Tag: needs

Overcoming Evil With Good

On Wednesday, an assassin shocked the world by killing Charlie Kirk, a man known for his traditional viewpoints. Although he faced accusations of holding objectionable views, his actual offense was his effectiveness in conveying conservative and Bible-based concepts. Unable to defeat him in debates, his opponents resorted to silencing him with a bullet.

Brent Pollard

On Wednesday, an assassin shocked the world by killing Charlie Kirk, a man known for his traditional viewpoints. Although he faced accusations of holding objectionable views, his actual offense was his effectiveness in conveying conservative and Bible-based concepts. Unable to defeat him in debates, his opponents resorted to silencing him with a bullet.

Thursday commemorated 24 years since the 9/11 attacks that profoundly impacted our nation and altered countless lives indefinitely. For those of us who can recall, those feelings remain vivid. The haunting images of the smoldering World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and that desolate Pennsylvania field remain etched in our memories. Unease lingers in the pit of our stomachs when we hear the audio from that day: the radio chatter of first responders and the frantic calls to loved ones from the cellphones of those trapped on doomed planes or in the World Trade Center towers from which there was no escape.

Occurrences such as these deeply affect us and lead us toward hopelessness. If we are not cautious, they may also lead us to feelings of anger, a desire for retaliation, or a sense of hopeless withdrawal.

In moments like this, the words of the apostle Paul resonate: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12.21). These words serve as a vital reminder, encouraging us to go beyond mere resistance to evil and to face it with the goodness of Christ actively.

Evil’s Real Power—and Its Limit

Evil exists, and the Bible presents it plainly. Paul had witnessed persecution, political corruption, and violence up close. Nevertheless, he refuses to let evil prevail in the end. Why?

Because Christ has already achieved victory through the cross and resurrection, the most formidable weapon of Satan—death—has been rendered ineffective. Evil may inflict pain, but it cannot prevail against the people of God.

Responding to hate with hate allows darkness to take root in our hearts. Responding with retaliation might seem instinctive, yet it merely compounds the damage. As Martin Luther King Jr. once stated, drawing inspiration from the words of John 1:5, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.” Paul articulates the same concept in a compelling, Spirit-inspired statement: “overcome evil with good.”

Goodness as an Active Weapon

This call does not constitute passive avoidance. Paul’s instruction serves to motivate. In the lines of the surrounding context of Romans 12.21, he clearly articulates it:

• “Bless those who persecute you…” (v. 14).

• “Repay no one evil for evil…” (v. 17).

• “…if your enemy is hungry, feed him…” (v. 20).

Kindness transcends mere courteous expressions. This love, filled with the Spirit, nourishes, forgives, and serves, even when faced with mistreatment. This type of goodness illuminates a realm that transcends our earthly existence. According to the latter part of verse 20, such actions can “heap burning coals” upon the heads of those who wrong us. While vengeance ultimately belongs to God (Romans 12.19), we can find solace in the understanding that our goodness serves as a formidable weapon against evil.

Three Gospel Tasks Reframed

Considering Romans 12.21, the church’s mission takes on renewed urgency:

Evangelism: Proclaiming the ultimate good.

The goodness we provide transcends mere humanitarian efforts; it embodies the message of Jesus Christ, who was crucified and has risen from the dead. As the world grows weary of violence and retribution, individuals seek hope that evil cannot extinguish. Our testimony of forgiveness and reconciliation through Christ serves as a powerful act of overcoming evil.

Edification: Strengthening the saints.

It is not uncommon for believers to feel disheartened or frustrated as troubling news continues to accumulate. Romans 12 encourages us to uplift one another in maintaining a gentle spirit. By engaging in worship, study, and fellowship, we nurture goodness and stand against cynicism.

Benevolence: Doing tangible good.

Addressing needs—nourishing the hungry, providing solace to the grieving, assisting neighbors in distress—is not a secondary endeavor. We are fighting a battle of the spirit. Each act of compassion proclaims that darkness does not hold the ultimate authority.

Living the Verse Today

How can we apply Romans 12.21 today?

• Pray for enemies and victims alike. Name them before God.

• Guard your words. Refuse to spread hatred online or in conversation.

• Share Christ. Offer the gospel as the deepest good, the cure for sin’s root cause.

