Bishop Ian Anderson: Evil: The Explanation

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Evil: The Explanation

I have been teaching the adult class at Resurrection Protestant Episcopal Church on comparative religions. We started addressing the questions, What is the Trinity? What is God’s nature? Who is Jesus of the bible? A question came up as we were talking about God and His creation regarding evil as referenced in Isaiah 45:7. What is evil?

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. (Isaiah 45:7, KJV)

Basically, they were confused. I had said during class that God did not create evil. Evil exists as the opposite of God’s love and it is rebellion against God’s law. To start with, evil is not really a created thing (unless you know my sister but that’s another story.) Still, it’s a valid question and Isaiah seems to indicate that God created evil. However, the Bible is quite clear that God is not the author of evil and insists that He is incapable of doing so.

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? (Numbers 23:19 ESV)

So what’s the deal? Well, Isaiah 45:7 is simply a contrast of opposites, such as darkness is the opposite of light. However, evil is not the opposite of peace. The Hebrew word for peace is shâlôm, which has many meanings, mostly related to the well being of a person – their welfare, health, and prosperity. Râ‛âh, the Hebrew word for evil in the KJV often refers to adversity or distress, misery, injury, calamity. The ESV translates it this way:

I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things. (Isaiah 45:7 ESV)

So the Hebrew word râ‛âh does not refer to moral evil, but calamities. They indicate that the verse refers to God's judgment based upon people's sin, not God as the author of evil.

For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.
(Psalm 5:4 ESV)

God does bring judgment and calamity (either directly or through human authorities) on those who rebel.

Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. (Romans 13:2-4 ESV)

Be the light,

Bishop Ian

Who We Are

Yes, we are a new work, but one with an original message.

I was asked recently why I thought starting a new work would be any different than the myriad of continuing organizations already in place. I went to Isaiah. The prophet records an interesting account about the people of Israel. The people of Jacob and Israel were living in arrogant opposition to God. He had been patient and diplomatic with them and offered them an opportunity to come to their senses. However, they had no interest in submitting to God’s authority. Finally, God told them that he was going to bring punishment and destruction upon them. The interesting thing here is to note their pride and arrogance in the face of God’s punishment.

“The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.” (Isaiah 9:10 NIV)

No matter who God is, no matter what God would do, they could do better. Despite the consequences they would still be able to succeed on their own. They felt they were strong enough and smart enough to accomplish anything. They didn’t need God and made it very clear by saying “we will rebuild, we will replace.”

You see, the “we will” attitude is still prevalent today. As we are in the midst of some very challenging times, many people refuse to look to God for wisdom and guidance and instead reflect the arrogant attitude of the people during Isaiah’s time. The “new and modern” Anglicism attempts remake and rebuild the Anglican faith into the church they want it to be because they are now in charge. They will replace God's teachings for their own.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. PS. 127:1-3

The short answer is simply this: There is nothing “new” to rebuild. We, as original Anglicans, are the church dedicated to the Gospel. There is no arrogance in that, but there is Christ’s Word, and that's what we follow. Original Anglicans…followers of the biblical historic Jesus.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Evil: The Explanation

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