Avoiding the appearance of evil

[rainbowpromises]

I am not going to doubt that something is "lost in the translation" but I would like to suggest that, even though we are looking at one passage in this thread, we might want dig deeper.

Often a topic in the Bible is not confined to one passage. The idea of fleeing from evil, avoiding evil, or abstaining from evil might be found in examples throughout the Bible. Examples both good and bad are found in the OT. In the NT we are also exhorted to not be a stumbling block to others.
In hindsight we can see that Joseph fled from evil leaving an article of clothing in the hands of said evil. Lot however did not flee from evil and became a stumbling block for the rest of his family. Those are the two easy to remember examples.

 

[ignorant and stupid]

The text isn't so much telling us not to do anything that someone could misinterpret as evil. It's telling to stay away from every type or kind or when evil makes it's appearance to stay away.

The KJV get's misinterpreted because of the word appearance and thinking that means we aren't to appear evil but it's really talking about appearance like when a movie star makes an appearance.

So you can see if you use other translations.
1Th 5:22 NET.
(22) Stay away from every form of evil.

1Th 5:22 ISV
(22) but keep away from every kind of evil.

If you read these translations and the KJV and think they have different meanings, they don't, but people often take the wrong possible meaning of appearance. So that verse has been real popular among pietists and legalists to basically outlaw everything.

Marv

Exactly That's what I was going to say.

People often abuse this verse to control people or misinterpret it (which is probably a bad thing).

 

[ignorant and stupid]

At first glance at this question I thought of being an example in all that I do and say. As I read I came across this post and realized there has to be more.


John, I have to question your idea that we are different now than that of NT times. News articles in my area alone:

• cruel - teenagers beat to death another teen behind the local grocery store simply because he was different
• immoral - child pornography ring linked to adults in more than one country
• violent - a young man recieved a superficial gunshot wound and while being put in a car to be taken to hospital the attacker came after him with a knife
• superstitious - horoscope page (need I say more)
• corrupt world - government official caught in scandal claims to be justified in his actions

This is just as required todayas it was then.

I think the point here is that "we are different now than that of NT times" which seems quite clear. Although the immorality of the human race is just as bad (or probably most people would say worse), Christianity in some places (mainly the west) has changed.

I think it's quite clear that in modern times many Christians aren't sharing all their money and assets with everyone in the community. Nor are many Christians meeting in the streets and squares daily to sing and have fellowship. Incredible miracles and healings and hundreds (even thousands) becoming Christians daily at open preachings in the streets. New Christians leaving everything they have to become travelling preachers.

NT Christianity was radical and went against the majority of cultural practices at the time. It was so radical that people were worried on both sides that it might become a revolution.

Obviously there are still revolutionary Christians, who are going against the worldly norm, some don't have tv's don't have cars (great stuff for Flandidly before about the enviroment - I know alot of people don't take genesis that seriously anymore, but we are called to be caretakers), some share houses and live in community, some preachers pay all their own way and are tent makers, some Christians give almost everything they earn to God.

But lets be honest, you can't really say that the majority of Christians (in the west) are like this. Sometimes its hard to see the difference on a day to day basis between a Christian and a non-Christian except for the Bible reading and prayer. They both have the same houses, jobs, family, vacations, watch the same tv, etc.

To say we haven't lost some of that NT radical discipleship and the Spiritual power that comes with it is I think overly optimistic. We are different from NT times. Look across to Africa, India, South America. Blind people, lame people being healed everyday, people who have nothing giving away everything they have.

The Gospel leading people to out of their comfort zones to live an unworldly life, we're different from that now - we're comfortable and enjoy what the world has to offer.

 

[Johnnz]

Hi,

I wasn't trying to compare the relative evilness of society but rather that Christians were in very stark contrast to their surrounding society. For example:

Only a few were privileged and had anything like real comforts. Most lives in squalid conditions, without sewerage or clean water.
Slavery was common.
Rome ruled by might, and torture, war, punishment and death were common.
Entertainment could be watching people kill each other
There was no medicine for ordinary people, no hospitals, no care for the aged. Very many people had skin, eye and hearing disorders, and many were maimed or deformed in some way by injury or illness.
Killing of babies especially girls was common, as was abortion, frequently leading to death.
The average life span was around 30 years
Compassion, mercy and pity were scorned as virtues.
Sexual immorality was often insitutionalised as part of religious life
There was no concept of equality, and no democracy.
Education was limited to higher classes, and seldom given to women.
Marriage was held in low esteem, and society was very patriarchal.