These actions may seem insignificant in the face of widespread evil, yet they hold great power because God amplifies them. The kingdom flourishes through small, Spirit-inspired acts of kindness.

Hope That Overcomes

When Jesus confronted the greatest evil—an unjust cross—He triumphed not by summoning legions of angels but by surrendering His life and rising again. His resurrection demonstrates that goodness is not a sign of weakness, but rather the unstoppable power of God.

The anniversary of 9/11 and Charlie Kirk’s tragic assassination serve as poignant reminders of the urgent need for strength in our world. Let us stand firm against the shadows of this time. With our hearts anchored in Christ, let us overcome evil with good—making the most of our time through evangelism, edification, and benevolence until His return.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12.21).

All Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), © 2001 Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

A Place To Rest

Carl Pollard

David, the king of Israel, wrote more psalms than any other author in the book of Psalms. He is specifically mentioned as being the writer of 72 individual psalms. Out of all the ones he composed, Psalm 23 is probably the most well known. And for good reason! Today we still have songs in our song books that were inspired by Psalm 23. It is a psalm of comfort and often read at funerals and eulogies. Millions of people have been touched by these words. In darkest of times, many find joy in these words of David. 

We could study and analyze this psalm repeatedly, and still continue to find new truths and powerful reminders each time. Many of us have most, if not all, of this Psalm memorized. Which can be a good thing…and also not so good at the same time. Often times when we study a passage that we have heard our entire life, it can be easy to breeze past without truly diving in. 

In this article we are going to focus on The Lord, Our Shepherd. David tells us what The Shepherd has done for us. It is good for us all to look at what God HAS done and will continue to do for us in the future. David begins in v. 1 by saying, “the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” This phrase is the building block, the foundation for the remaining 5 verses. Since the Lord is my shepherd I’m not lacking anything! David was content because the Lord was HIS shepherd. 

The story is told about a pilot who always looked down intently on a certain valley in the Appalachians when the plane passed overhead. One day his co-pilot asked, “What’s so interesting about that spot?” 

The pilot replied, “See that stream? Well, when I was a kid I used to sit down there on a log and fish. Every time an airplane flew over, I would look up and wish I were flying… Now I look down and wish I were fishing.”

It is always tempting to think that others have it better than we do, and that if we just had “a little more” everything would be fine. But contentment cannot be achieved by increasing possessions. Being truly content is only possible when the Lord is OUR shepherd. David explains why in this beautiful Psalm. 

David is content because…The Shepherd Gives Rest. Psalm 23:2 “He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.” If you remember, David was a shepherd before he became king of Israel.

So he is speaking from firsthand experience concerning what is necessary for sheep to live and necessary for a shepherd to provide. These images of shepherding are lost on many of us but we need to understand the shepherd/sheep relationship to make proper application of this psalm.

There’s a book called “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23.” The author was a shepherd himself for eight years and recalls his experiences while studying this psalm. The author says this about verse 2, “It is almost impossible for them (sheep) to be made to lie down unless four requirements are met. Due to their timidity they refuse to lie down unless they are free of all fear. Because of the social behavior within a flock sheep will not lie down unless they are free from friction with others of their kind. If tormented by flies or parasites, sheep will not lie down. Only when free of these pests can they relax. Lastly, sheep will not lie down as long as they feel in need of finding food. They must be free from hunger.”

This information deepens the meaning of “he makes me lie down.” This is exactly what David is describing concerning his relationship with the Lord. David is able to rest because all his provisions have been provided by the Lord. Verse 2 describes being in the green pastures where eating is plentiful. The sheep are beside the still waters where they can freely drink without fear. It is interesting that the psalm begins by describing the rest available in God. 

We are able to release our burdens and our cares upon the Lord. “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Rest and release is available because God has promised to carry our burdens. It’s heartbreaking when so many Christians do not let God carry their burdens. Instead, Christians remain burdened with worries, anxieties, care, struggles, guilt, and numerous other troubles that we fight daily. 

God is offering us rest but we have to hand Him the burdens. We must have the faith that knows God will take care of it. He is our Shepherd, in Him we find rest.

Contentment 

Friday’s Column: Brent’s Biblical Bytes

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Brent Pollard

 

“But godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6.6 ESV). 

