Overcoming Evil with Good?

I was wondering about dealing with the question of "Fighting Evil". The nation as a whole seems to be obsessed with it, our leaders pledged to wage war aginst it and in our personal lives maybe alot of us Americans our fighting out own little war against terrorist. So can you really prevail against evil men who do immeasurable harm in our lives, And what should our response be to evil people and events in out lives?

Well a couple of days ago I was pondering this question, I typed it up on a search engine and found this website http://www.stjohns.presbychurch.net/Sermons/evil.htm.
I'm not a practicing Christian, nor was I looking for some "mandy pandy" peaching on how to deal with the probelms of evil. But I looked at the text, and found that the author of the text makes alot of goods points. Reading it, it's not hard to see the wisdom of why it maybe nessary in the war against terrorism or Evil ,to fight Evil with "goodwill". After all in our current struggle I think we are looking alot of damage to ourselves as well as America as a whole.

I've included the url, of this webstite sermon but I want to include some of the text here so maybe you can read it and tell me what you think about it?

Fighting Evil with Good


..."But Christian faith does call us to fight evil with good — in the world as it is. In Matthew 5:43-48 Jesus urges his disciples: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be children" of God, who "makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous." (vs. 44-45) The lesson of scripture is that God loves our enemies, as well as us, and so the church calls on Christians not merely to love those who love them, but to love as God loves.

Consider also Paul’s counsel to the Christians in Rome. "Let love be genuine," he writes. "Hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good." (Rom. 12:9) Clearly, Paul believes Christians must struggle against evil by being good. "Bless those who persecute you," he says. "Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all." (Rom. 12:14, 17)

We need to be reminded that these teachings were not written for rulers. Jesus and Paul are not advising governing officials in Palestine or the cities of the Roman Empire. These teachings were written to help Christians resolve differences within their churches and to help Christians persevere in the face of persecution that they may be unable to prevent.

Listen carefully to Paul’s words. "If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God." (Rom. 12:18-19) Paul knows that the Christians in Rome do not have control over what is happening there. "If it is possible," he says, Christians are to live peaceably with one another. "So far as it depends on you," he advises the church in Rome, settle your differences among yourselves and with non-Christians without violence.

Paul expects there will be persecution, but tells Christians in Rome not to seek vengeance for violence done to them. Although they may be unable to prevent violence against them, they have the power not to seek vengeance through violence. Paul argues that vengeance belongs only to God. If Christians are to live peaceably with non-Christians, then Christians must respond to evil with good. Listen to Paul’s words to the church in Rome: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." (Rom. 12:20)

What does Paul mean? He is quoting Proverbs 25:21-22. Literally, of course, showing mercy to one’s enemies will not "heap burning coals on their heads." But this metaphor may be taken to mean that loving our enemies is how they may come to have remorse for the injustice they have done to us. If they have harmed us, because they felt their cause was just, our loving response may undermine their self-justification, and so open their minds and their hearts.

Paul urges the Christians in Rome: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Rom. 12:21) The power of evil cannot be defeated, if we respond to evil with evil, no matter how justified our response may be. Christian faith teaches that evil can only be overcome with good. Responding to evil with good is how we witness to the love of God for the world.

What does this mean for American Christians today? Christians need to consider this question prayerfully, and even with prayer we should not expect unanimity in the church about our response to the war against terrorism. The New Testament was not written for citizens with the power to elect their government, nor does the Bible anticipate attacks on the United States at the beginning of the 21st century. But both scripture and the church call us to fight evil with good, and this wisdom should not simply be dismissed as either unrealistic or unpatriotic.

How might American Christians fight the evil of terrorism with good sense and good will?

By seeking justice rather than vengeance. The war against terrorism should not be motivated by a desire for revenge. When people are arrested and charged with being terrorists, they must be given a presumption of innocence and a fair trial. When war is waged against a government harboring terrorists, the violence must be limited to the objective of ending the government’s support for terrorism.

By providing food, water and medicine for our enemies. The goal of the war in Afghanistan should not be to kill government officials, who have refused to turn over the leaders of Al Qaeda to the United States, but to turn these leaders against terrorism. Even as we fight this war, we should urge our government to reach out to our enemies so that at least some of them, some day, will become our friends.

By promoting the rule of law within and among nations. While our government wages war, it should also support initiatives for peace that help the United Nations mediate national disputes and that strengthen the use of international law in fighting terrorism.

By supporting all that is good in America. Patriotism in support of our civil liberties, our constitutional form of government, American openness and generosity, and a renewed spirit of community service deserves the energetic support of every citizen.

By understanding the history of Islamic civilization. We should welcome the opportunity to learn more about the heritage of 1/5 of the world’s peoples, and to understand why terrorism against America is now being justified by many Muslims because of the way the West treated Islamic nations and peoples in the 20th century.

By praying for those who persecute us. As Christians, we are commanded to pray for our enemies, because God cares for them, too. If we are to pray for forgiveness for ourselves, we must pray to God to help us forgive our enemies. If we are to be children of God, we must accept that all other peoples, even our enemies, are also children of God.

By worshipping God with Jews and with Muslims. There is only one God. That is our Christian faith. The God of Abraham, Jesus and Muhammad is worshipped in different ways by Jews, Christians and Muslims. Yet our prayers are all directed to the God who is God, and surely our prayers can be answered only by the God who is God. So, in faith, let us pray not only for Jews and for Muslims, but as it is possible let us pray to God, as Christians, with Jews and with Muslims.

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Rom. 12:21) This Christian teaching is good advice. May we take it to heart and put it into practice. Amen.

4 November 2001"