Choosing Good: Overcoming Evil Through Surrender and Love
Summary
Reflecting on the eighth anniversary of 9/11, we are reminded of the profound questions that arise in the face of evil and suffering. Many wonder why a good and loving God would allow such horrific events to occur. The reality is that evil exists because the world that allows for the possibility of evil also allows for the greatest possibility of good. This duality is essential for a world where human beings have the freedom to choose, develop character, and experience love. The presence of evil challenges us to examine our own hearts and the anger that often fuels harmful actions.
Anger, stemming from unmet desires, is a primary source of evil. It manifests in various forms, from personal conflicts to large-scale atrocities. Jesus addresses this in the Sermon on the Mount, emphasizing the need to root out anger and contempt from our lives. By surrendering our will to God, we can overcome the destructive power of anger and align our desires with what is good. This surrender is not about losing our desires but transforming them to reflect God's will, leading to a life of peace and contentment.
In a world filled with suffering, our responsibility as Christians is to follow Christ and invite others to do the same. This involves living out the values of the Kingdom of God, promoting love, justice, and goodness in our spheres of influence. It is not merely about securing a place in heaven but actively participating in God's work against evil here and now. By doing so, we contribute to a world where good triumphs over evil, even amidst pain and loss.
Key Takeaways:
- The existence of evil is intertwined with the possibility of good, as a world that allows for choice and character development inherently includes the potential for both. This duality challenges us to reflect on the nature of freedom and responsibility. [03:35]
- Anger, often rooted in unmet desires, is a significant source of evil. By addressing the anger within ourselves, we can prevent the escalation of harm and promote peace in our relationships and communities. [06:39]
- Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount highlight the importance of removing anger and contempt from our lives. This transformation requires surrendering our will to God, aligning our desires with His goodness. [12:16]
- Our role as Christians is to actively participate in God's work against evil by living out the values of the Kingdom of God. This involves promoting love, justice, and goodness in our daily lives and inviting others to follow Christ. [18:26]
- In heaven, our desires will be aligned with what is good, eliminating the root of anger and discontent. This transformation begins now as we grow in our relationship with God and learn to trust in His care and direction. [15:44]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:20] - Reflecting on 9/11
[00:47] - The Question of Evil
[01:13] - The Role of Emergency Responders
[01:36] - Introduction to Dallas Willard
[02:27] - Where Was God on 9/11?
[03:09] - God and Suffering
[03:22] - Why Does God Allow Evil?
[05:02] - Understanding the Roots of Evil
[06:26] - Anger as a Source of Evil
[07:22] - The Possibility of a World Without Evil
[08:37] - The Value of Human Choice
[10:01] - The Order of the World
[11:10] - Raising Children and Moral Growth
[12:02] - Jesus on Anger and Contempt
[13:14] - Personal Responsibility Against Evil
[15:17] - Desires and Heaven
[18:01] - Christian Responsibility Against Injustice
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 5:21-22 (Sermon on the Mount)
2. James 1:19-20
3. Romans 12:17-21
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Observation Questions:
1. In Matthew 5:21-22, what does Jesus say about anger and its consequences? How does this relate to the sermon’s discussion on the roots of evil? [12:16]
2. According to James 1:19-20, what is the recommended approach to dealing with anger? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on surrendering our will to God? [14:09]
3. Romans 12:17-21 speaks about responding to evil with good. How does this passage connect with the sermon’s call for Christians to actively participate in God’s work against evil? [18:26]
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the destructive power of anger in personal and global contexts? [06:26]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of free will, as discussed in the sermon, help us understand the coexistence of good and evil in the world? [03:35]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that anger can be transformed into a force for good? How does this transformation begin with surrendering to God’s will? [12:16]
3. How does the sermon interpret Jesus’ teachings on anger and contempt in the Sermon on the Mount? What practical steps are suggested for removing these from our lives? [12:28]
4. What does the sermon imply about the role of Christians in promoting love, justice, and goodness in the world? How does this relate to the idea of living out the values of the Kingdom of God? [18:26]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when anger led you to act in a way you later regretted. How might surrendering your will to God have changed your response in that situation? [14:09]
2. Identify an area in your life where unmet desires often lead to anger. What steps can you take to align these desires with God’s will? [06:39]
3. How can you actively participate in promoting love, justice, and goodness in your community this week? What specific actions can you take to reflect the values of the Kingdom of God? [18:26]
4. Consider a relationship in your life where anger or contempt has caused harm. What practical steps can you take to heal and restore peace in that relationship? [12:28]
5. How can you encourage others in your sphere of influence to follow Christ and work against evil? What role can you play in fostering a community that reflects God’s love and justice? [18:38]
6. Reflect on the idea that in heaven, our desires will be aligned with what is good. How can you begin this transformation now in your daily life? [15:44]
7. What is one specific way you can trust in God’s care and direction this week, especially in areas where you feel anger or discontent? [15:03]
Devotional
Day 1: The Duality of Good and Evil
The existence of evil in the world is deeply intertwined with the possibility of good. This duality is essential for a world where human beings have the freedom to choose, develop character, and experience love. The presence of evil challenges us to reflect on the nature of freedom and responsibility. It is through this lens that we can understand why a good and loving God would allow such events to occur. The world that allows for the possibility of evil also allows for the greatest possibility of good. This understanding invites us to examine our own hearts and the choices we make, encouraging us to choose good over evil in our daily lives. [03:35]
Genesis 50:20 (ESV): "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."
