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#47 Overcoming evil
From
The Fascination of the Race and Other Essays,
by Benjamin L. Sommer
All who love the right have a natural desire to overcome evil, but not always do
they approach the task in a wise manner.
The attack upon evil must be of twofold nature; that is, there are two phases of
the attack, one of greater, and one of lesser importance. But often the error is
made of giving the phase of greatest importance the least attention or of
neglecting it almost entirely. The reason that the phase of lesser importance
and effectiveness is often given more consideration is because it seems to be
the more direct. The two phases are:
The apostle Paul gives us the right direction when he writes to the Romans: “Be
not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21) As in many
matters, we get unusually wise counsel from Paul in this matter. He was an
experienced fighter against evil, thoroughly experienced in both phases of the
fight.
As a Pharisee he exercised himself largely in the negative phase; that is, to
suppress the evil, saying to himself: “Thou shalt not! Thou shalt not!” Thus, he
had the experience, which taught him a very valuable lesson in life. He learned
that to attempt to suppress the evil merely increases its power and in no wise
destroys the evil. To the Romans he writes: “I had not known lust, except the
law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin taking occasion by the commandment
wrought in me all manner of lust.” (Romans 7:7, 8)
Thus, he learned through the experience of life that the attempt to suppress
evil not only fails but actually increases its power.
This is one reason why Christ succeeded where Moses failed. Christianity is not
so much a suppression of the old evil nature as it is a “new creation.” It is a
new, holy, divine life wrought in the hearts of men, which crowds out the evil
rather than merely suppressing it, directing into good and holy channels the
human energies, which, when not so well employed are almost sure to lead to
abuse, sin, and destruction.
Unwise are the parents with whom the training of children consists mostly of,
“Don't! Don't do this; don't do that!” This is not constructive and will not
build up a strong, virtuous character in the child. The wise parent overcomes
evil tendencies in the child by leading it into all kinds of good and wholesome
activities. Thus, the child's energies are directed into good and wholesome
ways. Another example which we may take is that of the farmer. Of course, he
must fight weeds, but his most effective weapon is to sow plentifully of good
seed. Farmers have been heard to say that a smaller amount of seed than they sow
might yield a good crop were it not for the weeds. But in order that the weeds
may have no room they sow the good seeds more abundantly. Thus, the good plant
crowds out the evil and the principle pronounced by Paul “overcome evil with
good” is put into practice. Now let us apply this principle to Christian life.
What a large part of what is often considered the fruit of a Christian life is
negative: “Touch not, taste not, handle not!” (Col. 2:21) Don't do this; don't
do that sometimes with great stress upon things which are of a very trifling
nature. In the meantime you hear devout souls complaining because the forces of
evil seem so powerful—all kinds of evil plants showing themselves in the Garden
of God. This happens because there is not enough activity to do the good, to
cultivate the positive Christian virtues, to give alms, to do acts of kindness
and charity, to spread the gospel, to comfort the downcast, to seek the lost,
and to bring the erring back upon the Way of Life—in short it is because not
enough good seed is sown and cultivated that so much evil shows itself.
Christ foresaw this when he warned in the following words those whose hearts
have been purified:
“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man he walketh through dry places
seeking rest and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return to the house from
whence I came out; and when he is come he findeth it empty, swept, and
garnished. Then goeth he and taketh with himself seven other spirits more
wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there, and the last state of
that man is worse than the first.” (Matt. 12:43-45)
Empty, swept and garnished! Yes, the house was cleanly swept and garnished, but
it was empty, idle. There was no activity, no growth. Under these conditions the
evil spirit could again take possession, whereas if there had been a heart full
of faith and labor of love, Satan would have been foiled in his effort to regain
possession.
Let all who would overcome evil do so by cultivating the good, by constant
activity in good causes. Thus, there will be life, growth, health, and
prosperity.
And to the leaders in the church—do not think that the evil tendencies which
manifest themselves and which all who love the right deplore, can be overcome by
suppression through strict and severe discipline. But they can be overcome if
the leaders will actually lead the members of the church and especially the
young members who have so much youthful energy and who often have considerable
time to spare, into all manner of good activity.
If we read the Scripture with a mind to understand it, there is so much call to
activity that none should be without something to do which will fill out the
time, occupy the mind, and give a rich satisfaction such as no worldly pleasure
can give.
