Christian Small Compromises - Good verses Evil (part 3 of 4)

All evil is sin, all sin is wrong, all wrong is bad, but not all bad is evil. Ponder that statement for a few moments, before you read any further.  Because the true nature and direction of your heart is defined by your willingness to not only accept that truth, but to act on it.  In the eyes of man, there is a very small difference between bad and evil, to us they are simply different sides of the same window; but when looked at through the eyes of God, the chasm that separates the two is as wide as east is from the west.

We may look at something and think nothing of it, see no evil, only a poor decision.  We may also look at something and declare it good and hold it up as a model for others to aspire towards.  Conversely, we may prescribe to an idea that something is wrong when in fact it is not.  However, in all three situations, the truth is that each is evil.  We do not determine what is evil, God has.  In the above three examples, the life of the person living without Christ, In God’s eye is evil; the person who has pulled himself up by his bootstraps and is now successful but has made money his god, is evil;  and the person who speaks up about an absolute right and wrong applying to everyone, who is then labeled bigot or worst, is viewed completely different though God’s eyes. 

So what is evil?  In simplest terms, evil is to good as cold is to heat.  Heat is a form of energy.  The lack of heat energy we experience as cold.  Similarly, evil is a privation of good.  What is evil?  Not fulfilling God's will.

1. Stealing something is a sin but it is not evil; habitually robbing people is evil.

2. An act of adultery is a sin but it is not evil; divorce is evil.

3. Lying is a sin but it is not evil; slandering others is evil.

4. Murdering someone is a sin but is not always evil; it was the intent that makes it evil.

5. Wanting what is your neighbors, is a sin but it is not evil; always seeking to outdo your neighbor is evil.

6. Failing to respect and honor your parents is a sin but it is not evil, rejecting your parents is evil.

7. Using God’s name in vain is a sin, but it is not evil; blaspheming God with your actions is evil.

8. Not keeping a day to honor God is a sin, but it is not evil; living a live devoid of God is evil.

9. Valuing money over your time is a sin, but it is not evil; making money the focus of your life is evil. 

We often think of sin as the things we should not have done. Evil is not just a life of  commission, evil is also a life of omission.  One Commentary describes it as the sin of "knowledge without practice". This person's "faith" is empty if she only offers well-wishes to the cold and hungry person.  When you know the right thing to do and have the means, then you offer the coat or food; to do nothing is a sin. Paul was guilty of it, saying, "the good that I want to do I do not do" (Rom. 7:16) However being a Christian is characterized as doing what we are positively called to do.

10. When you fail to do, what you know is right, it is a sin, yet it is not evil; when you chose a lifestyle that perpetuates not doing what God has called you to do, that is evil. 

The difference between each of  the 10 examples is that one is an event, an occurrence; the other is a lifestyle pattern. Sin is a recognized inward focused action that can be repented from and refocused outward.  On the other hand, evil does not recognize itself, it sees it in others but is blind to itself, and thus is never repented.  

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”   Matthew 7:11  

What is evil?  Not fulfilling God's will.  It begins with compromise….

 

Christian Small Compromises - Who Determines what is Right and Wrong, Good and Evil? (part 1 of 4)

Small compromises, that is the question posed to my bible study group, “What are the consequences of small compromises?   The short answer is that you become a small transmitting rubber tube (wait for part 4).  However it begs the larger question, compromising on what?  What are we compromising on when we compromise on our commitment to live for God and to obey Him in all things?  Is it a compromise between right and wrong?  Or a compromise between good and evil?  Is there a difference?  For that matter who determines what is right and wrong, good and evil? 

The problem with the question is that it scratches at the surface, but that is how American Christians like it.  Let us just scratch at the dirt that is on the surface, because to actually use a spade and unearth what lies beneath, might just convict us, we might not be as holy as we want to assume ourselves to be.  If we scratch at the surface, we can go home at night, feeling smug and safe in our conviction that we are good, nice people.  However, if we look deeper we might not like what we see.

Aren’t you glad I am not in your bible study group?  I have never been one of those let’s play it safe type of guys; no, I am more of the, in for a penny, in for a pound kind of guy.  So over the next couple of postings I am going to peel layers off of this onion so to speak and look at the question "What are the consequences of small compromises”? 

The difference is, that we need to take a look at everything the question is inferring, that we know who decides what is right and wrong, good and evil, that we know what right and wrong is, that we know what good and evil is, and perhaps most importantly that we understand what a compromise is.  I do not think that the modern American Christian understands any of what the question infers.  Oh, I think we appreciate the question in the grand scale, as in – ‘Hitler was evil, Jesus was good’; but in our day-to-day lives, we miss the point of the question.  Moreover, if we do not understand the question how can we answer it?  

I am going to address briefly the first point in this posting, to be followed by an examination of the other points of consideration. 

Who determines what is right and wrong, good and evil?   

Now before you take the easy way out, stop and think about your answer.  Because the answer you are about to say means that your own personal opinion does not matter, that like it or not good and evil are determined outside of yourself.  That what you may think is personally acceptable is in fact evil; which says what about yourself?   

This is not a question to fail to give serious thought to, this is not a question to say one thing to and do the opposite.  Really think about your answer, only answer it when you are 100% positive of your answer.  Because once you take that step there is no going back, once you accept that it is not you who decides right and wrong, good and evil, then you are accountable to someone for everything you say, think and do.  How you not only answer that question but live it in your life determines life or death. 

If you believe the following three passages are the truth then you have your answer.  

“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,  the world, and all who live in it;   for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. “  Psalms 24:1-2

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  “John 1:1-5

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  Genesis 1:1

Because Christians do not believe humans made themselves or occurred "naturally”, we do not believe we are free to do whatever suits us.  Because God is the author of life, He and He alone determines the standards of behavior for those members of His creation.  Right and wrong, Good and Evil, the issue is already decided, if you like it or not.