When Evil Divides
It Ain't Easy, But There is No Plan B
As I sit with the hallowed memories of 9/11, I’ve found myself wondering if the killing of Charlie Kirk, recent school shootings, violence by and against immigrants, and accusations of police brutality are a greater threat to our country than those who flew the planes into the Twin Towers, Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania.
I mean no disrespect, but the events of September 11, 2001, galvanized our country. A common enemy brought conservatives and liberals, believers and agnostics, and the haves and the have nots together.
These more recent events are tearing us apart. Each time we choose to identify with this or that victim, we’re villainizing one another. It’s “their” fault, whether “they” are conservative, liberal, gender-confused, intolerant, religious, or irreligious. This vicious cycle is polarizing otherwise compatible people, turning those who used to be “us” into “them.”
Our pain and sense of loss may offend our patriotism and/or our political or religious identities and distract our calling as followers of Christ. We must go deeper.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12
This is the same evil who killed John the Baptist, a young woman in Charlotte, countless martyrs throughout history, school children, and thousands in the Twin Towers. Our cultural strife has emboldened his presence, though his tactics are as cowardly as ever.
We’re losing ground when faithful men and women engage in the rhetoric that stirs the hearts of less faithful people toward vengeance and reinforces the cycle of polarization. We are allowing, even encouraging, evil to both define the battle and coax us into fighting one another rather than against actual evil. For the Word of God is clear that the armor of God is our only defense against such evil.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:10-18
Someone must stop this cycle, and my understanding of Scripture is that it is those of us who have trusted Jesus and been armed with the armor of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and entrusted with the responsibility to bring peace who are the only ones capable and called to do so. We will choose to be part of the solution or part of the problem, but there is no plan B if we choose to be part of the problem.
Like a Pharisee, it is way easier for me to accept God’s grace for my darkest sins than it is for me to extend grace for one, or any, of “them” who have committed such heinous “unforgivable” acts. Though I can’t find “easy” in any Biblical description of a believer’s calling.
I’m not advocating pacificism, an absence of justice, or a failure to defend oneself or family. I am offering a plea to reconsider the offensive nature of one’s reactive words or deeds unless the offense is an offer of grace. For perhaps more than you know, you are influencing the future of our community and country… for better or worse.
Grace & Peace,
John