Image from Detroit News
Got up this Sunday AM, fried an egg, grabbed my coffee and opened up the AP news on my laptop, to find a random attack at a Detroit area splash pool. A 42 year old man randomly walked up, fired at least 28 rounds, wounding nine with one in critical condition. He calmly left for home, where police soon found him—killed by his own hand.
Since 2001, terrorism and random shootings, international and domestic. seem to fill our news. We call that evil, as we should.
Yet we face a greater temptation than terrorism--believing that evil is "out there” in the world. Yes, but evil also lies closer to home. Very close. Followers or seekers of Jesus cannot afford to attack evil out there and ignore the evil in here. In each of us. OK, most of us don't obtain weapons and go on killing sprees. But evil, in any form, reveals its evil nature in destruction, often on a smaller scale.
The key to my reasoning comes from a simple definition of evil: sin. “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires” (Romans 6:12). Sin and evil are equated. Less than good. Less than what God desires for and from us. Often, merely doing what we desire above what God desires.
“Everything that does not come from faith is sin” according to the apostle Paul in Romans 14:23. That verse frightens me deeply. I do a lot without ever thinking: does this express and expand and exemplify my faith? So, even if the act is good, it can be evil because my motives don't flow from my faith.
Honestly, this evil within me, and you, and all of us, frightens me much more than worldwide terrorism. Terrorism can kill my mortal body, but not my immortal soul. The evil within me touches my soul. When I respond with rudeness to a rude waitress, my spirit shrinks back just a bit from the God of love. When I keep extra change from a checker, my intimacy with the God of truth decreases just a bit. When I resist forgiving, or when I don't ask for it, I move slightly away from the God of grace.
Now, don't go overboard and think that one sin will send you to hell. But likewise, don't ignore that acting on evil desires is sin, which is antithetical to God.
I yearn to identify and eliminate or at least decrease those evil tendencies and thoughts and acts. I encourage you to do the same. Don't ignore the evil out there, as symbolized by ISIS, but focus on the evil in here. In us. We can do something about that one.
Kick Starting the Application
Take a moment or so of thoughtful meditation and prayer to identify any evil tendencies you have. Big or small. Why have these gotten into your life? Which seem the easiest to change? Why? The hardest, and why again? I suggest you begin this process by working on the hardest--they bring the most damage to our closeness to God. And, try to share your journey with someone you can trust.