What is evil?

That's the question my friend asked me on the phone yesterday. I could tell by her tone of voice that this wasn't going to be a flippant conversation, but that her soul was really searching for a sincere answer. In that exact moment I didn't have a definition that I felt did justice to her need, but I did respond as adequately as possible.

As I laid in bed last night, I contemplated the question and the conversation with my friend and considered this dialogue about redemptive relationships. I felt more compelled than ever to pursue this question with the passion it deserves, as the Lord brought to mind Jesus' words recorded in Matthew 7 and Luke 11, " If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts..." All of the sudden, the evil definition wasn't about someone else's behavior, the Holy Spirit brought this discussion right down to my level.

So, this morning, I went to Websters to consult a language expert. As an adjective, evil is defined as wicked; causing or threatening distress or harm; pernicious (very destructive or injurious). As a noun, evil is the fact of suffering, misfortune, and wrongdoing; a source of sorrow and distress.

I think something in our societal thinking has taken the concept of evil and dressed it up in a way that keeps us "regular" people from relating to it. Because it's taken on a guise of the most ugly or heinous, we don't relate to the fact that Jesus was direct in identifying that evil is an innate part of each one of us. I have to admit, that I have been an evildoer from time to time in my life. I know that I've caused pain and been a source of sorrow. It's such a powerful force in human nature that Jesus example of how to pray included a specific request to "be delivered from evil." I believe He was referring to both the internal and external forces of evil.

If we head back to Luke, chapter 11 and see how Luke captures Jesus words in the second half of verse 13, "how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" It takes me back to remembering that I am not the source of anything good, because I am fallen and as a result, evil. It is God who manufacturers the good and the Holy Spirit who places that good in me. Sometimes, my ego gets ahead of my heart, and I need to be reminded that just because I'm not committing [that] evil doesn't mean that I'm not capable of all sorts of evil, if it weren't for the power of the Spirit in me.

Dealing with evil, in ourselves and others, is no mystery. In fact, having evil thrust upon us as a result of standing for truth is actually a good thing. Jesus clearly states in the Gospels that we are BLESSED (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous-- with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account. Imagine being envied because you have God's favor due to a persecution in you life. Now that's a real twist in our thinking!

Paul presents the pattern for dealing with evil in redemptive relationships. He states in Romans 12:21, " Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good." Now if you weren't convinced of your need for the Holy Spirit before, surely this is a compelling reason to seek Him. If we're going to "overcome evil," we must be capable of recognizing it. We must realize that God is not the source of evil, but He is the source of overcoming it.

The New Testament is loaded with references towards evil, what it is, how to identify it and how to respond. As a disciple, committed to following Christs example, this is the first step in developing a plan for dispensing God's grace in redemptive relationship.

Redemptive Relationships

There's a point in time when we recognize our need for grace. We may not initially recognize the depth of our need. We do recognize that our own efforts to fill that "God specified space" in our life isn't working. It's at that point where we come to God for His grace - which He gives in abundance. The only requirement is to acknowledge my need for God, made possible by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. My efforts are worthless at this point, because they can not provide what God has already offered freely..

Rev. Fred Craddock said once:

"We think giving our all to the Lord is like taking a $10,000 bill and laying it on the table – “Here’s my life, Lord. I’m giving it all.” But the reality for most of us is that he sends us to the bank and has us cash in the $10,000 for quarters. We go through life putting out 25 cents here and 50 cents there…Usually giving our life to Christ isn’t glorious. It’s done in all those little acts of love, 25 cents at a time.”

The giving of ourselves in 25 cent increments is at the heart of the redemptive relationship concept. Which is why the coupon illustration works so well. God is the "manufacturer" of grace. When you come to realize that you need this grace, you form a redemptive relationship with Him that would be similar to the "retailer." Part of your agreement in the redemptive relationship with God is to "broker" this magnificent grace you've been given through your earthly relationships. Your availability, signified by your surrendered heart, puts the manufacturer in motion. The work of the Holy Spirit, produces fruit that fills your heart. It's the Holy Spirit that "stocks your shelves." But having fully stocked shelves isn't enough!

To have a good relationship with a manufacturer, the retailer has to move the product. The store must maintain open hours, provide a means for transferring the valuable product to the customer, and the really good retailers will have a good reputation. We too, out of gratitude for what we received, learn to open our hearts, brimming with God's abundant grace, and allow the gifts of the Spirit to be transferred into another's life. It would be nice if this was simply and automatic process, but it's not. Most business people have to go through a tedious process of writing a business plan. It lays out the details of the vision for the business, how expected transactions will take place, what is needed to to accomplish the vision, and who is involved in securing the success of the business. It's an important communication tool for the entrepreneur.

I think many professing Christians don't realize that they need a plan for effectively dispensing God's grace in their lives. It could be stated that more time and energy is invested into the physical "business" of our lives than this concept of being a good steward of God's grace. We'll pursue that thought in the next entry.

Coupons

Why aren't coupons as valuable to me as they used to be? There was a day when I would spend Sunday afternoon going through the paper, clipping out all those manufacturers promises to save me money. It's not that I don't need to save money, Lord knows there's never enough of that. Maybe it's because the big retailers are bargaining for me and with their promise of "the lowest possible price" I've decided to not spend my valuable resource (time) on figuring out a way to squeeze out 25 more cents from that already low price. In some twisted way, I might even feel guilty for using coupons when that big retailer has negotiated the lowest possible price - and my coupon would make them lose money - and possibly go out of business. That's a sad day!

NOT!

It's doubtful that a retailer would go out of business if we all used coupons every week on every product represented. The manufacturers have an economic science that allows them to make agreements with the retailers to assure that price points on the items with coupons are in a place where, even if we all used a coupon, the retailer makes money. If anyone will lose money, it's the manufacturer who takes a calculated loss. That's why coupons have expiration dates. That's one of the ways America's happiest retailer can create commercials to tout their "falling prices." If we see a price decrease of even a few cents (even if the price was inflated to cover the coupon period), we're profoundly impressed.

You might be impressed at this point, or this might not be news to you. But I want to assure you that this process isn't at all original. God himself created the master plan for redemption. AND in His perfect wisdom, His plan created an exchange program that allowed Him to take a calculated loss in order for us to partake in the goodness of His grace. But it doesn't end there. Like the retailers, we have the opportunity to offer God's "product" to those around us. Consider this verse:

2 Corinthians 5: 18 (NLT)
And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.

Reconciliation is a similar concept to redemption. I want to spend some time developing this idea of a reconciling ministry by considering "redemptive relationships" over the next several posts. I look forward to our dialog!