling, thinking, acting, or speaking in any way that would treat God as anything less than God. Evil, then, is anything that dismisses God and acts against his holiness. This means we are all filled with evil. We may never behead children or commit acts of mass murder, but we are all inherently sinful. According to Paul in Romans 3:10, “None is righteous, no, not one.” No one is completely void of evil feelings, thoughts, intentions, words, or actions. Moral evil resides in us all. This explains why we need the gospel. 

In a world of moral confusion, Christians must be crystal clear in our understanding of evil. To help us see evil from a biblical point of view, let’s briefly consider eight observations. 

1.     Evil is an ever-present reality and danger in this fallen world: there is no place to hide from the evil forces working in this world; therefore, we must always be mindful of the evil around us. 

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

2.     Evil flows from the sinful hearts of humankind: because of our sin nature, evil flows from us as naturally as breathing. The evil in the world is not out there in culture; it resides in all of us.

Matthew 15:19-20 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.

3.     Evil is not part of God’s character: only God is perfectly holy and free from evil. While humankind cannot keep from sinning, God is incapable of committing acts of evil. 

Psalm 5:4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.

4.  Evil is not something to call good or affirm: today’s culture revels in the idea of rewriting morality and shamelessly promoting what God calls evil. Although the culture may celebrate what God forbids, God’s justice will not overlook these immoral actions.

Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.

5.     Evil is to be hated: rather than applauding and affirming evil, God calls Christians to hate what he hates and to hold firm to what is true and righteous. While God calls us to love others, he does not expect us to encourage or affirm acts of evil.

Romans 12:9 Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

6.     Evil is to be avoided: the Christians abhorrence of evil must prevent us from participating in what God declares unholy. Abstaining from evil has never been easy for believers, but the challenges of our time make it particularly difficult to abstain from evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.

7.     Evil is to be replaced with righteousness: staying away from evil is good, but it is incomplete. Christians must consistently put off works of evil and replace them with works of righteousness. 

Psalm 34:14 Turn away from evil and do good.

8.     Evil is something we need God’s help to fight: our sinful flesh and the powers of darkness are too powerful to fight alone. As Jesus prayed in the Lord ’s Prayer, we need God’s help when it comes to withstanding our evil desires and the temptations that come from Satan and the world around us.

Matthew 6:13 Deliver us from evil.

Despite what many politicians may believe, there are no political solutions to evil. There are no negotiation tactics that will talk wicked people out of doing evil. The only solution to evil is redemption through faith in Christ. Evil is real and will be part of this world until Jesus returns. In the meantime, we must remember John’s teaching, “Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God” (3 John 11). 

[1] https://news.yahoo.com/least-40-babies-beheaded-found-154607044.html?guccounter=1

[2] https://www.npr.org/2023/10/10/1204861972/biden-will-address-the-nation-on-the-israel-attack

[3] https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-is-evil