|
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| Wright on wrong: Good words about Evil |
|
| |
 In the general, run-of-the-mill discussions about church and life, it is sometimes hard to find material that really challenges my mind and transcends the level of discourse that I hear either in my own church or in the media. I’ve found, sadly, that we Christ-followers are often reluctant to think deeply about complex or painful things. Recently I’ve been reading N. T. Wright’s Evil and the Justice of God. I’ve found Wrights thoughts both helpful and challenging.
It is always so tempting to oversimplify things that must, by their nature, remain complex. But we don’t do anyone any favors by reducing the nature of evil (for example) to black and white, us and them, all or nothing dichotomies. I have found Wright’s unwillingness to simplify strangely comforting especially during this time when either-or rhetoric seems to be the order of the day.
Early on in the book, Wright acknowledges this tendency to take sides and oversimplify by quoting Solzhenitsyn (who had suffered much evil):
The line between good and evil is never simply between “us” and “them.” The line between good and evil runs through each one of us.
As a basic starting point toward a more functional understanding of evil, Wright acknowledges that when the Old Testament refers to evil, it generally oscillates among the following three ideas (p. 45):
1. Evil seen as idolatry and consequent dehumanization
2. Evil as what wicked people do, not least what they do to the righteous
3. Evil as the work of “satan” (a Hebrew word that means “accuser”)
I find our national rhetoric that speaks of an “Axis of Evil” oversimplified and inaccurate. While it is tempting to talk of evil as something “out there” or something that “they” perpetrate against “us,” at some point we have to acknowledge that it is significantly more complicated than that. Until and unless we are willing to admit that this axis of evil, in Solzhenitsyn’s words “runs through each one of us,” we will be consigned to live in a world that idolizes the sword and returns wickedness for wickedness.
Unless we are willing to admit that evil is not just “out there” but “in here” as well, we risk falling prey to the notion that evil can be destroyed simply by hunting down the evildoers and doing away with them. But justice and the destruction of those who perpetrate evil are not the same thing. Doing away with the evil “out there” will not keep us safe “in here.” And if we intend to hunt down all of the evildoers we must, eventually come after ourselves as well.
I feel strongly that justice needs to be pursued in cases where violence is perpetrated. Violent attacks which intend to terrify people are abhorrent. And when these attacks are committed by non-state entities, the pursuit of justice becomes extraordinarily complex. But a response that does nothing but lift the sword against a nation who’s connections to the original attack are vague (at best) is a dangerously oversimplified response. A preemptive attack justified by deeply flawed intelligence is not only simplistic, it is short-sighted and ineffective.
We must be willing to think more deeply. We must do the hard work of making room for more than simple, either - or responses to these difficult issues. If evil is to be dealt with, it must be dealt with in all its complexity. It is (perhaps) understandable that the U. S. response to terrorism has lacked any resemblance to Jesus teaching about and his response to evil. But the fact that Jesus teaching and example are also missing from His church’s response to these issues is profoundly troubling.
Are none of us willing to consider what it might mean to turn the other cheek? Will no one offer a courageous suggestion for how we might return good for this evil? Will no one offer a blessing for this curse? Will no one offer love for these enemies?
Mt 5:38-48
Romans 12:21
How is it, I wonder, that we have become so comfortable – have even come to the defense of a response to evil which is so utterly devoid of the hard, complicated, complex wisdom of Jesus? 5:38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 5:39 But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; 5:40 and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; 5:41 and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 5:42 Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you. 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 5:45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 5:47 And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 5:48 You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. |
|
| To leave a comment or start your own blog: |
 |
or |
 |
Already a member? Login |
|
|
|
|
Wow! This is good stuff! I wrote an article on this subject for another website awhile back--not really pertaining to terrorism, so to speak, but in the wake of the attack on the Amish school, examing the response of the Amish community to the evil that was perpetrated in their midst--nothing so difficult, heartbreaking and horrifying as children becoming the target of unspeakable evil. Yet, in the midst of their tragedy, their actions beautifully depicted a biblical response to evil.
Hard stuff, yes. It is much easier to repay evil for evil--evil counts on that response; but it is undone and overcome when the heart of Jesus touches it. Evil thrives on it's self, and it is only extinguished with love.
Great blog!
Blessings,
Birdie |
|
|
Kathy |
 |
May 18, 2007 at 8:21am |
|
| Excellent! Thanks, Jim! |
|
|
Hi Jim,
Good review, some very good points. Just a couple of counterpoints though, if I may. The Bible contains quite a few simplifications of broad seemingly complex concepts, so I chafe a little at the assertion that anything must remain complex. (for example, Jesus boils a complex system of laws & regs down to this: love one another-Jn 13:34, or Paul's statement that the Christian life is simply to remain in Christ-Phil 1:21, or John's boiling down love for God, to obey Him-1 Jn 5:3)
Our national government is ill-equipped to fight against evil per say. Largely because, as you (and the book you reviewed) point out that a strand of evil passes through each of us. And particularly because, as an increasingly secular nation, we are less and less morally justified to do anything about "evil" in the world.
