Why is there good and evil? It’s an age old question. And the Bible answers it. Here are some thoughts on what it says.
Why is there good and evil? It starts with a choice
The book of Gensis records that God created Adam and Eve and placed them in a lush, Garden of Eden. A paradise that provided all they needed. But with one caveat. There was a tree in the middle of the garden that was off limits. Why?
Because God gave Adam and Eve free will, which requires a choice. And that’s what the tree represented. Obey God and leave the tree alone. Disobey God and eat from the tree. God could have prevented evil by simply removing the tree from the garden. Obedience is the only choice. Everyone is happy and agreeable because that’s all anyone knows. Kinda like the Stepford wives. Boring maybe, but we wouldn’t know that either.
Instead, God lets us choose our own actions.
Why is there good and evil? Evil results from the presence of sin in the human heart
Evil is not a separate entity. A cosmic force of evil consciousness that sweeps across the human landscape like the Borg and assimilates us into its collective. Evil is the result of humans making wrong choices. Specifically, decisions that disobey God. Like the choice to eat forbidden fruit.
That one act of disobedience let sin enter the world. And since then, sin has infected every human heart and mutated into the most heinous acts of evil with devasting consequences. It is firmly rooted and resident in every human heart. And remains, at its core, the choice to disobey God.
Of course, Adam and Eve didn’t act completely on their own. Satan, disguised as a serpent, slithered into the picture and tempted Eve with the fruit’s delicious appeal. But Adam and Eve were still personally responsible for their decision. And the same is true today. To defeat evil we must each take personal responsibility for our sin. Confess it and ask forgiveness from God. Then our sinful heart becomes a redeemed heart that God transforms into a new creation.
How do you explain good?
God is good and God is love. He is full of compassion, mercy, and grace. And we are all created in His imgage. Therefore, we all posess an inherent, moral sense of right and wrong. And we all can experience and express love, compassion, mercy, and grace in our relationships with others.
So while sin is present in the human heart and makes us capable of unspeakable evil, it doesn’t preclude the capacity for good. For us to consider the needs of others and help our fellow man. However, there is a constant tug of war between what we know is right and the evil desires in our hearts. Even the Apostle Paul shared about this battle in his heart.
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (ESV, Romans 7:21-25)
So how do you explain why some people are consumed by evil while others focus on good? It’s like a dog fight. The winner is the one you feed.
The final solution to evil is Jesus Christ
God demonstrated the ultimate act of love by sending his Son, Jesus Christ to sacrifice his life for our sins. He lived a sin free life. Died as a perfect sacrifice and rose from the dead three days later. By confessing our sins to him, accepting his forgiveness, and following him as Savior and Lord, our sins are forgiven and we’re set free from the power of sin.
Evil exists because of sin. And sin is a choice to disobey God. However, we can achieve victory over sin through Jesus Christ. And that brings us back to where we started. With a choice. To follow Jesus…or not.
About Chip Tudor:
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
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The sneaky sin of pride. Pride is one of the sneakiest sins in the Bible. It stealthily slips in and fills your heart when you’re unaware. Here are thoughts on how to guard against it.
The sneaky sin of pride. It turns something good into bad.
Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. (ESV, Mark 9:33-34)
Pride stealthily sneaks up on you. After a remarkable achievement. You make a profound statement. Help the helpless. And are all good things. Theyre admirable. Often benefit humanity. And are worthy of recognition. But while you bask in that glory, pride lurks in the shadows. Waiting to quietly ease it’s way in.
Take the disciples for example.
They were hitting their stride in ministry. Supporting Jesus as his ministry grew in fame. Learning about the spiritual kingdom he was building. And the important principles that supported it.
They were pastors and evangelists in training. Learning how to sacrifice, pray, preach, and heal. In other words, they were preparing to advance the kingdom of God. A worthy spiritual ambition. And they had done some remarkable things themselves. But it was going to their heads. And it reached the point they argued about who among them was the greatest.
