Resist: How Christians Stand Against Evil

Photo by Cherry Laithang on Unsplash

Evangelical Christians are grappling with how to resist evil — just like everybody else in America. We see evil all around us. We feel the urgency to do something about it. We have tried to act, but our plans are never enough. The evil persists. Sometimes our plans create fresh evils that we didn’t expect.

How should Christians resist evil today?

Part of the problem is we can’t agree on what evil is. Whether the issue is racism, capitalism, sexual abuse, public health policy, or government corruption, Christians won’t stop arguing with each other about what has gone wrong. We often end up blaming each other.

Another part of the problem is we are being tempted by false ways to resist evil. Here are three:

Christian nationalism: the belief that Christians are the only true Americans and that we must dominate the nation again. Unlike patriotism, which is gratitude for our homeland and way of life, nationalism makes our faith serve the nation, turning right-wing ideology into an idol.

Social justice: the belief that the economy, education, and culture must be reordered according to left-wing definitions of equality. Unlike biblical justice, which focuses on an individual’s duties before God, social justice turns class ideology into an idol.

Violent radicalism: the belief that we have no other choice but to launch physical assaults on people who do evil. No other response is strong enough. This belief turns faith into a matter of physical power — yet another idol.

At Towamencin Mennonite Church, we are going to talk about resisting evil. The Bible shows us exactly what is evil in our world and exactly what to do about it. It reveals a strategy that we are called to use today. The strategy requires guts, integrity, and self-control. Above all, it requires the power of the Holy Spirit to be at work in each one of us.

Beginning March 10th, we will study biblical examples of resisting evil. Along the way, we’ll learn three principles that form God’s strategy for us now. Our ultimate example will be Jesus himself.