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How We Overcome Evil

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vil is so self-evident even the set forth in God’s Word; the redemptive terms because they conveyed a benign,
non-believer must acknowledge grace of God in the atonement of Jesus is noble meaning in terms of their long-
its existence, though he will try the solution. standing Christian development. The
to define it in terms of his worldview. Evil is obvious to man; he cannot culture that generation has produced
Because this is God’s creation, man lives avoid it. If, in his rebellion, he will not has not become more loving, peaceful,
in a moral context and can only exist use God’s definition of evil and look to or brotherly, however. The increasing
within the ethical limits He has placed His resolution, he will redefine it and degeneracy of our times is quite evident,
on it. No matter how far man tries to reassign guilt in a self-righteous attempt so much so that the devolution of our
run from God, he can still only think to claim for himself some level of virtue. culture cannot be denied.
in ethical terms. He will often try to use The categories of “good” and “evil”
extra-Biblical terminology, but he has to continue to be used, even when that Moral Accountability vs. Education
think in terms of good and evil. terminology is avoided. Not all who see problems correctly
Just two chapters of the Bible To say there is evil in the world is diagnose their causes or have legitimate
reference life before the fall (Gen.1-2). therefore not necessarily a point of assent solutions. Remedies that are worse
Most of that passage refers to God’s to a Biblical worldview. Marxists, racists, than the disease have a long history,
creative work with the remainder atheists, and every sort of Bohemian particularly when it comes to what ails
establishing marriage and the family as will hold to “evil” and “good” by some man and society. If people do not see our
the context of man’s work of dominion. definition. When I was a teenager in basic problems as stemming from sin,
Beginning in Genesis 3 we are presented the 1960s humanists placed a great they will be putting band-aids on our
with man as a sinner; he is seen in moral deal of emphasis on their belief in moral cancer.
terms. Throughout Scripture sin, evil, “love,” “peace,” and “brotherhood” but One false solution that has a long
and guilt are viewed as result of man’s never in terms of a Christian Biblical history of failure, particularly in the
ethical fall in Adam. This is the problem understanding. They appropriated the modern world, is education. Education
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can be a very valuable tool, but the Seeing Jesus as our fire and “good news,” which both Matthew and
modern emphasis on it is based on Mark called “the gospel of the kingdom”
the Enlightenment’s rejection of the life insurance policy does (Matt. 4:23; 9:35; 24:14 and Mk. 1:14-
Christian view of man’s root problem 15).
as a moral one. The humanism of the
not push back evil in us or in
Ethics and the Kingdom of God
Enlightenment saw man as primarily a the world. Seeing ourselves The Kingdom of God was the
rational being, not a fallen one. After
as citizens of the Kingdom theme of both the ministry of John the
Charles Darwin, man was then seen as
Baptist (Matt. 3:1-2) and that of Jesus
the pinnacle of evolution. Problems were
then viewed as primarily external to man,
of our God and His Christ (Mark 1:14-15), who spoke of it up to
the night of His arrest (Luke 22:16). It
in his environment. What man needed requires that we submit is not an overstatement to say we cannot
in this scenario, presumably, was to apply
ourselves to His Lordship understand Christian duty without
his mind to control his environment.1 A seeing our relationship to the Kingdom
conviction that education was the answer
to man’s problems was promoted by early
and His law-word. Anything of God.
As the modern church withdrew
Progressives and their push for control of less is, at best, a failure of from the world, it increasingly focused
government education, a movement that on the afterlife and an emphasis on man’s
began at the teacher-training level. our responsibilities or, at
salvation. The focus has been on the
The belief in education as the
worst, treason. “simple gospel” and conversion, getting
solution has not been limited to the men through the “narrow gate” (Matt.
left, however. A common theme of the 7:13-14). Though certainly a necessary
right has been that “if we could only message, this emphasis has tended to
educate people” things would change, field of dogma by experts who silence
neglect the “narrow way” that leads to
or “if people really knew what was going those who challenge them, though
life (v.14). As Francis Schaeffer asked
on” they would vote differently. Such the “scientific method” is supposed to
in perhaps the best-titled book of my
“educational” efforts have continued require constant questioning of existing
lifetime, “How Should We Then Live?”
for generations, however, and yet have theories.
This question brings us to the
precious little to show as a result. The If salvation is by an accumulation
constant references to the “Kingdom of
knowledge shared did not result in of knowledge, then modern man must
God (or Heaven)” that are so frequent in
change, except in occasional, but largely be in a very good place, for never have
the New Testament that our failure to see
inconsequential, changes in politicians. we had so much information at our
their importance is inexcusable. Those
Knowledge does not necessarily disposal. If man’s reason is the means
who enter at the narrow gate must do so
translate to change. When it does, of solving our problems, then we have
in repentance and with faith in who Jesus
the change is not often to anything never been in a better position to
is and what He accomplished at Calvary.
resembling a Biblical view of the remedy them.