Pride often begins with something admirable. But the more attention and praise it gets, the greater the temptation to think of ourselves more highly than we ought.
And the irony? The disciples were caught up in their humility, but infected by pride.
The sneaky sin of pride. You’re the last to see it.
Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector (ESV, Luke 18:10-11)
Sinful pride builds up slowly–one degree at a time. Beginning with self congratulation.
First, a tiny step. Hey, you’re not so bad. Then it grabs a toe hold. You know, you’re actually pretty cool. And finally it reaches cruising speed in long strides. Wow, Dude. You’re totally awesome!
Don’t get me wrong. It’s normal to feel good after accomplishing something noteworthy. And it’s okay to receive recognition for it. But that is exactly the danger. Because it plays right into our sin nature. Especially the desire to be a little bit better, more excellent, and slightly superior to everyone else.
So we relive that moment over and over like a “feel good” junky. Convince ourselves that we are maybe, no, definitely more virtuous than others. Until we finally reach the pride pinnacle of a legend in our own mind. And completely blind to it.
The sneaky sin of pride. Resist it by giving God the glory.
I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. (ESV, Psalm 9:1)
There are ways to guard against pride. And the first is to give God the glory in all you do. However, it doesn’t mean pretending an amazing accomplishment wasn’t amazing. Digging your toe in the ground with head down and saying, “Aw shucks. It was nothing.” That’s actually false humility. Pride in disguise.
It’s okay to acknowledge an extraordinary accomplishment or talent. But also acknowledge your abilities are God given to use for His glory. Because they are on loan for a given time and will eventually fade. However, God’s glory will shine forever. By taking the spotlight off yourself and focusing it on God you’ll keep things in proper perspective.
God is the creator. We are the created. Made and sustained by Him. Our purpose is established by God and best demonstrated by glorifying Him.
Become childlike and remember your sinfulness.
Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (ESV, Matthew 18:2-4)
Children are innocent and unpretentious. They see a world full of wonder, assume the best in others, ask honest questions, and naturally trust adult answers. Of course, we know adults are not automatically trustworthy and may consider children naive. Still, Jesus presents them as the model Christ followers should imitate.
Why?
Because God is completely trustworthy and His word absolute truth. Therefore, we can and should follow its teachings faithfully. Not just because God commands it. But because they are for our good and promote human flourishing.
Furthermore, we should remain mindful of our sinfulness. Acknowledge that it’s God’s goodness, not our own, that saves us. And that a life, saved by grace, should offer it in kind. This in turn, fosters an attitude of gratitude that helps us see beyond oursleves.
About Chip Tudor:
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
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Leading by influence rather than power is demonstrated in 2 Chronicles 23-24. The story reads like a fairy tale, but without the typical ending. Here’s what we learn from it.
Leading by influence rather than power. Honoring God rather than yourself.
And Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king that they should be the Lord’s people. (ESV, 2 Chronicles 23:16)
When Ahaziah king of Judah died, his mother Athaliah grabbed power by killing the other family heirs to the throne. But she missed one. King Ahaziah’s infant son, Joash was saved by his aunt Jehoshabeath, wife to Jehoiada the priest. They hid Joash for the next six years of Athaliah’s reign that was characterized by idol worship.
Power versus Influence
Power demands compliance, but influence uses persuasion. Obedient versus willing followers. And Jehoaiada wanted the people of Judah to willingly follow the Lord. So he devised a plan to turn the peoples’ hearts back to God. First, he persuaded the military to support Joash in a coup. Then quietly assembled the military, important leaders, and Levite priests in Jerusalem. And at an arranged moment they proclaimed Joash king. Queen Athaliah was seized and put to death. Followed by a public ceremony led by Jehoaiada who recommitted the people to God.
Leading by influence rather than power so others follow God.
AndJoash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. (ESV, 2 Chronicles 24:2)
However, influence requires two pre-requisites to work: Relationship and respect. It’s obvious Jehoaiada and Joash had a relationship like father and son. And Jehoaiada’s devotion to God and personal integrity earned him respect. Therefore, Joash willingly followed Jehoaiada’s instruction.
