in love at war :)

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My plot [to overthrow] society as we know it
OVERCOMING EVIL WITH GOOD
by James N. Watkins


"Enemy territory—that is what this world is . . . the rightful king . . . is calling us to take our part in the great campaign of sabotage." C. S. Lewis
Yes, I'm plotting to overthrow society as we know it. But don't worry. I'm not making any pipe bombs or stock-piling automatic weapons in some fortifed compound."
And it's not even a new or novel plan. It's based on the writings of another radical who wrote "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world . . . " 1 And what pattern was St. Paul rebelling against? None other than the oppressive Roman government that had occupied the Holy Land, crucified Jesus Christ, and fed Christians to the lions. And what was his plan?
Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Although Jesus and Paul lived under the oppressive Roman occupation of Israel, neither one of them spoke out against it. (Jesus tells His followers: " Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." 3
Both lived in a culture where slavery was common place, but neither did they call for the end to this practice. And while homosexual behavior was rampant in Roman culture, we don't have any record of Jesus addressing this issue.
Instead, Jesus emphasizes each person's own attitudes and behaviors.

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.5

Jesus did teach that evil would eventually be punished but for now, it appears that Jesus is more concerned that His followers: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."6
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.7
Jesus and Paul are not saying that Chrsitians should passively put up with evil. But both point out it is the way that evil is overcome that is at issue.
Overcoming evil doesn't involve boycotts, sit-ins, and violent confrontation. As I mentioned, it a much more subversive tactic.

"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse."8 "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.'"9

For instance, Norma McCovey is the "Jane Roe" in the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. Everyday she walked past Operation Rescue's headquarters on the way to her job at an abortion clinic. She had learned to ignore the picket signs, the sit-ins, and the shouts of "Baby Killer!" But at this rescue office, volunteers would smile and tell her to have a good day. They told her they loved her.
McCovey could resist the anger and accusations. She couldn't resist love. She became a Christian and an anti-abortion crusader. At a Senate hearing McCover said, "I am dedicated to spending the rest of my life undoing the law that bears my name."
In another subversive strategy, pro-life supporters began setting up Crisis Pregnancy Centers which provided compassionate care for pregnant women by providing maternity clothes and baby supplies. Crisis Pregnancy Centers now outnumber abortion providers and the abortion rate is declining.
While the picketers, boycotters, and abortion clinic bombers are, as a whole, very sincere, they are sincerely missing the strategy that Jesus and Paul proposed. And the strategy worked then, too! Within three hundred years, the Roman empire had collapsed and Christianity was declared the official religion. (Notice that this strategy is slow, but it is effective.)
Instead of rioting against the cruel conditions in England during the 1700's, John Wesley and his "Methodists" set up free clinics, opened the first employees credit union, and revolutionized the country. And did it without the bloodshed of the American and French revolutions!
Instead of complaining about Hollywood movies, a group of believers has established Act One: Writing for Hollywood conferences to raise up Christians in the industry.
Prison Fellowship, rather than complaining about crime, has developed a Neighbors Who Care program. They've also have become active in justice issues. But most important, thousands of volunteers are taking the Christian message into prisons and discipling converted convicts.
Other organizations such as Christians for Biblical Equality and Youth For Christ are providing practical programs to overcome evil with good.
And, rather than complaining about X-rated Internet sites, I've set up an "adult site for adults" at adultsite4adults.com.
The whole point of overcoming evil with good is to provide a positive, godly alternative to the evil.
Notes
1. Romans 12:2
2. Romans 12:9b
3. Matthew 22:21
4. Matthew 7:1-5
5. Matthew 13:49-50
6. Matthew 22:37-40
7. Romans 12:21
8. Romans 12:14
9. Romans 12:17-20


Copyright © 2000 James N. Watkins. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission from www.jameswatkins.com. :)