The Evil of this World         We are continuing in our series about what Jesus and the Bible say about the world and how to live in it. Last week’s article focused on what Jesus, who is the Truth, tells us about the world. In the process, we got an overview of who Jesus is, what He has done, how He has overcome the world, and how He now reigns over the world.       Reading last week’s article , were you surprised at how many of the Scriptural references refer to the devil and his demons? Amazing, isn’t it? When we look at those Scriptures we see quite clearly that Jesus came to overcome the devil and his evil, and they are very real indeed.       A couple weeks ago a YouTube video by a guy called “JP” went around social media. It is titled, “ Why I Changed My Mind About Evil! (I Was WRONG) .” In his own humorous way, JP basically says that in the past he could brush off the idea of evil, the devil and demons, but no...

The Reign of Christ over This World.       “What will it profit a person to gain the whole world if he loses his own soul?” ( Mt16:26 ; Mk 8:36 ; Lk 9:25 .)       “World,” of course can mean the physical universe. “World” is also used in the Bible to refer to the collection of forces of opposition to God. “Worldliness.” Anti-God.       So what if a person gains everything this world has to offer – riches, pleasures, honors and respect, power and authority over others, self-satisfaction – all of it! But if you lose your soul, your personhood, your life? If you end up apart from God by your own choice? That’s Hell. You’ve given your soul to the devil. Jesus says your soul – destined for eternity – is worth more than the whole world. But you’ve tossed it away.       So let’s look at what Jesus, the Truth, tells us about this world. First, He’s not of this world ( Jn 8:23 , 17:14 ). The world doesn’t k...

Meditation on the Two Standards of the Two Kingdoms. Last week we spoke of two kingdoms within this world. We have only the two options: to live according to the kingdom of this world and the devil, or according to the kingdom of Jesus Christ. There is no other option. To serve self is to serve the devil.  Bob Dylan laid it out it in his 1980 Grammy award-winning song:  But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed You’re gonna have to serve somebody Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you’re gonna have to serve somebody. In his Spiritual Exercises , St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) has a Meditation on Two Standards . Ignatius had been a soldier. The “standard” is the banner held high in battle signifying the lord under whom the soldiers serve. Ignatius begins this meditation – and we might follow along – as follows: “This is the history. Here it will be that Christ calls and wants all beneath His standard, and Lucifer, on the other ha...

The World's Two Kingdoms.         In our series reviewing what Jesus Christ and the Bible tell us about the world, we have so far reviewed that the world as created by God is good, although now in a “fallen” state because of the entrance of the evil which fallen angels (devil, demons) and humans brought into the world ( Gen 3 ). Due to such rebellion, creation now suffers death ( Wis2:24 ) and decay ( Ro 8:20-23 ), and is under the power of the devil, its ruler ( Jn 12:31 ; 14:30 ; 16:11 ; 2 Cor 4:4 ). But we also know God has a plan that is being worked out in history.       Then what is the world’s destiny? On the one hand, the world is to be condemned ( 1Cor 11:32 ) and punished ( Is 13:11 ) for its evil. Yet just as God’s grace has prepared the means of salvation for humanity so that we need not be condemned ( 1Cor 11:32 ), there will similarly be a “new creation,” a “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” ( 2 Pet 3:13...

The World Is Upheld by God's Word. Christians call it “the Fall” – the Fall of humanity. We now live in a Fallen world.  Last week we reviewed the story. How Adam, to whom God had given dominion of the world, chose against God and brought evil into the world. Now the world is in the power of the evil one, the devil, called in Scripture the ruler or prince of this world. End of story? No! Most people know the climax of God’s story with humanity is salvation in Jesus Christ. Yes. But let’s not rush the story. It is also true that God has chosen space and time, spirit and matter, to work out His designs, His plan. Scholars call it “salvation history.” We’re still in the midst of it. The Bible reveals God’s plan – it’s no secret. Paragraph 1 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church sums it up most succinctly: “God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life.” – Catch that: God’s plan is ...

The World Now Fallen.       We have begun looking at what Jesus Christ and the Bible tell us about this world.       In creating humankind, God’s goodness made us in His own image and likeness ( Gen1:26-27 ; Wis 2:23 ), part of which includes our intellect (ability to reason) and will (ability to choose, to act or not act). With these powers we have freedom of choice or “free will.” Free will attains its highest purpose, its perfection, when directed towards God.       What if we use our free will to direct our actions in opposition to God – against the Good?       That brings about evil. All of God’s creation is “very good” ( Gen 1:31 ), but we have now removed some of that good by our willing something contrary to the Good, God. We have brought about some evil. All the evil we see in the world comes from humanity (and fallen angels) exercising their free will against God – God the total Goo...

The World: Very Good.       Last week’s article began a series looking at what Jesus Christ and the Bible tell us about the world, particularly our current up-side-down world where lies abound, and how we should live in it. It all begins with Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” God also says all that He created is “good” ( Gen 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 20, 25 ) and “very good” ( Gen 1:31 ).       Now, really, is everything in the world good? How can it be? In this crazy, evil world?       I know a guy who regularly says, “Well, we live in dualism,” or that things are this way “so long as we live in a dualistic universe.” He’s part of a crowd of folks in the world who believe that in order for a god of light and good to create matter (or density), that there had to be a corresponding god of darkness and evil, and both must always be in balance. They believe nothing could exist without that balance ...