| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Personal Responsibility” Our Bible verse for today: “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4:17 (NIV) Our thought for today: “If you see something, do something” “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” It’s uncertain who originally said that. The quote is often attributed to the 18th century Irish philosopher Edmund Burke. The 19th century English philosopher John Stuart Mill is sometimes also given credit for it. But whoever the original author was, the point is well-taken. Evil triumphs when people allow it to. Albert Einstein once said it this way, “The world is in greater peril from those who tolerate or encourage evil than from those who actually do it.” Most people are good and decent – they’re just narrowly focused on the activities of everyday life like jobs, family, friends, church, hobbies, etc. They’re just minding their own business, not really hurting anyone, and living life. Most people are not evil and diabolical, plotting mass murder or creating sophisticated online scams to steal the life savings of senior citizens. It’s not that they don’t care about evil, they’re just busy and distracted, and hoping someone else will do something about the things that are wrong and which need to be dealt with. No, most people are not actively engaged in evil, they’re just not actively opposing it. And as a result, evil often flourishes because good men and women allow it to. This brings us back to the point we’ve been considering in our least several devotional messages that Christians need to be engaged in our world, opposing evil and actively promoting good. We are to be salt and light. We are to be the ones who will take the time and make the effort to say something and to do something. For instance, abortion is a terrible sin – an offense against God. So, we must say so, we should help to fund Christian crisis pregnancy centers, and we should vote accordingly. Poverty and homelessness are big problems in our society too. So, we should support and assist rescue missions, food banks, and transition programs for the homeless. You get the point. Jesus and James both taught us to be active advocates for good in the world. That will necessarily involve opposing that which is not good, and then going one step further and doing something about it. If you see something that isn’t right say so, and then do something about it. God bless, Pastor Jim |
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