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Thoughts on Good and Evil

Every religious system, governmental system, social system, cultural system and every other system, group, association or tribe has a definition of good and evil.  Traditionally, people want more of the good and less of the evil.  As cultures clash and people with different ideas come together, the goal line for good and evil may move.

Generally, most humans have a fairly narrow list of things that are considered evil.  For example, no culture allows flagrant and unopposed murder.  Now ISIS, who is seen as a murderous gang of thugs, also says that murder is evil, unless you are murdering the right people for the right reasons.  For example, ISIS believes that murdering Jews and Christians is not evil, but actually a good thing that their god approves of and will reward people for doing it.

Generally speaking, however, most Western countries hold that frivolous murder, theft, bodily harm, and other sins are to be avoided, they are evil.  Even in western countries, however, the line has shifted.  Fornication and adultery used to be evil and punishable, but not any more.  They may lead to divorce, which is also very legal and considered by many to be a good thing.  This is because morals change, ethics evolve and views of what is good and what is evil also change.

This blog is called “Thoughts from a Pastor,” so of course this must go back to the Bible and God.  The seminary word for God is immutable.  That simply means he does not change.  He does not change as a being and his morals do not change, his ethics do not evolve and his definition of good and evil has been the same for eternity.  God communicated these truths in his Holy and inerrant Word, the Bible.  the Bible begins with God giving Adam and Eve a few rules.  On the positive side, they are told to enjoy the garden, be fruitful and multiply and eat of every fruit except one.  The negative command is:  do not eat of that tree or you will die.

So they ate of that tree and the downward spiral of humans and their view of right and wrong, good and evil.  Every time God has given rules for godly living, people have disobeyed.  People love to sin, love evil and hate God.  So God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, who died on a cross, as atonement for your sins.  When you buy into this New Covenant and respond in belief, God sends his Holy Spirit to live inside you.  At that time, a few things about obedience happen.  First Christ’s perfect obedience is credited to your account.  You are seen as obedient because Christ was.  Additionally, the Holy Spirit begins a sanctification process, teaching you to obey and teaching you what good and evil are.  Over time you will be changed into the obedient image of Jesus Christ.  It is really quite an amazing and wonderful thing.  Give it a try and see for yourself.

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