The Question of Evil

On February 2nd American radio talk show host Neal Boortz posted a brief article on his website, Nealz Nuze, which discussed terrorism and the nature of man. In this posting I will delve into the nature of man in light of Neal's comments. In his article entitled 'Americans Taking Terrorism Seriously' Neal had this to say:

"According to a new poll, most Americans say terrorism should be taken very seriously. That's good, but there's only one problem. Every time we try to do something to stop terrorism, the appeasers react and send Democrats to Congress. Which means we're not taking terrorism very seriously. So why the contradiction?

The answer is simple...most people lack the will to fight a protracted war against terrorism. If we can do it in a week .. maybe a month, that's fine. But if it is going to take years to bring the Islamic terrorists under control .. Americans don't have the patience for it. A lot of people can't be convinced that some people are inherently evil. We like to buy the lie that most people are basically good and that if we were only nice to them or listened to their grievances, that they'll be nice back to us. We try and domesticate Islamic terrorists...legitimize them by trying to negotiate with them. There's only one problem: it doesn't work.

The only way to fight terrorism is to fight terrorism. And the way you do that is by killing them before they kill us. It's messy work, but somebody's gotta do it. So while the polls may show that Americans take terrorism seriously, you have to wonder if they really do when the same poll shows such opposition to the war in Iraq, which is filled with Islamic terrorists.

People can't have it both ways...you can't be against terrorism and for the terrorist. That's John Kerry's job."

While Boortz has some colorful political comments in his posting, the purpose of my remarks isn't to wade into political matters. Instead I'd like to look at the issue of the basic nature of man. Are men inherently evil, as Boortz suggests, or are men basically good? What does the Bible say about the nature of man?

First, the biblical book of Genesis says that man is higher than the rest of creation. We are given dominion of the earth by God and are commanded to cultivate and keep it. Genesis also says that man is special in that we are created in God's image. We humans have stamped on us the image of God. That is why cruelty is not tolerated in my household. My children are not permitted to be mean to each other or to say derogatory things about others because each human is created in God's image. My children know that they are not allowed to make fun of classmates because in doing so they would be making fun of someone created in God's image.

But what about the presence of evil in the world? If mankind is created in God's image then why does evil exist? The Bible makes it clear that men are 'free agents'. We have the freedom to choose to disobey God and in fact the first created human pair did rebel against God and choose to sin. Because of that, the Bible says that men have a 'sin nature' or an inclination to be selfish and to violate God's rules.

So within mankind there is a friction. On one hand we are created in God's image. On the other hand we are fallen. The apostle Paul summed up this quandary beautifully when he said:

"For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.

But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" (Romans 7: 14 - 24)

The Law that Paul is referring to is God's law or will as expressed in Scripture. He says that he wants to follow the law but sin within him wages war against his mind.

So we are created in God's image but we are fallen and have a sin nature. As Boortz says, we are inherently evil. Fortunately, this pronouncement is not a bitter end to a sad story. Listen to what Paul says in the first verse of Romans 8 "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus".

How can we be inherently evil and yet not be condemned by God?! The answer is, according to Paul, to be 'in Christ Jesus'. We are all sinners and yet Christ took our sin away from us when He died on the cross for our sins. If we give our lives to Christ, if we confess our sins and ask for God's forgiveness, we can bypass God's condemnation and have a relationship with Him. The Bible also says that if we follow Christ, He enables us to live good lives. The Bible says that God replaces our hearts of stone with a heart of flesh. The way of salvation is a simple prayer of confession to God. Paul sums it up in Romans chapter 10 .....

" ...that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."

The hound of heaven loves you, He is willing to forgive you and make your life into something beautiful. If only you will make that confession of faith and belief.

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