Evil Does Exist
Published: September 2006
It is hard to believe that it was five years ago this week America was viciously attacked by terrorists. The images of the Twin towers burning and then collapsing are still etched in our minds. It still seems like a nightmare.
Many of us baby boomers are still impacted by the images of November 22nd and the assassination of an American President in Dallas, Texas. The date of 9-11 will forever carry the same historical and cultural meaning to those of us who watched the events unfold before our eyes on live TV.
The world changed that day. It will not return to its former status. In some ways, it changed for the better in that Americans, as well as others, gripped the reality of the existence of evil and of ideologies that are dramatically contrary to common sense and human decency.
Recently, a noted broadcast commentator stated in his editorial for the news program 60 Minutes that Americans should "change the way we live, so that people would not hate us"! I was surprised by this statement and his apparent refusal to believe in the existence of evil.
Evil does exist and the events still on the horizon of humanity will only reinforce this Bible doctrine. There is a devil and he is the one who hates people. There is an enemy of our soul and his bent is to steal, kill and destroy. There is an accuser and his destiny is hellfire, and he desires to take all of mankind with him- if it were possible. But there is also a good God who has shown His great love through the sending of His only Son Jesus. And through Him he has provided forgiveness, healing, blessing and life- abundant life!
The Church will continue to confront evil through her prayers and proclamation of the good news. Don't be deceived into thinking that if we were more educated, or more peace loving or more passive, somehow we would avert these catastrophes. No, evil is real- it is a spirit and it is unrelenting in its assault against all that is good- and especially anything that is rooted in the goodness of God. We however are committed to ongoing and ceaseless prayer for the defeat of evil and the spreading of good.