The Appearance of Evil
August 20, 2000
Dear Friends:
“Abstain from all appearance of evil,” is the way 1 Thessalonians 5:22 reads in the King James Version. Although that may not be an entirely accurate translation of the verse (the NIV and others render it along the lines of “avoid every kind of evil”), it still gives us good advice. Anyone desiring to “let your light so shine before men” should avoid things that appear immoral.
The only problem with the admonition today is that few things “appear” to be evil. Society has made wrong right and right wrong.
Take the example of TV. Remember the famous episode of Ed Sullivan where Elvis Presley was only shown from the waste up because of his hip-shaking style of dance. It was, in its day, inappropriate for a national television audience. Today, it would appear on just about any show including children’s programming.
Today, nudity, graphic violence and profane language are on regular TV. Programs such as Jerry Springer parade every form of social deviant in front of a national television audience. The Elvis Presley incident wouldn’t get a second look from network censors. At the same time, cable TV makes regular TV seem tame by comparison. It would be inappropriate to even talk about some of the shows that appear on cable.
As another example, the practice of homosexuality is acceptable in many parts of society today. Companies offer benefits to “life partners.” The state of Vermont has recently recognized homosexual unions.
The only wrong, it seems, in relation to homosexuality, is to be against it. If you speak out against the practice as did the apostle Paul when he said “in the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion”, you become a homophobe, closed-minded and a bigot.
So how does one appear to do evil in today’s “anything goes” society? Unfortunately, in part, the answer seems to be a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Imagine the label of religious intolerance that Jesus or Elijah would be plastered with today for their comments on the prevailing religious practices of their day. Imagine the charges of being sexist that the apostle Paul would have to endure for his “politically incorrect” comment in his letter to Titus. “…train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” We could go on and on.
The Bible tells us “that in the last days perilous times shall come.” We should not shrink back from the moral position the Bible takes. However, this is not a call for hatred nor intemperate talk. We can balance our stand with the humility and love that Christ demonstrated to sinful men and women. Remember the admonition that “if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” (Rom. 12:18)
If things continue as they are, we will ever more be accused of the appearance of evil until the Lord Jesus returns to this earth to set up his Kingdom.
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.” (2 Timothy 3:12-14)
Have a great week!
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