The notion of evil is a multifaceted subject that differs widely among various cultures, religions, and philosophies. It typically denotes profoundly immoral and malevolent actions or conditions. In Christian beliefs, the world is deemed evil due to the events in the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve’s consumption of the forbidden fruit resulted in their fall from grace. This act originates human mortality and the ensuing inability to discern good from evil. Evil is seen as the amalgamation of good and evil, as conditioned by the physical nature.
The issue is pertinent in an era where distinguishing between right and wrong is increasingly complex. For individuals raising a family and earning an adequate income, the imperfections of the world may seem less noticeable. They might participate in local political activities to help maintain governmental integrity. As long as their personal life remains stable, convincing them of the need for substantial global reform can be challenging. Awareness of political unrest in other countries may leave an individual feeling understandably impotent to instigate change.
In Jewish communities, following the laws of the Old Testament brings a sense of security to those who observe God’s Commandments. Likewise, in some Christian communities, engaging with local churches through tithes and offerings aid the church’s commendable endeavours, creating a sense of well-being. Yet, regardless of one’s sense of security, death is an unavoidable certainty. Although taking measures to prevent issues is a key objective, one cannot ultimately control the actions of others in their neighbourhood activities.
The fact that an individual may feel powerless to influence the wrongful behaviours of others highlights a fundamental evil in this world. A person may be in good health at any moment, yet the reality of facing unpredictable health issues, ageing, and eventual death exemplifies another aspect of this world’s malevolence. While some countries may seem safer than others, the problem of unpredictability is a persistent concern for every nation.
An individual living a comfortable life may believe they are favoured by God, but does this imply that God grants favour to some while others endure the world’s hardships? Regardless of religious beliefs, everyone is part of an imperfect creation. In the eyes of God, who created humanity in His image, all are deemed worthy of compassion and grace.
The Bible provides insights, revealing a divine strategy to save humanity from the impending catastrophe initiated by the events in the Garden of Eden. The scriptural accounts, starting with Noah, illustrate God as being concerned with human matters, instead of leaving their destiny to nature. The period before the flood is depicted as an era of divine patience towards humanity’s transgressions. Ultimately, God selected Noah to begin a new lineage, following the annihilation of a civilization that had deviated from divine principles. It is essential to acknowledge that God’s interest in humanity was evident in the salvation of Noah.
After the flood, humanity continued to stray from God’s principles. However, a new chapter was set to unfold with a man named Abram. Despite his imperfections, Abram was ready to heed God’s guidance in all his endeavours. He chose to eschew the customs and traditions of his people in favour of divine instruction at every juncture. Through Abram, God planned to initiate a carefully crafted plan for humanity’s salvation. The choice was not just to protect Abraham at the expense of others; it was designed to ensure human survival through Abraham’s descendants. Among all created species, human life has been regarded as more significant than the others.
Humanity’s descent into sin is not a conscious chase after evil but a consequence of the body’s physical demands. To resist these demands is to contest the core of our physical existence. Redemption, therefore, necessitates foregoing the physical for the spiritual life. Leadership is futile without the consent of those who are led. Ultimately, all physical beings are destined to be sacrificed, for spiritual revival. While there is nothing to salvage in the physical realm, there is everything to preserve in the spirit of the well-intentioned.
The tendency to congregate in a single location is frequently motivated by physical desires, which, paradoxically, can precipitate a downfall. Scientifically, a life centred on physical aspects tends to neglect the spiritual, and the reverse is also true. For those focused on material gains, life’s purpose is to enhance physicality, while for the spiritually minded, physical life aims to advance spiritual development. These two contrasting ideologies require a deliberate dedication to sustain one in the face of the other.
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:16-21 NKJV)
The concept of evil implies the merging of opposing forces. In essence, the two currents, representing positive and negative forces, are not detrimental unless they come into incorrect contact. Thus, evil does not pertain to either the negative or positive force alone. Rather, it pertains to the interaction between these two opposing currents. This concept is revealed in the message to the Church of Laodicea in the Book of Revelation.
“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (Revelation 3:14-18 NKJV).
