A Bit Scared- May 5, 2012
May 8, 2012
Dear Sam,
Someone recently said something about there being a difference between sin and evil. It got me thinking, and it sounds right, but I don't know how you'd know the difference if you saw it. Is it just a matter of how bad the bad is, or is there more to it? The reason I'm asking is because there is a“bad” person in my life and I need to know what I'm facing. Thanks.
A bit scared
Dear Scared,
This is a very important question and you are smart to do some research. Biblical Christianity holds the position that there is, in fact, a spiritual personality known as Satan or the devil. Knowing his intent is a first clue to identifying evil. The third chapter of Genesis makes it clear that a tactic he uses is to cause confusion resulting in doubt about what is true and constructive, with the intention of causing harm and alienation from God, who is Truth and Goodness. One of the reasons that God commands that we forgive is because the natural progression of unforgiveness is the crossing of the line from sin to evil. What's really sneaky is that when you don't forgive, you think that you are hurting the other person but the real victim is you because you become badder and more bitter. A clever deception, don't you think?
The psychiatrist M. Scott Peck has written the bestseller “People of the Lie” because he realized that in his practice he was confronted with patients and/or their families who refused to acknowledge the reality of their imperfection and therefore made themselves “unchangeable”, which is not a condition of aliveness, but rather of death and degeneration. Peck found that some of the markers of those crossing the line included serial lying, intentionally misinterpreting, blaming, enjoying the sin and weakness of others, a refusal to become vulnerable and transparent with others. This personal pretense and dishonesty made healthy, growing relationships with others impossible. Because evil can appear very strong or very weak, very caring or very indifferent, intelligent or dull, super moral or immoral, it is hard to pinpoint, which is part of its tactic. Being too quick and sure about identifying a person as evil is dangerous. Probably the best bet is to interact with those people who can be flexible and realistic, and avoid those who can't. It's also really important that you believe in and relate to the God of the Bible, because He is the final answer to evil.
INSIDE THE ISSUE is authored thru Resurrection Lutheran Church, 250 Quarry Rd, Pembroke. Sunday Worship at 10:30am. http://sites.advancedministry.com/ResurrectionLutheranChurch
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