Both repentance and faith represent
problem but from an extreme to The Biblical Solution to Evil a bowing of the knee, a deference to
something merely less objectionable. A If our problem is, as Scripture says, Jesus. The most common title of Jesus in
shift may result, but it may be no more a moral one, man’s violation of God’s Scripture is “Lord,” and this cannot be
than cosmetic. As a teenager I noted a righteousness, then the only solution is separated from the Kingdom. It is a title
recurring statement by politicians and its resolution in forgiveness. The Word acknowledging submission to Jesus as
government school officials—“Yes, of God clearly lays out the means of Lord, Master, King.
we have had problems, but we have forgiveness. By grace, God pays man’s Man must acknowledge Jesus as
addressed them and that is in the past.” penalty through the atonement of Jesus “Lord of lords and King of kings” (Rev.
If education is the key to solving Christ, His death in our place. Those 17:14) who “must reign, till he hath
man’s problems, then the answer is more who forsake any humanistic plan of put all enemies under His feet” (I Cor.
experts in academia and more funding saving themselves acknowledge, by 15:25). His Kingdom is “over all the
for schools. What results is an oligarchy God’s regenerating grace, their need for earth” (Zech. 14:9) and we are citizens
of experts certified by degrees and the salvation only Christ provides. They because God’s grace has “translated
certificates of accreditation. A recent acknowledge that “…there is none other us into the kingdom of his dear Son”
example of what results is Anthony name under heaven given among men (Col. 1:13). The “simple gospel” is not
Fauci’s insistence that people “trust the whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). wrong, but it is only part of “the gospel”
science” really came down to his claim Faith in Jesus Christ is not the end because it leaves off “of the kingdom.”
that “I represent science.” Since Darwin, of the Christian gospel, however. Faith The gospel is not merely an escape from
“science” has increasingly become a is the beginning of our entrance into the hell; it is our regeneration “so we also
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should walk in newness of life” (Rom. Unless we are, by grace, freed to • They will be given to eat of the
6:4). The reference to our walk refers to “newness of life” as a “new creature” in hidden manna (2:17).
how we deport ourselves as believers. This Christ (II Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15) we are • They will be given power over the
necessitates a Christian concern about part of the evil, the world of sin, death, nations (2:26).
our conduct. and guilt. The overcoming commanded • They will be “clothed in white
of us cannot happen without a raiment,” their name written in the
Kingdom Law regenerating change in us. Then we book of life and confessed by Jesus
There is no such thing as a kingdom see things differently, we “think God’s before the Father and the angels
without a law. Every jurisdiction has a thoughts after him,” and comport our (3:5).
law by which it is governed and to which ways to His will. The world is not one of • They will be a pillar in the temple of
its citizenry is held accountable. This is neutral facts, nor are our rational faculties God, God’s name will be on them,
where theonomy comes into play. Theism objective. All facts are interpreted facts, and they will be part of the new
is an acknowledgement of God. Theocracy and we view them morally, in terms of Jerusalem (3:12).
is the view that God rules over man, and either sin or grace. Though we can now • They will sit with Christ on His
theonomy is the law of God. The three only “see through a glass, darkly” (I Cor. throne (3:21).
beliefs go hand-in-hand. 13:12) we can, in fact, know the revealed • They will “inherit all things; and I
My father, R. J. Rushdoony, revived Word of God. will be his God, and he shall be my
the issue of theonomy with the 1973 son” (21:7).
publication of the Institutes of Biblical Faith and Faithfulness
When we insist on filtering God’s We are called to come to Jesus
Law (I). In his introduction he made
Word through our reason, we will in repentance and faith, but we must
clear that theonomy was not a challenge
constantly ask, like small children, not stop there. Regeneration gives us a
to, or inconsistent with, justification
“Why?” of God. But if God answered new life, one that must be directed to
by faith. He noted the Protestant
every such question we would, like obedience, our faithfulness on the narrow
Reformation came to a consensus on
children, rarely understand what we way. The first references to the faith in
justification being of grace and received Acts, before the term “Christianity” was
by faith alone. Theonomy is, in fact, were told. Our response to our lack of
understanding ought to be the same as coined, was “the way” (Acts 2:28; 9:2).
predicated on that doctrine because it The new creation in Jesus Christ is
addresses the duty of the “just” and how what brought us to the throne of grace
initially—faith in the righteousness in the world but not of it. Likewise, it
they live by faith. What the Reformation must be evident in us, though it is not
of God. The answers we will receive
never came to a consensus on, however, our work, but that of the Holy Spirit.