Recently, the battery of our 2014 Chevrolet Impala died while I sat in the local hospital’s parking lot. Of course, we did not realize that it was “just” the battery at the time. The problem seemed worse. As my dad and I were in a difficult situation, stranded in the hospital parking lot, we had the car towed to our local mechanic. Luckily we thought to facilitate everything through our local auto insurance agent, including our car rental. That choice certainly made things smoother. While our mechanic repaired our Impala, we rented a 2020 Toyota Corolla. I will be honest. I really liked the Corolla. I was a little disappointed when the mechanic called to let us know we could pick up our car.  

Isn’t that odd? There is nothing wrong with the 2014 Impala. Cosmetically, it looks good. It has low mileage. It is like one of those mythic cars that little old ladies only drove to church on Sunday. Yet, the Corolla had cool little bells and whistles. An alarm sounded if I drifted over the middle line or the line on the shoulder. (I heard that sound a lot, taking the many curves as I went over the mountain. It can be hard not to approach the middle or shoulder of the road when the road is curvier than it is straight.) The rental also had some driver-assist feature coupled with the cruise control that turned the wheel according to the road surface marking detected by its radar. Consequently, it handled curves well and had a good fuel economy. The only “negative’ was that road noise seemed more significant in this lighter automobile. 

Here is the question. From whence did my sudden discontentment arise?  It is not as if there is a need for a new automobile. Yet, driving a new car for a few days made me feel like I was missing out on something. It may be, too, that I was subconsciously acknowledging my desire to change something (anything) in my life. However, the problem with that thinking is that it reflects a lack of gratitude for my current blessings. Were I to go and buy a 2021 Corolla tomorrow, my happiness would be short-lived. Those elated feelings might last a few months or a year, but the pleasure would fade. What’s worse is that I would end up making myself more miserable by saddling myself with new debt as I paid off the car over several years. Indeed, discontentment is not a problem solved by material gain. 

Our emotions are complex. Indulging the lust of the eyes and flesh and the boastful pride of life may act as a placebo, obscuring the underlying problem. Still, there is no cure for discontentment besides gratitude and acceptance. As Paul reminds us, God supplies our every need (Philippians 4.19). Thus, we should be content with food and covering (1 Timothy 6.8). Should God bless us with more, it is a sign He expects more from us (Luke 12.48). And we are to be looking out for the interests of others (Philippians 2.4). Therefore, “while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Galatians 6.10 NASB1995). 

When you realize you are a citizen of another country and have your provisions as you make your way home, you, too, will feel contentment. It will certainly give you greater peace of mind. Then comes the realization that salvation and a loaf of bread are worth more than all the gold in Fort Knox. Yes, “godliness with contentment is great gain.” 

 

In An Average Assembly, You’ll Find…

Neal Pollard

  • Brand new Christians
  • Young parents
  • The unemployed
  • Spiritual leaders
  • Those struggling with worldliness
  • Someone diagnosed with a serious condition
  • Strugglers with addiction
  • Couples with marital troubles
  • Those with loved ones no longer faithful to Christ
  • Widows/widowers
  • Someone who has been deeply hurt or betrayed
  • Those in serious financial debt
  • Those who are the only Christians in their family
  • Someone facing an enormous life change
  • Some who are experiencing great successes and good news
  • Empty nesters
  • Retirees
  • Community and business leaders
  • Those who grew up in the church
  • Expectant parents
  • Racial minorities
  • The highly educated
  • Extroverts
  • Introverts
  • The emotionally fragile
  • Singles
  • Divorcees
  • Those bearing burdening secrets
  • People brimming with optimism
  • Nurturers
  • Takers
  • Critics
  • Encouragers
  • The easily distracted
  • Those forced to attend
  • Hard working servants
  • The dutiful
  • The physically and mentally challenged
  • Daily Bible students
  • Non-Christians
  • Those who need to make serious spiritual changes
  • The lonely
  • Those without formal education
  • Smilers
  • Scowlers
  • The impatient
  • Notetakers
  • Probably 10,000 other “subcategories”

But, do you know what’s so amazing?  God knew that His single volume, the Bible, could reach into the hearts and lives of everyone of them through a single medium.  He calls it preaching (1 Cor. 1:18-25).  It worked 2000 years ago.  It works today.  What an awesome God to meet us right where we live through a message and means that fills our every longing.