Overcoming Evil

We’ve all been shocked this week to hear about more violence in the world. It is bewildering to try to understand why human beings hurt and kill each other, especially when innocent people are the victims. These things will continue to be debated for a long time to come.

Cruelty, violence and murder have been with man since the days of Cain and Abel. The real reasons for such crimes has also been with man just as long: hatred, jealousy, revenge, and a lack of respect for human life. These are the reasons why God judged and wiped away the human race in Noah’s day. When Noah and his family emerged from the ark, God lectured them about the sin of shedding human blood, “For in the image of God He made man” (Gen.6:6). Human life must be treated with great care and respect. This is a principle many people in our world have forgotten.

You may wonder, “what can I do to make the world less violent?” We’re taught in the New Testament to treat others kindly and to be patient when we’ve been offended. Paul told the Ephesian Christians, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Eph.4:31-32). Paul also said, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” We are to practice, teach and model these principles in a world that far too often favours violence. This is how we change things.

-Tim Johnson

A Shaky World

worldWhat a difficult time the world is having. We’ve been shocked to hear about soldiers killed senselessly in Ottawa and Saint-Jean-sur-Richeleau. Violence continues in Syria, and more girls have been kidnapped in Nigeria. The stock market took a hit with all the uncertainty around us. The bad news just seems to keep on coming. It causes us to feel anxiety, outrage and fear.

It would do us well to consider the tumultuous first century. Two Caesars are mentioned in the New Testament, with figurative mention of others (book of Revelation). Most were assassinated, throwing the empire into chaos. Two extensive famines are mentioned in the book of Acts and 1 Corinthians, motivating the church to raise emergency funds to help people out. Pagan religion opposed the gospel; there was violence against Christians. Many of the apostles were killed or exiled. The Judaizers were busy shaking up new congregations. It was not an easy time to live; the world seemed to be falling apart! Continue reading