I don't think that is the real purpose of the phrasing of our current struggle though. I believe it is phrased that way to 1)justify our actions and 2)deliberately characterize our aggressive actions not as nation vs nation but rather nation vs specific ideology, a truly different type of war.
Good review-- a star for you! ~mike |
|
|
Jim |
|
May 18, 2007 at 12:46pm |
|
Mike,
Thanks for the thoughtful response. In general I agree with what you are saying. There are some amazing clarifications in scripture that move from complexity to simplicity. You cite some great examples.
But it is fascinating to me that there are many examples of the opposite as well. The sermon on the mount (quoted above) – is a great example. Among other things, in this amazing teaching, Jesus is taking some of the 10 commandments (simple statements) and making them very much more complicated. (You have heard that is was said… But I say to you. Another good example would be the concept of salvation itself. These days we are all too wiling to oversimplify salvation to a transactional event. But when people asked Jesus questions like, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:17; Mark 10:25) they didn’t get pithy outlines. What they got was stories, challenges to the very core of their character, invitations to a radically different life and purpose…
Oversimplification was not Jesus approach. In some ways he moved in the other direction entirely. Consider Jesus answer to his disciples’ question about why he spoke in parables: 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. (See Ezekiel 12:2) |
|
|
Jhop |
|
May 19, 2007 at 3:50am |
|
Hi Jim,
I never thought things were simple. I hoped they were and early on I embraced a very simple Christianity based on a simple individualistic and personal salvation gospel with apologetics. After years of trying to have simple faith, I have given up and I am learning to accept the complexity and mystery of things.
The political discourse in the U.S. is very frustrating because of its oversimplification of things. Right or left, conservative or liberal, republican or democrat, you are either for us or against us.... I, too, wish we could have thoughtful discussions that transend the "talking points" of the "left" and the "right". But that is probably a pipe dream.
However, I see glimpses of it.
I was working out at the gym last night, and Anderson Cooper (AC 360) on CNN had a very thoughtful show on the current political/economic/social situation on the continent of Africa.
Also, I heard Tony Campolo today on a conservative talk radio show advocating a 3 step plan to get the U.S out of Iraq with international help http://www.beliefnet.com/blogs/godspolitics/2007/04/tony-campolo-religious-leaders-propose.html
He was lambasted by most callers and several times called naive and ignorant. I don't know Tony personally, but I know his work -- he is neither naive nor ignorant. The fact is that he was proposing a very thoughtfull plan that conservatives disagree with therefore the name calling. (I used to think I was a conservative, but now I am not sure because you seem to have to believe in pre-emptive wars, think of America first, and applaud tax cuts for the rich to be one). Well, now I am getting off topic. Great blog Jim!!! |
|
|
I remember in the immediate aftermath of 911 all across America Christians were praying and looking inward. IOW, what had WE done as a nation to bring this on. WHAT did we as a nation need to repent of (abortion, homosexuality, etc.) Jerry Falwell was right in his initial reaction and WRONG to apologize for stating the obvious about humanists, homosexuals, etc. "Leaders" be they Christian or non-Christian need not apologize for making correct and truthful statements. Anyway, beyond Falwell's statements we needed to look at ourselves and see where we had set up idols. We did this to a very limited extent at first and then got gung-ho, got ourselves entangled in foreign wars (unconstitutionally) and continued to stir up a serpents den. We need to clean up our mess at home, secure our borders, send illegals home, and do things according to the book. Ron Paul is right! |
|
|
Sue |
|
May 24, 2007 at 12:35pm |
|
| Great review Brother, thanks for sharing! |
|
|
Jim |
|
May 24, 2007 at 4:44pm |
|
Hi All, Thanks for the discussion. It's been very interesting poking around the blogs to see what people are talking about and commenting on. One of the issues that's concerning me a bit is that in this virtual world, people are often all too willing to be a bit careless with their words. I'm not interested in making accusations or simply venting anger. What I want is discussion that takes issues seriously. So, from time to time I'll be deleting some of the resopnses that people make if I get the sense that they are too vitriolic to be helpful in the discussion. I read a post the by Soozanne the other day that seemed helpful. She made a list of guidelines for posting comments on her blogs. If I were to write up a list it would be similar. Here's the link. Jim |
|
|
| Sounds good Pastor Jim! Great review too. Very much enjoying your writing.. |
|
|
Thanks, Jim. This is a book I've been meaning to read, and I appreciate seeing your thoughts here.
I especially enjoyed your insistence on accepting the complexity of reality. One of my callings in life is to teach people to think about the full complexities of themselves, their communities, their world and their God without automatically eschewing everything to a tidy box that never quite fits. This is also one of the reasons Wright is, probably, my favorite author now. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
back to top
