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.
9. Personalization – Some people tend to take too many things personally and allow hurts to get them down, discouraged and distracted from what is best.
10. Politics – Some people become so wrapped up in gaining influence over other people forgetting that God is the one who convicts and sways the hearts of all.
11. Performance mentality – Some people erroneously think they must perform in a way that is pleasing to others in order to be acceptable.
12. Pyrrhic Victories – Some people are so focused on winning the battle that they lose the greater war.
13. Persons – Some people are so focused on certain people that they take their eyes off of Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
14. Poor Priorities – Some people suffer from wrong priorities failing to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
15. Personalizations – Some people allow their criticisms, hurts, or frustrations get to them personally. They seem unable to appropriate the fact that Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer as I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
16. Personal preferences – Some people are so insistent on their own way that they fail to recognize the inherent problem in selfishness. James wrote, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (James 4:1-3)
17. Preoccupation with earthly concerns. Americans are busy people. We like to stay active but are tempted to get preoccupied with things that distract us from Christ and His kingdom priorities. Things preoccupy our minds so there is little room left over for what is best. Paul wrote, "Set your thoughts on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." (Col. 3:1-3)
18. Pride - The one for pride is alazonia which means a boasting of one’s importance to the point of it becoming vain glory. It is pitiful to see someone who thinks they are something special when they are not. Prideful people are setting themselves up for a major disappointment.
19. Pleasures - Too often human desires incline our hearts toward things that will please our old sinful nature instead of God. Paul wrote, "The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace." (Rom. 8:6-8)
20. Possessions - Do not let the cravings to accumulate things overcome your commitment to lay up for yourself treasures in heaven instead of on the earth. Jesus said, "Do not lay up for yourself treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is there will your heart be also." (Matt 6;24)
21. Popularity - Some people are so fixated on how they appear to other people that they gravitate only to those leaders who are popular at the time. As a result these individuals are mercurial in who they follow and who they are influenced by. Paul wrote, "Am I now trying to win the approval of men or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Gal. 1:10)
22. Power Obsession - Some people are obsessed with being in control. They are not happy until they sense that they have dominance in every situation or with every discussion. Paul learned how to be content in every situation he said, "As pressed down but not crushed. As perplexed but not in despair. As persecuted but not abandoned. As put down but not defeated. Always bearing in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." (2 Cor. 4:4-7)
23. Position Orientation - We live in a very competitive society. From the time we are young there is an emphasis put on being the best, getting to the top of the class or seeking to be elected to the office of class president. When we become adults it is often difficult for us to be stuck in a job where we have not enjoyed a promotion to a higher position for many years.
24. People pleasing - We all enjoy being around people who appreciate us. Worldly people live in a constant state of anxiety because they are afraid important people might not like what they are doing. Performance driven people are secretly insecure because they have not completely trusted in the Lord to get their affirmation.
25. Privileges seen as self-centered rights - When we first got our drivers license we all learned that driving was a privilege and not a right. Yet some of us have witness how difficult it is for an elderly person to give up their drivers license because that important lesson has been forgotten. In the same way, we have to remember that every good thing we have is a gift from God. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as Job learned. Let us also say like Job, Blessed be the name of the Lord."
Application: Let us not begrudge the Lord for taking away things, possessions or privileges that we have assumed are our rights. Yield all of your rights and privileges to the Lord. David wrote, "He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with what is good." (Psa 107:9)
26. Philosophies - Paul wrote, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." (Col. 2:8,9) Instead we ought to focus on Christ, His word and His Spirit’s teaching us all truth. In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
"Remember to hate what is evil cling to what is good." (Rom. 12:9)
Anger is implanted in us as a sting to make us gnash our teeth agsinst the devil, not to set us in array against each other. (Keith Brooks)
Song:
All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
Refrain
I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,
I surrender all.
All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.
Refrain
All to Jesus, I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.
Refrain
All to Jesus, I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.
Refrain
All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
O the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!
Refrain
Burdens are lifted at Calvary. Jesus is very near.
Song: Days are filled with sorrow and care,
Hearts are lonely and drear;
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.
Chorus
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Calvary, Calvary,
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.
Cast your care on Jesus today,
Leave your worry and fear;
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.
Chorus
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Calvary, Calvary,
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.
Troubled soul, the Saviour can see,
Ev’ry heartache and tear;
Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Jesus is very near.
Chorus
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Calvary, Calvary,
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.
