Rev. Richard Smith
Romans 12:9 Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
As Paul continues his explication of the transformed spiritual life in Romans 12, he speaks strong words about the Christian’s response to evil. “Hating” evil leaves no room for us to passively watch evil do its nasty work in our communities and in our world.
Well, what is evil?
Evil, essentially. is injustice; great harm done to people; wrongdoing that implicitly includes disdain for human beings and outright mistreatment of them. Words and phrases like oppression, extreme malice, racial prejudice, denial of basic human rights, educational inequity, ethnic and gender exclusion, etc. all mirror what evil is.
The Biblical record is replete with passages which call us to be cognizant of and responsive to human evil. Some examples are…
- “Seek justice, correct oppression” (Isaiah 1:17).
- “Defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:9).
- “And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).
- “As you’ve done it unto the least of these my brothers and sisters, you’ve done it unto me” (Words of Jesus; Matthew 25:40).
- “If anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother or sister in need, yet closes his heart against that one, how does God’s love abide in him?” (I John 3:17).
- And on and on the compelling passages go in the Bible!
What then does it mean to “hate what is evil”? It means, again, that we Jesus followers will not ignore injustice; we will not be passive against evil; we will not leave the oppressed to fight alone; we will find some way to help, to make a difference, to do our part to stop evil words and evil actions. As Deuteronomy 16:20 puts it, Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Obviously, each of us has to discern our role. There is always something we can do: volunteer with an organization battling injustice; give financially; study and reflect deeply on a justice issue; seek out conversation and advice with people working in a field of great wrongdoing; etc. The key is to act; God expects us to act. Martin Luther King put it soberingly when he said, The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.
For sure, one of the things we must always do, as Paul notes, is “cling to the good”. That is, don’t stop believing that good is at work in our world even when evil runs rampant. Don’t forget that God is the Lord of goodness and will never sit idly by while injustice rails. Look for the people who are passionately working for good in your community and give them a hearty commendation. Pay attention to solutions and resolutions being offered which bring some light into the darkness. Encourage the front line justice workers. Give yourself encouragement for whatever part you play. Don’t let the nay-sayers impede the hope bearers. Carry the message every chance you get that Jesus has a cadre of justice bearers who will not wane in helping the least; whoever and wherever they are!! Be one of these justice bearers!!