Look at the NT and you will see just how much the Christian concepts of persons and virtues differs from that.

Today Christian concepts are embedded within our society, often unrecognised as essentially Christian in origin. Your comments about issues that should characterise Christians are spot on.

John
NZ

 

[rainbowpromises]

I think the point here is that "we are different now than that of NT times" which seems quite clear. Although the immorality of the human race is just as bad (or probably most people would say worse), Christianity in some places (mainly the west) has changed.

I think it's quite clear that in modern times many Christians aren't sharing all their money and assets with everyone in the community. Nor are many Christians meeting in the streets and squares daily to sing and have fellowship. Incredible miracles and healings and hundreds (even thousands) becoming Christians daily at open preachings in the streets. New Christians leaving everything they have to become travelling preachers.

NT Christianity was radical and went against the majority of cultural practices at the time. It was so radical that people were worried on both sides that it might become a revolution.

Obviously there are still revolutionary Christians, who are going against the worldly norm, some don't have tv's don't have cars (great stuff for Flandidly before about the enviroment - I know alot of people don't take genesis that seriously anymore, but we are called to be caretakers), some share houses and live in community, some preachers pay all their own way and are tent makers, some Christians give almost everything they earn to God.

But lets be honest, you can't really say that the majority of Christians (in the west) are like this. Sometimes its hard to see the difference on a day to day basis between a Christian and a non-Christian except for the Bible reading and prayer. They both have the same houses, jobs, family, vacations, watch the same tv, etc.

To say we haven't lost some of that NT radical discipleship and the Spiritual power that comes with it is I think overly optimistic. We are different from NT times. Look across to Africa, India, South America. Blind people, lame people being healed everyday, people who have nothing giving away everything they have.

The Gospel leading people to out of their comfort zones to live an unworldly life, we're different from that now - we're comfortable and enjoy what the world has to offer.

"Appearance of evil" was the original post coupled with your post, which I might add was void of (in the west) disclaimers, sounded very much like you were making exactly the point I understood. Thank you for clarifying your post after the fact. Had you worded this way in the first place I could not have refuted it.

 

[NiteClerk]

I agree that the common English translation is bad. But still if you want to avoid evil in every form, a good way to start is to avoid the appearance of evil.
Look at it this way. It is evil to encourage others to do wrong. So if you appear to do evil, others may see and copy you. Better to set a good, moral example for others to copy.

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

It's a bad translation. Jesus did not avoid the appearance of evil, and would recommend people not "white-wash their tombs" BY LOOKING "GOOD".

 

[Ps145]

Basically, this argument over semantics is pointless, because at the end of the day, whether it means to avoid evil, evil where it appears, or what looks like evil, all christians are still duty bound by God to refrain from causing the weaker (i.e., comparatively weaker, not necessarily weak) brother/sister to stumble.

Therefore, you don't get a pass by saying it means avoid evil where it appears or avoiding evil itself. If failing to avoid evil where it appears or failing to avoid evil itself causes the weaker brother/sister to stumble, and they most certainly do, you are to avoid it.

Will you therefore, in the exercise of your liberty, cause them to sin? Shame on you if you say yes.

And don't forget the lesson of Ai. Even if you commit your sin in secret, it affects others.

 

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

deleted

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

The only person that warrants being heard, and who I would change my behaviour for, with regards to this kind of issue - is my husband.

Sasch

Dont have any friends? that's sad ;(

I think the term "appearance" is more than semantics because it affects so many people! The rule of thumb is "everything is permissable, not everything is beneficial". Balance in all things, it may look bad but be Godly, it may look Godly but be baaaaaaaaaaaaad. Use yer noodle!

 

[charligirl]

It's a bad translation. Jesus did not avoid the appearance of evil, and would recommend people not "white-wash their tombs" BY LOOKING "GOOD".

Absolutely, great point. Jesus spent his time going out to lunch with prostitutes and drunks... imagine what some of the more conservative christians might have to say if we did that!