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Good Overcoming Evil
– Is This a Godly Theme?
MP3
I received an e-mail the other day
by someone contenting with our Harry Potter
booklet. He could not see what was wrong about the Harry Potter
movies and books. I pointed out to him that God does not tolerate
witchcraft and sorcery. He admitted this and even agreed that
witchcraft was wrong but continued to defend the movies and books by
saying that they show the Godly virtue of good overcoming evil. I
meditated on this for a time and then asked myself the question I have
for you now. Is the theme of good overcoming evil something that God’s
Word teaches or supports?
Fact is we have grown up our whole lives with this concept in books,
radio, movies and television. We take it for granted that it is
inherently good. Through the decades most of our movie and TV heroes
are individuals who confront the evil factions directly and most often
with violence. How many times have we seen it? The bad guy murders
someone with a gun. Next, the good guy goes after him and often
dispatches him with a similar weapon.
In once sense, good has overcome the
evil, but then the show ends and the process begins again with the next
television series that evening or the next action movie. The evil is
never really overcome, as it is ever-present with each succeeding movie
and television show. To witness the good guys overcoming the bad, we
must subject our minds to an endless array of evil. It is ever before
us. Evil is never really overcome for all time.
How does God have firstfruits overcome sin and evil? Does He have us
attack it directly or does He offer a better and more permanent plan?
Notice some verses and as you do, notice how God separates the evil from
the good.
Depart from
evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. -Psalm 34:14
In films and TV the good guy does not depart from evil to do good. He
pursues the evil and generally brings violence.
Woe unto
them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light,
and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for
bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in
their own sight! - Isaiah 5:20-21
The producers of the movies and television series believe they are doing
the right thing by showing the good overcoming the evil but it is
actually good guys directly attacking the evil with the same methods the
evil use and calling that justified and good.
Seek good,
and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall
be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and
establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts
will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph. - Amos 5:14-15
God wants us seeking God and not dealing with evil in any form,
including depictions of evil in the entertainment media. This phrase of
establishing judgment in the gate carries great meaning. The elders in
the gate never allowed evil, in any form into the city. The TV is
something we allow into our city…our minds.
Recompense
to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath:
for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink:
for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not
overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. - Romans 12:17-21
This passage of scripture flies in the face of all good guy/bad guy
entertainment. In each such episode we see the good guy rendering evil
for evil. He uses violence against the bad guy, often in a fit of
outrage, revenge or hate. We are not to avenge ourselves but give place
unto our wrath. As we watch these episodes, we actually get caught up
in these feelings of wrath and revenge. We wish the bad guys great harm
and to be brought to swift justice regardless of cost or method.
Now some confusion comes from the last verse of that passage; Romans
12:21: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil
with good.” Man often takes this to mean that we overcome evil
by a direct attack of some kind. Such is not the case. Notice a
commentary:
Romans 12:21
[But
overcome evil with good] That is, subdue or vanquish evil by
doing good to others. Show them the loveliness of a better spirit; the
power of kindness and benevolence; the value of an amiable, Christian
deportment. So doing, you may disarm them of their rage, and be the
means of bringing them to better minds. ~from
Barnes' Notes
There is no meaning in this verse that would support a direct attack
against sin or evil. We do not overcome sin in our lives by attacking
the sin. We DISPLACE sin by bringing in the good and we bring in the
good by immersing ourselves in the Word of God. Verse 12 takes abut the
POWER of kindness and benevolence or the invoking of the Holy Spirit in
the form of Godly principles [love, joy, peace, forgiveness and
longsuffering]. It is not us overcoming evil by direct pursuit of that
evil but by leaving it to God to handle justice. Notice a key verse:
Say not
thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save
thee. - Proverbs 20:22
When evil visits us, we are to wait on God and He will save us,
regardless of what evil that was. Notice other admonitions along this
line.
He that is slow to anger is better than the
mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. - Proverbs
16:32
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which
hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek
offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to
take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him
that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. - Luke 6:27-30
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise
blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a
blessing. -1 Peter 3:9
Overcome
all sin and all evil by displacing it with good. Avoid, as best you
can, all those portrayals of the good guy using evil to overcome the bad
guy. Do not look upon depictions of evil. Rather, pursue the Good
things.
It was Calvin Coolidge who said, "Little progress can be made by merely
attempting to repress what is evil; our great hope lies in developing
what is good." |
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