There's so much confusion and wild abandon in our culture these days. Some people cheer evil and shun good. Most of us were raised with clear views on what constitutes good versus poor behavior, starting at a very young age.
I recall a teachable moment when my daughter was less than two. Going through the checkout line at a supermarket, Amanda (unbeknownst to me) grabbed a tempting item at the checkout line. The moment I noticed it, I ushered her back into the store. She handed the gum to the store manager with an apology. This is one small example of how we begin to foster good moral behavior, rather than making excuses or justifying minor infractions.
”Good” means having a lack of self-centeredness, the ability to compassionately empathize with others, sacrificing our way for the sake of someone else. This way means seeing beyond superficiality. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. risked their own safety to gain freedom for others. They both overflowed with exceptional compassion and empathy.
“Evil” pertains to people lacking empathy for others. Their own desires become paramount. They are selfish, self absorbed and narcissistic. Dictators like Josef Stalin and Adolf Hitler are notorious examples. Killers and rapists also fall into this category. They're unable to see other peoples’ perspectives and possess little or no sense of another person’s inalienable rights.
Most of us are somewhere between the extremes of Gandhi and Hitler. Sometimes, we put our needs before the welfare of others. We behave badly. Other times we’re more Godly, creating kindness by prioritizing others.
Movies and news portraying evil pervade in the public eye. We’re bombarded with such images, clouding our need to seek and choose the Lord’s Way. Fortunately, Scripture guides and keeps us on the right path. Here are some helpful verses.
“Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.”
- PSALM 34:14
”He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.”
- PROVERBS 17:15
”Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.”
- PROVERBS 4:27
Pastor Frank Santora gives us four steps to guard our hearts, while practicing heart modifications instead of behavior modifications.
+ Maintain intimacy with God through daily prayer + Study the Word of God diligently + Activate the power of worship + Process pain by journaling
If you’re struggling with conflicting emotions, let God rewrite your story. Make an appointment with a therapist at CHRISITAN COUNSELING CENTER. Reach out to us at (203) 846-4626. May we all enjoy this holiday season filled with clarity, peace, love, joy and hope.
