Hate What Is Evil

Hate What is Evil (Romans 12:9)

Too many people, in our age of tolerance, fail to realize the importance of hating what is evil. Here are twenty areas that need to be identified in our personal life, relationships and activities that must be rooted out before we can "be holy as He is holy."

Quote: Keith Brooks said, "The man who cannot be angry at evil lacks enthusiasm for good."

Illustration: (Ventura, CA) - Any objective social analyst would conclude that the United States faces its fair share of moral and spiritual problems. A new research study from the Barna Research Group’suggests that a large share of the nation’s moral and spiritual challenges is directly attributable to the absence of a biblical worldview among Americans.

Citing the findings from a just-completed national survey of 2033 adults that showed only 4% of adults have a biblical worldview as the basis of their decision-making, researcher George Barna described the outcome. "If Jesus Christ came to this planet as a model of how we ought to live, then our goal should be to act like Jesus. Sadly, few people consistently demonstrate the love, obedience and priorities of Jesus. The primary reason that people do not act like Jesus is because they do not think like Jesus. Behavior stems from what we think - our attitudes, beliefs, values and opinions. Although most people own a Bible and know some of its content, our research found that most Americans have little idea how to integrate core biblical principles to form a unified and meaningful response to the challenges and opportunities of life. We’re often more concerned with survival amidst chaos than with experiencing truth and significance."

Not Just Any Worldview

The research indicated that everyone has a worldview, but relatively few people have a biblical worldview - even among devoutly religious people. The survey discovered that only 9% of born again Christians have such a perspective on life. The numbers were even lower among other religious classifications: Protestants (7%), adults who attend mainline Protestant churches (2%) and Catholics (less than one-half of 1%). The denominations that produced the highest proportions of adults with a biblical worldview were non-denominational Protestant churches (13%), Pentecostal churches (10%) and Baptist churches (8%).

Twenty-five areas of evil we need to hate, flee from and overcome with good.

"So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." (Rom. 13:12,13)

"He knows the secrets of our heart." (Psa 44:21)

" Love not the world nor the things that are in the world. For all that is in the world. The lust of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes and the boastful pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world." (I John 2:15,16)

"If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will heal their land." (2 Chron 7:14)

"The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace." (Rom. 8:6)

"Dearly beloved, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul." (I Pet. 2:6)

"The flesh sets itself against the Spirit and the Spirt against the flesh for these are in opposition to one another so that you can do the things that you please." (Gal. 5:16-18)

"Hate what is evil, cling to what is good." (Rom. 12:9)

1. Pressures – Too many people give in to the pressures from without and within to conform to this world. Do not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Rom. 12:2)

2. Problem fixations – It is common for people to think of the problem rather than the purpose that God has for allowing various difficulties to come in to our lives.

3. Prosperity – Many people wrongly think that if they can get enough money they will be shielded from the anxiety, hardships and problems that plague most people.

4. Program mentality – Some people falsely imagine that if they can just carry out a particular program they will be able to get by with acceptable behavior.

5. Poor Perspective – Many people settle for immature perspectives to their own hurt.

6. Poor Stigma – Too many people think that it is a terrible shame to lack what many people takes for granted such as two cars and a nice home.

7. Perfectionism – Some people are obsessed with getting things so perfect that they forget about God’s superior plan for their lives.

8. Persecution – Many people are unwilling to be persecuted for the sake of righteousness forgetting that there are great blessings there.