The world – evil to the core

There are times when I look around the world wondering, "Why?" Surely, it all serves some sort of a purpose. Surely the wars fought, the innocents killed, the evil punished, the righteous persecuted, the disasters, the thievery, the lies, the victories and corruption all plays some sort of role in a greater purpose. Not by coincidence or chance do these events unfold.

I watch the news and read the paper, surveying all the evil around the world. The deaths in Fallujah, the fighting in Pakistan, the communism in China, the erosion of liberty in America, the corruption at the United Nations and terrorism around the world – reports of these happenings are fed through news outlets daily.

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I really wouldn't be as bothered by these problems if I knew something could be done about them. Moreover, I wouldn't be so bothered if I knew a fight to solve our political and social problems would have a lasting effect. These thoughts flowing through my mind are not original; they have been pondered since the indwelling of evil crept into the world.

Since the time man allowed evil to thrive, wars have been fought, innocents killed, and death and destruction have ruled. Even in view of that, I wouldn't have such a feeling of helplessness. What really bothers me is I am helpless.

Any attempt to hold back the tide of evil ruling in this world is futile. Any successes in such a battle are temporary. History proves it only takes a generation to follow a road of failure. And failures will come.

Moreover, the only thing seen in this world is failure. The group of people who should be fighting in the battle between good and evil in government and culture – the Church – are on the sidelines. Many Christians who are involved to a large degree are preoccupied by the glamorous game of national politics, which solves nothing.

On the American front, an honest assessment of politics and culture leaves a Christian, conservative idealist with nothing. Many times, such discouragement begs the question, "What's the point? Why does it matter?" Then I remember I am not to be of this world and I wonder why I bother following it.

There are two realms that are constantly grasping for attention: the physical world and the spiritual world. The end of the physical world has been prophesied – we know it will die. Yet, the spiritual world will never pass away. The apostle Paul says we are to always keep our eyes on the prize – on heaven – in running the race of life.

Our priorities are to be different – the only lasting concern is spiritual, as Paul wrote, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

Found in the fourth chapter of Luke, the second temptation of Christ was lordship over all the kingdoms of the earth: "And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, 'To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.'"

Jesus didn't argue with him about such a power. He seemed to concede that Satan had lordship over the earth. If any passage could emphasize the futility of this world, Luke 4 would be it. It's obvious we live in a cursed world – one where all the problems will not be solved.

Yet, despite that fact, we, as Christians, have a duty to play a role in the power struggle of this world. The apostle Paul commanded in his letter to Ephesus, "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."

Whether it is in politics, culture, churches or in any realm of man, we are called to expose the evil deeds of darkness. And exposing these things may just be "swimming upstream in a river of peanut butter," as a conservative activist in Oklahoma once said. But if, in our efforts, we are doing right, what is the problem? Politics may be futile and bad stock to invest in, but William of Orange said it best: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to undertake an enterprise, nor to be successful in order to persevere."