With all the talk of evil causing all sorts of distress for mankind, perhaps a proper light should be shone on that idea. In effect addressing the log that is in mankind's eyes in refusing to accept responsibility for it.
Regardless of how some wish to blame an outside source, anyone who is of mankind is just as capable as the next person to commit some 'evil' act, regardless of intensity. It is easy to claim evil is attacking the world but in truth evil has billions of willing self creating soldiers that need no outside force to guide them. Mankind took it upon themselves to acquire the knowledge of good and evil and have used both to justify themselves and their actions ever since.
It is an individual, or more often a group using this knowledge, that causes problems for others. Can one say outside evil is directly involved? Is it an outside force that reeks havoc on the world or simply mankind doing it's own will, following the suggestion that perhaps man wouldn't die if they did not follow God's way instead.
The Tempter now and throughout biblical history made offers and suggestions, including to Jesus in the desert. Jesus asks the Father in the Lord's Prayer to lead us not into temptation (and of course deliver us from evil. Not just the misuse of the knowledge of good and evil but the world built upon it). Jesus called Peter a satan indicating satanic ways were merely, as the Hebrew word for satan indicates, being adversarial to the will of God. That makes us all satans for none are free of guilt of opposing the will of God.
It has always been mankind that has performed evils within the world simply by self determination of what is good and evil in order to justify self interests. Putting 'me' first. That is what is behind all 'sins'.
Seems to me it is not only time to take responsibility for our actions, but also to stop creating further strife and division. Rather than pointing out what is wrong, start proclaiming what is good in order to remove the reasons for defensive retaliation.
How is pointing out an outside source of evil any different than mankind's ways of constantly seeking an outside enemy in the world in order to make their own politics seem righteous. This when as scripture says, "Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God".
© ...timothyu
Regardless of how some wish to blame an outside source, anyone who is of mankind is just as capable as the next person to commit some 'evil' act, regardless of intensity. It is easy to claim evil is attacking the world but in truth evil has billions of willing self creating soldiers that need no outside force to guide them. Mankind took it upon themselves to acquire the knowledge of good and evil and have used both to justify themselves and their actions ever since.
It is an individual, or more often a group using this knowledge, that causes problems for others. Can one say outside evil is directly involved? Is it an outside force that reeks havoc on the world or simply mankind doing it's own will, following the suggestion that perhaps man wouldn't die if they did not follow God's way instead.
The Tempter now and throughout biblical history made offers and suggestions, including to Jesus in the desert. Jesus asks the Father in the Lord's Prayer to lead us not into temptation (and of course deliver us from evil. Not just the misuse of the knowledge of good and evil but the world built upon it). Jesus called Peter a satan indicating satanic ways were merely, as the Hebrew word for satan indicates, being adversarial to the will of God. That makes us all satans for none are free of guilt of opposing the will of God.
It has always been mankind that has performed evils within the world simply by self determination of what is good and evil in order to justify self interests. Putting 'me' first. That is what is behind all 'sins'.
Seems to me it is not only time to take responsibility for our actions, but also to stop creating further strife and division. Rather than pointing out what is wrong, start proclaiming what is good in order to remove the reasons for defensive retaliation.
How is pointing out an outside source of evil any different than mankind's ways of constantly seeking an outside enemy in the world in order to make their own politics seem righteous. This when as scripture says, "Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God".
© ...timothyu