Defeat evil with good
Series: Follow me | Bible text: Romans 12:14–21
This sermon follows on seamlessly from the last three sermons on the subject of forgiveness. Paul’s principle is: «Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good!» (Romans 12:21). However, he does not leave it at this general statement, but offers us five ways in which we can do this. Finally, we learn how followers of Jesus can have the strength and love to forgive and lead such a life.
In October 2006, a gunman took hostages in an Amish schoolhouse in Pennsylvania. He shot ten children between the ages of seven and thirteen, five of whom died, and then committed suicide. Within hours, members of the Amish community visited both the killer’s immediate family and his parents and expressed their condolences. The Amish unanimously extended forgiveness to the murderer and his family. The forgiveness and love shown to the killer and his family amazed many.
A few years later, a group of academics wrote about the incident and concluded that simple appeals to be more forgiving go unheeded in our culture. Our culture no longer produces people who can deal with suffering without seeking retribution. Americans would focus on self-realisation and self-assertion and would have a pronounced sense of entitlement. For the Amish, however, one of their core values is self-denial. One manifestation of this is forgiveness. The authors conclude: «Most of us have been moulded by a culture that nurtures revenge and mocks mercy.» In such a culture, forgiveness is seen as self-harming. Revenge and anger are considered authentic.
The Amish are part of the Anabaptist tradition, and many of their churches still adhere to the Dordrecht Confession of Faith (1632). There is a whole article in it that opposes the taking of revenge. Basically, it is about the text from Romans 12:14–21 with the main statement: «Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good!» (Romans 12:21 NLB). It is the key to peaceful coexistence – be it in the small cell (marriage, family, church) or in the international community of states.
When evil triumphs
«Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good!» (Romans 12:21 NLB). Defeat is a military word. In the wars currently raging, the fighting will only end when a winner has been determined. Incidentally, the Greek word for win is nike. The sporting goods brand takes its name from this word. This can be a helpful reminder. Whenever you see the Swoosh, the Nike logo, you can remind yourself that evil should be defeated with good. There are exactly two possibilities: Either you are defeated by evil, or you defeat evil by responding to it with good. When things take the normal course of this world, evil triumphs.
You are defeated by evil:
- When you strike back in response to an injury or offence or wish that the person who caused it would also be harmed. In Christian circles, this is usually not so obvious, but rather subtle. Sometimes in sarcastic humour, in ironic or sharp-tongued remarks or in quiet satisfaction when the other person fails.
- When it destroys our relationship with the other. There is a danger that we will «bury the hatchet» after a conflict, but will no longer have much to do with each other. This is then justified with the words: «You don’t have to be best friends with everyone.» The relationship has cooled considerably. Genuine forgiveness, however, includes the desire for reconciliation and rapprochement.
- If it distorts our image of ourselves. When we constantly replay in our minds what we have experienced, we fixate on what is wrong with others and how noble we ourselves are in contrast. Self-pity and self-righteousness mix to form a toxic cocktail. The feeling that no one knows how much I have suffered makes me susceptible to evil. I will seize opportunities to do less than honourable things and justify them by saying that I am only compensating myself.
- If it helps the offender to justify his actions through us. Maintaining a reaction of anger or coldness towards the guilty party can provide him with a justification for his actions. He can then think that we are a cruel person and that what has happened to us is quite right for us.
Unfortunately, evil continues to win in our world. During the unrest in the Balkans following the collapse of the former Yugoslavia, a Serbian soldier was captured by the Kosovo Liberation Army. In a television interview, he freely admitted that his military unit had killed ethnic Albanians. However, he said: «You have to understand […], it was our revenge!» The Kosovo Liberation Army itself was also guilty of violence against ethnic Serbs and Roma for the same reason. As one Albanian puts it, it was the «understandable desire for revenge».
How good triumphs
A fortnight ago we received the following question from someone in our church: «It was mentioned in the sermon today that reconciliation also means taking a step towards each other. How can I do that if the other person doesn’t want to accept my forgiveness or an approach?» St Paul offers us five ways in which we can overcome evil with good, especially in difficult situations:
- Pray for the guilty party: «Bless those who persecute you; bless them, do not curse them» (Romans 12:14 New Testament). Blessing means above all praying for the perpetrators – for God to bless them. You speak the good to the other person that you also wish for yourself. It is impossible to be angry with someone for long when you are praying for them. In prayer, you turn to God as a sinner. This removes any sense of superiority and we identify with the other person.