View all episodes
By Timeless FaithFrom
The Fascination of the Race and Other Essays,
by Benjamin L. Sommer
All who love the right have a natural desire to overcome evil, but not always do
they approach the task in a wise manner.
The attack upon evil must be of twofold nature; that is, there are two phases of
the attack, one of greater, and one of lesser importance. But often the error is
made of giving the phase of greatest importance the least attention or of
neglecting it almost entirely. The reason that the phase of lesser importance
and effectiveness is often given more consideration is because it seems to be
the more direct. The two phases are:
The apostle Paul gives us the right direction when he writes to the Romans: “Be
not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21) As in many
matters, we get unusually wise counsel from Paul in this matter. He was an
experienced fighter against evil, thoroughly experienced in both phases of the
fight.
As a Pharisee he exercised himself largely in the negative phase; that is, to
suppress the evil, saying to himself: “Thou shalt not! Thou shalt not!” Thus, he
had the experience, which taught him a very valuable lesson in life. He learned
that to attempt to suppress the evil merely increases its power and in no wise
destroys the evil. To the Romans he writes: “I had not known lust, except the
law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin taking occasion by the commandment
wrought in me all manner of lust.” (Romans 7:7, 8)
Thus, he learned through the experience of life that the attempt to suppress
evil not only fails but actually increases its power.
This is one reason why Christ succeeded where Moses failed. Christianity is not
so much a suppression of the old evil nature as it is a “new creation.” It is a
new, holy, divine life wrought in the hearts of men, which crowds out the evil
rather than merely suppressing it, directing into good and holy channels the
human energies, which, when not so well employed are almost sure to lead to
abuse, sin, and destruction.
Unwise are the parents with whom the training of children consists mostly of,
“Don't! Don't do this; don't do that!” This is not constructive and will not
build up a strong, virtuous character in the child. The wise parent overcomes
evil tendencies in the child by leading it into all kinds of good and wholesome
activities. Thus, the child's energies are directed into good and wholesome
ways. Another example which we may take is that of the farmer. Of course, he
must fight weeds, but his most effective weapon is to sow plentifully of good
seed. Farmers have been heard to say that a smaller amount of seed than they sow
might yield a good crop were it not for the weeds. But in order that the weeds
may have no room they sow the good seeds more abundantly. Thus, the good plant
crowds out the evil and the principle pronounced by Paul “overcome evil with
good” is put into practice. Now let us apply this principle to Christian life.
What a large part of what is often considered the fruit of a Christian life is
negative: “Touch not, taste not, handle not!” (Col. 2:21) Don't do this; don't
do that sometimes with great stress upon things which are of a very trifling
nature. In the meantime you hear devout souls complaining because the forces of
evil seem so powerful—all kinds of evil plants showing themselves in the Garden
of God. This happens because there is not enough activity to do the good, to
cultivate the positive Christian virtues, to give alms, to do acts of kindness
and charity, to spread the gospel, to comfort the downcast, to seek the lost,
and to bring the erring back upon the Way of Life—in short it is because not
enough good seed is sown and cultivated that so much evil shows itself.
Christ foresaw this when he warned in the following words those whose hearts
have been purified:
“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man he walketh through dry places
seeking rest and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return to the house from
whence I came out; and when he is come he findeth it empty, swept, and
garnished. Then goeth he and taketh with himself seven other spirits more
wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there, and the last state of
that man is worse than the first.” (Matt. 12:43-45)
Empty, swept and garnished! Yes, the house was cleanly swept and garnished, but
it was empty, idle. There was no activity, no growth. Under these conditions the
evil spirit could again take possession, whereas if there had been a heart full
of faith and labor of love, Satan would have been foiled in his effort to regain
possession.
Let all who would overcome evil do so by cultivating the good, by constant
activity in good causes. Thus, there will be life, growth, health, and
prosperity.
And to the leaders in the church—do not think that the evil tendencies which
manifest themselves and which all who love the right deplore, can be overcome by
suppression through strict and severe discipline. But they can be overcome if
the leaders will actually lead the members of the church and especially the
young members who have so much youthful energy and who often have considerable
time to spare, into all manner of good activity.
If we read the Scripture with a mind to understand it, there is so much call to
activity that none should be without something to do which will fill out the
time, occupy the mind, and give a rich satisfaction such as no worldly pleasure
can give.