Jehoaiada’s influence made a positive, spiritual impact on Joash. And Joash executed his authority over the kingdom so that the people honored God. He destroyed all the idols, restored God’s temple, and established the worship of God. The result was a strong, prosperous kingdom that was feared and respected by the surrounding kingdoms during Jehoaiada’s lifetime.
Leading by influence rather than power. So those you influence own it.
After the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them. And they abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers and served the Asherim and the idols. (ESV, 2 Chronicles 24:17)
Influence at its best leads to human flourishing. To create healthy families. Thriving organizations. And God honoring faith communities. Under the rule of Queen Athaliah, the people of Judah suffered. But they prospered under Jehoida’s influence and the rule of king Joash.
Unfortunately, after Jehoiada died, other voices influenced Joash and led him back to idols. The kingdom of Judah slid into moral decline, Joash descended into an evil king, and was ultimately killed and buried in disgrace.
The ending underscores a critical truth in the Christian faith. You can’t claim the faith of someone else like your parents or a friend. You must follow God and embrace faith in Jesus Christ for yourself. Through his influence Jehoiada the priest led Joash to the threshold of faith. The final step was his, but he didn’t take it. He never owned his faith. So whose faith do you own?
About Chip Tudor:
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
When you tell God you quit. After the death of Jesus, Peter quit. He abandoned three years of ministry with the Son of God and returned to fishing. But Jesus wasn’t finished with him yet. Here’s what we learn from the encounter.
When you tell God you quit. He meets you where you are.
After the death and resurrection of Jesus, everything went crazy. Jesus, the one that held everything together was gone and no one knew what to do. Fear gripped them. Would the leaders who crucified Jesus come after them too? So, all the disciples of Jesus scattered.
In John 21:3-19, Peter quits and returns to the familiar. Fishing. Because…well, isn’t that what we do when we lose our bearings? Our safety feels threatened? Go back to what makes us feel safe and secure like comfort food?
Fishing was an honest trade and a sensible fallback plan. Except when you follow Jesus, what we consider sensible is not always how he leads. But rather, pushing into the uncomfortable and unfamiliar. Because he wants us to trust him and exercise faith.
And even when we mess it up, he comes after us to restore our relationship with him.
That’s what he did with Peter.
When you tell God you quit. He challenges your thinking
There’s something familiar about the scene in John 21:3-19. Because it’s a repeat of Jesus’ first encounter with Peter recorded in Luke 5:1-11. Peter was cleaning his fishing nets nearby as Jesus preached to a crowd on the beach. And Jesus asked Peter if he could use his boat as a preaching platform. They pushed the boat into the water and Jesus sat and taught the beach crowd. And when Jesus finished, he told Peter to put out to deep water and let down his nets.
A bit audacious for an itinerant preacher to tell an experienced fisherman how to fish. I can imagine Peter smiling at Jesus a bit condescendingly. “Dude, you’re a preacher and I’m an experienced fisherman. I won’t tell you how to preach. Don’t tell me how to fish.”
But he didn’t. Why not? Perhaps there was something about Jesus that compelled Peter to do what he said. A sense that Jesus was beyond ordinary. And his thoughts were higher than Peter’s thoughts. So Peter complied and the huge catch of fish nearly broke the nets.
And you wonder. How could an itinerant preacher know better than a seasoned fisherman where the fish were and how to find them?
He didn’t have to. Jesus simply commanded the fish where to swim. It made Peter a believer and he immediately left everything and followed Jesus.
When you tell God you quit. He revisits your calling and demands your commitment.
There were times as a pastor in church ministry when I wanted to quit. Because I was discouraged by failure. Treated unfairly. And questioned my calling. Ever been there?
But I remember the wise counsel of a mentoring pastor: Whenever you doubt your call and think of quitting, go back to the moment you first sensed God’s call. And that’s exactly what Jesus does with Peter. He revisits the scene of Peter’s original call to ministry. And once again, the nets almost tore apart with a huge catch of fish.