Reflection: Consider a recent choice you made that had the potential for both good and evil. How did you navigate that decision, and what can you learn from it about your own freedom and responsibility?
Day 2: The Root of Anger
Anger, often rooted in unmet desires, is a significant source of evil. It manifests in various forms, from personal conflicts to large-scale atrocities. By addressing the anger within ourselves, we can prevent the escalation of harm and promote peace in our relationships and communities. Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount emphasize the need to root out anger and contempt from our lives. This transformation requires surrendering our will to God, aligning our desires with His goodness. By doing so, we can overcome the destructive power of anger and live a life of peace and contentment. [06:39]
James 1:19-20 (ESV): "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."
Reflection: Identify a situation where you felt anger recently. What unmet desire was at the root of that anger, and how can you address it in a way that aligns with God's will?
Day 3: Surrendering to God's Will
Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount highlight the importance of removing anger and contempt from our lives. This transformation requires surrendering our will to God, aligning our desires with His goodness. Surrendering to God is not about losing our desires but transforming them to reflect His will, leading to a life of peace and contentment. By aligning our desires with God's goodness, we can experience a profound transformation that impacts our relationships and communities. This surrender is a daily practice that requires trust in God's care and direction. [12:16]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 4: Living Out the Kingdom of God
Our role as Christians is to actively participate in God's work against evil by living out the values of the Kingdom of God. This involves promoting love, justice, and goodness in our daily lives and inviting others to follow Christ. It is not merely about securing a place in heaven but actively participating in God's work against evil here and now. By doing so, we contribute to a world where good triumphs over evil, even amidst pain and loss. This active participation is a call to action for all Christians to embody the values of the Kingdom in their spheres of influence. [18:26]
Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Reflection: Think of one practical way you can promote love, justice, or goodness in your community this week. How can you invite others to join you in this effort?
Day 5: Aligning Desires with God's Goodness
In heaven, our desires will be aligned with what is good, eliminating the root of anger and discontent. This transformation begins now as we grow in our relationship with God and learn to trust in His care and direction. By aligning our desires with God's goodness, we can experience a life of peace and contentment. This alignment is a journey that requires intentionality and a willingness to let go of desires that do not reflect God's will. As we grow in our relationship with God, we learn to trust in His care and direction, leading to a life that reflects His goodness. [15:44]
Psalm 37:4-5 (ESV): "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act."
Reflection: Reflect on a desire you have that may not align with God's goodness. How can you begin to transform this desire to reflect His will, and what steps can you take to trust in His care and direction?
Quotes
The world that contains the possibility of evil is the one that also contains the greatest possibility of good. The question of why does he allow evil to happen has to be put against the question what would a world be like where evil could not happen. [00:03:26]
If we want to think about what we can do about evil, that's where we want to go is to changing the hearts of human beings beginning with ourselves. We have to accept the fact which the modern world is very resistant to and that is that we live in a world where sin triumphs over good. [00:05:31]
Anger is the primary source of the desire to hurt people, and anger comes from disappointment of one's desires. So right in the very back of this whole discussion is this fundamental fact that people want things they don't get and they become angry and are ready to hurt other people. [00:06:30]
Jesus starts his discussion of life with the picture of the kingdom of God and the blessed life in that and then he turns to street level and begins to look at where harm comes from in terms of individual lives and the first thing he puts his finger on is anger and contempt. [00:12:16]
If you pull anger and contempt out of the world you don't have a 911, you don't have a holocaust, you actually don't have an inquisition, because without those things you simply do not get the motivation to hurt other people. [00:12:39]
The general path of changing this is to say in order to get rid of anger and contempt and to keep desire under control of what is good, you have to surrender your will to God, that is to say you have to turn your future your present everything over to God's care. [00:14:00]
In heaven, we will have grown to the place and be in a context where we will not ever feel threatened that we're going to miss out on something we want, and that will cut the string of anger. It's the context and the development of character. [00:16:35]
The main thing we are to do is to follow Christ and invite others to follow him. That is the practical thing that we can do, and get it out of the category of signing up for heaven when you die because you know if you go that way you might not even like it when you get there. [00:18:34]
Practice now living in the kingdom of God as a disciple of Jesus and using your life, your sphere of influence in every way you can to advance what is good and loving and healthy. Really anyone knows just do the things that are good and right and trust God. [00:18:53]
It's important not to give a kind of cavalier or simple answer for those who have suffered because suffering is something that you have to take in full reality and not try to explain it away in some simple way. The suffering is real. [00:02:39]
The existence of a world with an order and a moral order that is in question, and if you bring it down to the level of raising children or dealing with young people, you realize if you think about it that if you do that you'll destroy their life, that they have to choose and they have to learn. [00:10:54]
You will not be troubled by it because your desires will be subjected to what is good, and see in this world the problem is that desire runs wild, desire just says I want that, and if I don't get it I'm angry, and then I will start treating people with contempt and all sorts of misbehaviors will come in. [00:15:44]
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