The message to the Church of Laodicea addressed the fusion of two extremes rather than either of the two extremes themselves. It suggests that the evil lay in the mixture, not in being distinctly hot or cold. Being hot or cold does not seem to pose an issue with God, but being lukewarm is depicted as intolerable and worthy of rejection. In the divine perspective, both the physical and spiritual realms have their distinct purposes.
Evil does not reside in the physical or spiritual alone but emerges from their intermingling. Humans navigate this blend of good and evil, tasked with choosing between them. Goodness exists within the physical realm, yet it is fleeting, especially when contrasted with the enduring nature of the spiritual. The eternal hellfire, reserved for some, is governed by the destiny of the physical realm, which is inherently transient.
From a divine viewpoint, the physical and spiritual realms each serve unique purposes. Evil arises not solely within the physical or spiritual, but from their interaction. Humans traverse this mixture of good and evil, faced with the challenge of choice. While goodness is present in the physical world, it is ephemeral, particularly when compared to the lasting essence of the spiritual. The perpetual inferno, destined for some, is dictated by the fate of the physical world, which is by nature temporary.
In essence, there is no inherent evil in the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, or the animals of the land. God fashioned these creatures to adorn the Earth for a time. In contrast, humans were created in God’s image. Like God, humans possess a spiritual nature, yet they remain connected to Earth. Faced with Earth’s temptations, humans must decide whether to succumb to these enticements or embrace their innate spiritual essence as children of their Creator.
In his mortal life, Abraham was summoned to forsake his physical comforts to pursue God’s path, which promised prosperity despite the hardships. This promise held divine assurances, serving as a precursor to spiritual promises. Abraham passed away without having attained either the tangible or the spiritual promises. Nevertheless, his descendants endured hardships in pursuit of the physical blessings, which were a foreshadowing of the ultimate spiritual blessings intended for all nations of the world.
Abraham was considered a blessing to his descendants, and ultimately to those who would emulate his trust in God. Similarly, humans are redeemed when they relinquish the physical and rely solely on faith in God. While Jesus is the cornerstone of salvation, Abraham resonates with us in the realm of faith. Unlike us, Jesus did not rely on faith when he faced the crucifixion.
Jesus was fully aware of His circumstances and firmly believed in His resurrection. Meanwhile, Abraham is revered as the Father of the faithful, demonstrating a readiness to trust God without complete understanding. Like all humans, Abraham had his flaws, in contrast to Jesus. Believing in Jesus, particularly regarding the renunciation of all things, aligns with Abraham, whose faith manifested in his readiness to sacrifice his only son.
Some countries’ civilizations are considered jewels of the world, while others serve as examples of what should not be followed. The global perception of unacceptability often stems from the unwillingness to make sacrifices by those in nations that epitomize goodness. This dichotomy is mirrored in humanity itself: some individuals are inherently good, while others embody evil as profoundly as it can be defined.
The willingness to sacrifice for another person in distress is what characterizes God’s children. Conversely, those who remain indifferent to injustice and rampant evil demonstrate the opposite. Jesus refers to peacemakers as God’s children because they are prepared to forgo their own comfort to combat such injustices. This sets them apart from those who are preoccupied with their own affairs, ignoring the struggles faced by others around the globe.
All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:32-46 NKJV).
The text implies that humanity is divided into those who will face condemnation and those who will receive eternal life, symbolizing two opposing factions. It suggests that individuals considered good may face condemnation if they lack empathy, often perceived as introversion. On the other hand, those who are seen as sacrificing for others, even if deemed bad, may achieve eternal life, an attribute sometimes associated with extroversion.
A prevalent misconception is that only those identified as Christians are good people, while those not associated with Christianity are often labelled as bad. However, the referenced Scripture passage demonstrates that being called or not has no bearing on one’s association with Christianity. True Christians are likened to Jesus who calls them His brothers, suggesting that they are not different from Him.
The sole condition rendering this world evil, prompting God to send His only Son is the amalgamation of good and evil. Absent this blend, the world would not be deemed evil. It is the intermingling of good and evil that warrants the world’s condemnation. One of Jesus’ paramount tasks is to sift the good from the evil, as depicted in the Scripture mentioned. Individuals are judged based on their inclination towards either of the dichotomies.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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