- Awarded: «Do not repay evil with evil» (Romans 12:17 New Testament). Forgiveness is the conscious renunciation of any desire for retribution. I grant this inner forgiveness, which cancels out the personal guilt between us, to everyone who has been guilty against me. This creates the prerequisite for no longer confronting the offender out of revenge. Confrontation without revenge – this is where reconciliation begins.
- Do not avoid the guilty party: «If it is possible and as far as it is up to you, live in peace with all people» (Romans 12:18 New Testament). Some say: «I have forgiven, but I don’t want to have anything more to do with this person.» In reality, this is a form of retribution. Paul advises us to always endeavour to re-establish a relationship. Forgiveness means reconciliation and rapprochement.
- Give what the other person needs, as far as they allow it: «Even more: «If your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. Such behaviour will put him to shame» » (Romans 12:20 New Testament). Whenever there is an opportunity to do something for a person who has hurt me, I should do it. However, our generosity should never make it easy for the other person to continue sinning. Perhaps a confrontation is also needed to help the other person.
- Act in an attitude of humility: «In your dealings with one another, let your behaviour be determined by the fact that you have a common goal. Do not be arrogant, but seek fellowship with those who are inconspicuous and insignificant. Do not think yourselves wise» (Romans 12:16 New Testament). You can also forgive in order to elevate yourself morally above the other person. Forgiveness is a gift that a flawed person, who is saved by pure grace, gives to another sinful person. If we act in love and humility, there is a good chance that the other person will understand that we care about them.
Where power and love come from
How can a follower of Jesus have the strength and love to forgive and lead such a life? Paul also gives us the answer to this: «Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but leave vengeance to the wrath of God. For it is written: «To avenge wrong is mine, says the Lord; I will repay» » (Romans 12:19 New Testament). As followers of Jesus, it is our job to achieve as much righteousness as we can and leave the rest to God. There will be no comprehensive justice in this world. We need to add the transcendental dimension to the system.
«I will retaliate», says the LORD. We like to understand this sentence in the sense of: «Leave it to God. He will get even with him, the hard way!» This understanding is fundamentally wrong. Like every statement in the Bible, it must be understood in context. We must never wish harm on a person who has hurt or harmed us. Nor does it mean cynical passivity, but requires a loving heart that resolutely refuses to get out of the way of someone who has wronged us. A heart that is willing to forgive them, to be kind and helpful to them wherever possible. This should be done in the serene knowledge that no comprehensive justice is possible in this world.
What will the retribution that God will mete out look like? In Jesus Christ, God comes into this world and takes the just punishment upon himself. Luther translates v. 19 as «Revenge is mine». This reminds us that God’s wrath, which should have fallen on us, fell on him. The retribution that should have fallen on us fell on him. There will never be justice in this world. Jesus Christ creates justice in the sense that he himself is justice: «[…] For Christ is our righteousness, through Christ we belong to God’s holy people, and through Christ we are redeemed» (1 Corinthians 1:30 New Testament). Jesus is our righteousness. Jesus will do justice to all; to the one who did wrong and to the one who suffered injustice.
If we want to have a heart that beats completely for forgiveness, that overcomes evil with good, that does not feel superior and does not need to justify itself, then we must look to Jesus Christ. HE takes upon Himself the retribution that should by right befall us. It hit Him. HE took it upon himself. Only when we see a king who voluntarily acts for us as a servant will we servants stop acting like little kings and judges. What can really change us is to look at Jesus, who forgives even as He dies: «Father, forgive these people, for they know not what they do»(Luke 23:34 NLB).
Possible questions for the small groups
Read the Bible text: Romans 12:14–21
- Tells fictional or true stories in which evil triumphs over good.
- How can evil be defeated with good? What experiences have you had yourself?
- Are you yourself in a tricky situation where you are stuck in the reconciliation process? What could be the next step?
- Which of the five ways of living forgiveness offered by Paul do you find easier and which more difficult?
- «The LORD will take vengeance.» Why does this passage contain the strength and love we need for forgiveness?