Evil

 

July 23, 2023    -    Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43                      

Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer, was an American serial killer and sex offender who killed seventeen between 1978 and 1991. He entice his victims, primarily young men and boys, to his apartment by offering them money or alcohol. Once they were there, he drugged them, strangled them, and dismembered the bodies. He has rightfully earned a chilling reputation as one of the most wicked and depraved men in the annals of humanity.

Evil.

More recently:

On July 11, 2023, a man opened fire at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, killing 10 people and wounding three.

A day later a man stabbed four people to death in a church in Sacramento, California.

On July 14, 2023, a man shot and killed four people at a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma because he was angry with his doctors.

There have been 299 mass shootings in the United States so far in 2023, 1,263 deaths and 1,526 injuries. 19 have been classified as "mass murders," meaning that four or more people were killed in a single incident.

The worst: Uvalde elementary school shooting in May (24, 2023): 21 people killed, 19 were children, 17 were injured.

Then there is war. The United Nations estimates that over 10,000 civilians have been killed in the war in Ukraine since it began February 2022.  More than 12 million have been forced to leave their homes. This includes over 8 million people who have escaped leaving the country entirely.

The war in Ukraine is a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions. The death toll is rising every day, and millions of people are in need of food, water, shelter, and medical care.

Evil.  Evil, the force that brings destruction, harm, and suffering. 

These are only a few of the murders and mass killings that have been reported.

But remember that these crimes are not representative of the vast majority of people in the world. However, they are a reminder of the extent that Evil exists in the world.

In today's gospel reading, Jesus tells the parable of the weeds among the wheat to his disciples. It is about the kingdom of heaven, and it teaches us a number of important things about God's love, God's judgment, and our own responsibility. But, one of the key messages of the parable is that the kingdom of heaven is a place where good and evil coexist.

Jesus tells them that the kingdom of heaven is like a field where a farmer sows good seed. However, while the farmer is asleep, an enemy comes and sows weeds among the wheat. The meaning of the parable is explained by Jesus in verses 36-43. He says that the field is the world, the good seed are the children of the kingdom, the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the harvest is the end of the age.

When the servants of the farmer see the weeds, they ask him to pull them up. However, the farmer tells them not to, because they might also uproot the wheat. Instead, he tells them to wait until the harvest, when the weeds will be separated from the wheat.

At harvest time, he explains that the harvesters will gather the weeds and burn them, but they will also gather the wheat and store it in the barn.

There are many different interpretations of this parable. Some people believe that the weeds represent evil people, while the wheat represents good people. Others believe that the weeds represent false teachers, while the wheat represents true believers. Still others believe that the parable is simply a metaphor for the fact that good and evil coexist in the world. They argue that there will always be both good and evil people in the world, and that we cannot separate them out.

No matter how we think about the parable, a crucial message emerges: the kingdom of heaven is a realm where goodness and wickedness coexist. This is a difficult message to accept, but it is one that we must face if we are to understand the nature of the kingdom of heaven.

The good news is that Jesus tells us that the weeds will be separated from the wheat at the harvest. This means that there will be a final judgment, when evil will be defeated and good will be victorious.

But, how does God define evil, and why does evil even exist?

The Bible does not provide a single definition of evil, but it does offer a number of insights into what God considers to be evil.

Evil is the opposite of God's goodness. In the Bible, God is often described as the source of all goodness. Evil, therefore, is anything that is contrary to God's goodness. This includes things like sin, wickedness, and injustice.

Evil is a choice. The Bible teaches that humans have free will. We can choose it.

Evil is a lack of goodness. In the Bible, evil is often contrasted with goodness. For example, in Psalm 51:4, David says, "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight." In this verse, David is acknowledging that his sin is a lack of goodness, a deviation from God's perfect standard.

Evil is a perversion of God's creation. The Bible teaches that God created the world good (Genesis 1:31). However, sin has corrupted God's creation, introducing evil into the world. This is evident in the natural world, where we see things like disease, death, and suffering. It is also evident in the human heart, where we see things like selfishness, hatred, and violence.

And, evil is a result of human sin. And is ultimately a rebellion against God. Genesis 3 portrays the initial act of rebellion, where Adam and Eve defied God's command not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This act of disobedience introduced sin and evil into the world.

Ultimately, God's definition of evil is both complex and multifaceted. Nevertheless, the Bible provides valuable insights into the nature of evil, enabling us to gain a deeper understanding of what God deems wicked and how he confronts evil in our world.

The question of why God permits evil to exist is also difficult, and there is no easy answer. There are many different theological and philosophical perspectives on this issue, and no one perspective is universally accepted.

Some people believe that God permits evil in order to test our faith. They argue that if there were no evil, then we would not have the opportunity to choose between good and evil. This choice is essential for our spiritual growth, and it is something that God wants us to experience.

Others believe that God permits evil in order to allow us to exercise our free will. They argue that if God prevented all evil, then we would not be able to make our own choices. This would mean that we would not be truly free, and it is something that God does not want for us.

Still others believe that God permits evil in order to bring about a greater good. They argue that evil can sometimes lead to positive outcomes, such as when it leads us to grow in compassion or to develop new strengths. They believe that God is ultimately in control of everything, and that even evil can be used for good.

So, there is no one "correct" answer to the question of why God permits evil to exist. The answer is likely a mystery that we will never fully understand. That said, the different views can help us to better understand the nature of evil and the role it plays in our lives.

Even the Bible does not offer a definitive answer to the question of why God permits evil to exist. However, there are a number of passages in the Bible that offer insights into this issue. For example, the book of Job explores the problem of evil in great depth. Job is a righteous man who suffers greatly, and he questions why God would allow him to suffer. In the end, Job does not get a precise answer to his question, but he comes to a deeper understanding of God's character.

The book of Romans also offers some insights into the problem of evil. In Romans 8:28, Paul writes that "all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." This passage suggests that even evil can be used for good, if we trust in God's ultimate plan.

As Christians, we believe that evil is a real force in the world, but that it is ultimately overcome by God's love and grace. We can live with evil by remembering that it is not the final word, and that God is always with us.

So what to do? How can we live with evil as Christians?

We can pray for those who are affected by evil. Prayer is a powerful way to connect with God and to ask for his help. Praying for those in suffering not only brings them comfort but also aligns us with God's will to conquer evil.

We can stand up to evil. This doesn't mean that we have to confront evil directly, but we can speak out against it and work to create a more just and loving world. We can also support organizations that are working to fight evil.

We can focus on the good in the world. It can be easy to get caught up in the news and social media, which often focus on the negative aspects of the world. However, it's important to remember that there is also a lot of good in the world. We can choose to focus on the good, and to be part of the solution to evil.

No doubt, living with evil is difficult, but it is possible. By following these principles, we can find hope and strength in the midst of suffering.

We can also live with evil by remembering that we are not alone. As Christians, we are part of a community of people who are also struggling with evil. We can find support and encouragement from each other, and we can work together to overcome evil.

While the parable of the weeds among the wheat is a challenging one, it is also a hopeful one. It reminds us that good and evil coexist in the world, but it also reminds us that evil will ultimately be defeated. We must live in the tension of this reality, but we can do so with hope, knowing that God is ultimately in control and in the end, God will triumph over evil.

It also teaches us that we should not judge others. We cannot always tell who is good and who is evil. Only God knows who will be saved and who will be condemned.

So, what does this mean for us today? It means that we should not be surprised when we see evil in the world. Instead, we should focus on living our lives in accordance with the will of God.

If we do this, then we can be confident that we will be found among the wheat at the end of the age. And, that evil will not ultimately triumph, but that God will win in the end.

Thanks be to God!