NOW ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION“…?

MIKE CUNNINGHAM

DECEMBER 3, 2006

For quite some time there hasn’t been a day go by that I wasn’t often aware of how blessed I am to live in America. When I think of my grandchildren and compare their quality of life with that of children in places such as Darfur, Palestine, Israel, Iraq and other areas, I immediately silently thank the One through whom all my many blessings flow. This morning I would like to look closely at the problem and end my message by asking each of you one simple question.

The perpetrators of such evil in these places all have one thing in common. They do not, nor do they want to know the one true God. In other words, instead of worshiping their Creator they literally worship themselves. Someone might ask, so what else is new? There are millions of people living in our own country with the same attitude. That’s certainly true but most of them aren’t filled with such diabolical rage.

A common factor those bloodthirsty butchers share is their intense hatred of God and their fellow human beings. In considering the genesis of such iniquity let’s start with the evil I have been speaking about and work backward one step at a time. I believe the “destination signs” on “The Road to Evil” would read something like the following. Starting with evil, we go back to hatred, contempt, bitterness and resentment. The next signs we see are sinful anger, irritability and finally, through our eyes of faith we see the devil and his fellow demons. Factoring in those spiritual cosmic powers of this present darkness (Ephesians 6:12) into the equation enables us to see reality. Satan and human beings are, each in their own way co-author’s of all the evil in our world.

No Bible believing Christian should ever be surprised by the shear horror of what’s happening in those places I just mentioned. Nor should any Bible believing Christian wonder why the magnitude of hatred and contempt in these hot-spots hasn’t engulfed the entire world. Again we praise our Sovereign Lord, the One through whom all our blessings flow, the One who restrains the sinful acts of men, and the One who determines the exact magnitude of each one of them.[i]

Who would argue against the fact that our world would be a much better place in which to live if we could somehow get rid of all the evil? The wonderful news is that God not only says we can, but we must get rid of evil, and not give as much as an inch to the one who prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). However we must start with our sinful anger because that is the key which unlocks the flood-gates through which all the other sinful acts flow.

Ephesians 4:26-27 (NIV) ²⁶ “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold.

Judging from the shape the whole world, including our own country is in; most people, including all too many Christian’s are not doing a very good job. For instance:

Many Christian’s have developed the fine art of pretending they aren’t angry. They clam up and won’t be honest enough to express their true feelings. It’s as though their anger is generating steam in a pressure cooker until the moment it finally blows. Then watch out. There’s no telling what may happen.

Proverbs 17:14 (NIV) ¹⁴ Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

Proverbs 26:21 (ESV) ²¹ As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

Have you ever met a Christian who loves to argue? About anything? He or she seems to go out of their way to start an argument. And they won’t give up until they convince you they are right and you are wrong. Even if they aren’t successful they take satisfaction in the fact that they have exasperated you enough to wear you out.

Proverbs 15:1 (ESV) ¹ A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 29:11 (ESV) ¹¹ A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Proverbs 29:20 (ESV) ²⁰ Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Consider for a moment the folks who cut hair for a living, and who sometimes mistakenly trim too much of it. They sometimes discover that they had been working on the head of a fool. Nevertheless God says that even a fool has a lot more going for him or her than the person with a hair-trigger tongue.

Matthew 5:21-22 (ESV) ²¹ “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Colossians 3:8 (ESV) ⁸ But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Romans 12:17 (ESV) ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

God tells us not retaliate by giving the person who has wronged us a taste of his or her own medicine, either by what we say or do or by what we don’t say or don’t do. Nor does He want us to resort to using physical violence or to give someone a tongue lashing or treat the person with contempt by giving him or her the silent treatment. And He doesn’t want us to be going around town bad mouthing the offender every time we get a chance.

Romans 12:19 (ESV) ¹⁹ Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord,” (Deut. 22:35).”

We should never attempt to usurp that which is God’s prerogative and try to take matters into our own hands. Christian’s must leave that responsibility to those folks God has given the civil authority to deliver just punishment. However, we should remember that God may want us to wait patiently until Judgment Day when all people will stand before Jesus and give an account of the life they lived here on earth.

1 Peter 3:9 (ESV) ⁹ Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

Once again the Holy Spirit drives home the same point. Christians must do their best to emulate their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Regardless of the wrongs we experience we must not retaliate against the offender.

1 Peter 2:23 (NIV) ²³ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

Matthew 5:38-44 (NIV) ³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ ³⁹ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰ And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. ⁴¹ If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. ⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

We must struggle with all our might and try to follow the example Jesus left for His followers. What a wonderful opportunity the Lord gives His followers to be witnesses to the power of the Living God working in and through them. Consider the Apostle Steven.

Acts 7:59-60 (NIV) ⁵⁹ While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Philippians 4:8 (ESV) ⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

The chronically angry person doesn’t spend time thinking and meditating about these kinds of wholesome things. On the contrary, those cynical people have developed an extremely suspicious attitude as to the true motives of everybody. They’re constantly on guard so that they won’t be caught by surprise when someone behaves in a manner which they have deemed to be inappropriate and which is therefore unacceptable.

They will give you a tongue lashing of all tongue lashings and let you have it with everything they have in their arsenal. They become so enraged that you won’t even be able to think straight or even know why they are so bent out of shape. Often I have found myself thinking the person screaming at me must be crazy. I don’t know about you, but these are among the least favorite type of Christian’s I care to be around. All I can say is that no one can conclude such folks are filled with the Spirit of God.

Matthew 5:21-22 (NIV) ²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ ²² But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Some Christian’s seem to delight in putting other Christians down. They have blinded themselves by their anger over the perceived shortcomings of other Christians. So much so, that they do not see other peoples good points. They focus on and point out Christians flaws much like the Devil who is constantly slandering the children of God does. They become enraged at fellow Christians who see things differently that they do.

We Christians must struggle to rid ourselves of every form of irritability and resentfulness.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (ESV) ⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

Followers of Jesus must sincerely strive to love everyone. Think about these things we have looked at this morning. And then, in total dependence upon the Lord for the strength, put them into action.

Ephesians 5:25 (NIV) ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

Titus 2:4 (NIV) ⁴ Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children,

Romans 12:9 (NIV) ⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

1 Thessalonians 3:12 (NIV) ¹² May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

1 Peter 2:17 (NIV) ¹⁷ Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

Matthew 22:39 (NIV) ³⁹ ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Matthew 5:44-45 (NIV) ⁴⁴ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Ephesians 4:29-32 (NIV) ²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Now ask yourself this question: “If we were to eliminate all the folks God has just told us not to be angry at, can you think of a single human being He says it’s OK for you and me to get angry at and to stay angry at?

Genesis 35:5 (NIV) ⁵ Then they set out, and the terror of God fell upon the towns all around them so that no one pursued them.

Ezra 5:5 (NIV) ⁵ But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.

Exodus 34:23-24 (NIV) ²³ Three times a year all your men are to appear before the Sovereign LORD, the God of Israel. ²⁴ I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your territory, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times each year to appear before the LORD your God.