But Jesus goes further by demanding Peter’s commitment. “Peter, do you love me? Then feed my sheep.” And after repeating the question and demand for commitment two more times, the point was clear.
Jesus doesn’t suggest we try him out like sampling ice cream flavors before a purchase. He doesn’t offer unlimited “you are blessed” passes for a pain free Christian experience. In fact, he tells Peter that his commitment will include a cost. And the same may be true for us.
What Jesus wants to know is this: Are you all in?
About Chip Tudor:
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
Lessons from Jonah and the whale. It’s a popular Bible story although the whale gets too much attention. And is it really a whale? Because scripture just calls it a great fish. But here are some lessons from the story.
Lessons from Jonah and the whale. The real story is about God’s love, grace, and forgiveness
The great fish plays a support role in the book of Jonah. Essentially, a motivational tool God uses for Jonah’s compliance. Yet, somehow, it grabs all the attention. At least, the paper whale my Sunday School teacher used when telling the story took up most of the flannel board.
However, the real story is about God’s love, grace and forgiveness. It reminds us of His desire that we all enter His eternal kingdom. And the measures He takes to show us the way.
But wait. Last week’s blog looked at Numbers 31. And in that story, God used Israel to execute vengeance against the Midianites. But now, He gives the Ninevites a chance to repent? How do you explain that?
I can’t. Although my best guess is God knew the Ninevites would repent when given the opportunity but the Midianites would not.
Lessons from Jonah and the whale. Running from God is a bad idea.
But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. (ESV, Jonah 1:3)
Jonah was a prophet. An Old Testament preacher. So when God acknowledged the evil in Nineveh, He told Jonah to go and preach repentance to them. Should have been a no brainer. First bullet point on his prophet’s job description. But Jonah took off running instead. And you’re thinking…most preachers can’t wait to get behind a pulpit. What’s up with Jonah?
However, running from God is a bad idea. Adam and Eve tried it in the Garden of Eden when they realized they were naked and hid. When God called Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt, Moses doubted his leadership ability and ran to the wilderness. And Jonah caught a ship sailing to Tarshish. But none of these escape plans worked.
God fashioned clothes for Adam and Eve. He caught up to to Moses in the wilderness and appeared to him in a burning bush. And He gave Jonah a three day ride inside a living, oceanic submersible along with a complimentary stomach wash.
Why did Jonah run? He confesses it later. He didn’t want to preach to the Ninevites because he considered them awful people who should be destroyed rather than saved. But he admitted God was merciful, gracious, and abounding in steadfast love. Therefore, if the Ninevites repented of their sin, God would forgive them.
And that’s what happened. Jonah preached, the people of Nineveh repented, and God forgave them. A happy ending for the people of Nineveh and the Kingdom of God, but not for Jonah. He went off and pouted. But that’s a different lesson for another day.
For today, the lesson is to think twice about running if God calls you to something you don’t want to do. Obedience and trusting God for the results is a better choice.
Lessons from Jonah and the whale. Repentance leads to restoration.
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (ESV, Romans 10:13)
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. (ESV, Luke 15:20)
God desires for all of us to be saved. Jesus Christ was His provision and God eagerly embraces us when we turn to Him. But that is a choice we all must individually make. Repent and become a child of God. Reject Him and be lost forever.
It is a recurring theme in both the Old and New Testament. When sinners repent, God forgives and restores. And the story of Jonah clearly demonstrates it. Along with God’s love and grace.
But there’s another lesson too. Followers of Jesus Christ are called as co-laborers in kingdom work. To also proclaim repentance. Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And serve where opportunities present themselves. It’s not a have to, but a get to. Where God gets the glory and we get the blessing.
About Chip Tudor:
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
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The whale image used for this blog is a cartoon illustration out of my book Family Stew. Each chapter begins with a professionally drawn, cartoon illustration. It’s a collection of stories from the days of our young family along with summary thoughts from a Christian perspective.
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