in this life are typically not a rational
was the doctrine of sanctification, man’s Seeing Jesus as our fire and life insurance
understanding but a greater recognition
walk of faith and growth in grace (i.e., policy does not push back evil in us or
of the sovereignty of God. The response
how man knows the limitations of in the world. Seeing ourselves as citizens
of faith is always faithfulness. If we are
what constitutes the “narrow way” of of the Kingdom of our God and His
theists and believe in God, we must
Matthew 7:14). His conviction was that Christ requires that we submit ourselves
believe He rules, theocracy, and that,
sanctification, man’s walk of faithfulness to His Lordship and His law-word.
because we are the citizens of the
needed to be the focus of another Anything less is, at best, a failure of our
Kingdom of His Lord, we obey His law,
reformation. He proposed God’s law- responsibilities or, at worst, treason.
theonomy. In this way we overcome sin
word to be man’s standard of faithfulness. Godliness requires obedience and this
in ourselves and stand in terms of His
Overcome Evil with Good righteousness. must be a self-conscious faithfulness to
It is not enough to identify evil, or The book of Revelation is too our duty because we are confident in
often treated as a puzzle to be solved. His victory. “Alleluia: for the Lord God
even to decry it. We must overcome it.
I have always felt the blessing on those omnipotent reigneth” (Rev. 19:6).
There are many references to overcoming
in the Bible. Because Jesus has overcome who “keep those things” was primarily
a blessing on those who saw the “big 1. This is essentially a borrowing of the
the world (Jn. 16:33) and will overcome
picture” that book presents—the certain Biblical idea of “dominion” but in terms of
all who make war on Him (Rev. 17:14) humanistic man reliant on reason, not God.
we must not ourselves be “overcome victory of the Lamb who overcomes (Rev.
This led to a cult of science as the means
of evil, but overcome evil with good” 17:14). As His people, we share in that of progress. Another later view came to
(Rom. 12:21; also I Pet. 2:9). The apostle victory. Note the promises in Revelation see not man but “Nature” as primary and
John reminded “young men” and even to those who “overcome”: viewed man as having interfered with the
“little children” that they had overcome • Christ gives them to eat of the tree of evolutionary process too much. This is the
(I Jn. 2:13.14; 4:4). In fact, those “that life (2:7). thesis of environmental movement.
believeth that Jesus is the Son of God • They shall not be hurt of the second
“have all overcome the world (I Jn.5:4-5). death (2:11).
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 How to Pray - Thy Kingdom Come
R. J. Rushdoony (Good Morning, Friends, Vol. 3, pp. 146-149)

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A fatherless home is a if it is constantly done. At times, Jesus Christ established the
broken home, one lacking its indeed, pressing personal problems pattern of obedience in this respect
true support and authority. overwhelm us, and our prayer cries in His faithfulness to His appointed
Likewise, a people whose lives are out in purely personal tones. This is task, establishing the Kingdom
lived apart from God the Father are right, and pleasing to God. But the and manifesting His faithfulness to
without true authority and security. proper perspective for the whole of God the Father. He declared, “Here
A godless nation is a nation in which our prayer life must be in terms, not I come—in the roll of the book this
authority and law are broken or of our will, but that His will be done, is written of me—I come to do thy
corrupt, because the only source of not in terms of our petty domain, will, O God” (Heb. 10:7, Moffatt). “Not
authority is denied or neglected. The but that His Kingdom come. my will, but thine, be done” (Luke
nations of today are broken homes, However, as Dr. James Reid 22:42). The world cannot be left out
breeding delinquency in the body has pointed out (Hear My Prayer, p. of our praying, but neither can we
politic because of their prodigal 330), “the Kingdom begins within leave out ourselves as an object of
wandering from the authority of ourselves. Our heart is a world in the Lord’s chastening, reviving, and
God the Father, who is alone the itself. God’s rule must begin there.” overruling providence. This petition
true sovereign of all nations. Having In his Confessions, St. Augustine has in mind the great reality that the
rejected His authority, they are candidly comments that during one kingdoms of this world are and shall
subject to His judgment. period of his spiritual pilgrimage his be the Kingdoms of our Lord and of
It is for this reason that the Lord’s prayer seemed to have been, “Lord, His Christ.
Prayer summons us to pray, “Thy make me pure, but not yet.” This It finds total fulfillment
kingdom come. Thy will be done, kind of praying is all too common only at the end of history when
on earth as it is in heaven.” Here is a in every generation. What we want the recreation of all things is
petition that God overrule us, both of others, we are unwilling to ask of consummated, but it finds daily
in our personal and our national ourselves. The character we demand fulfillment in your life and mine as
lives. To pray in these words sincerely of the nation, we too often refuse the Lord comes into our hearts in
is to confess that our will often to manifest in our personal lives. power and in truth, received by us in
fails to move in conformity to the Humility is a great virtue, and we faith and daily glorified by our trust
Lord’s will. Our Lord, in giving us this are anxious to see it in others, but and obedience. It finds fulfillment
prayer, gave thereby a confession less anxious about our own lack of as the nations are brought into the
of sin for us to echo, and yet one it. Other people should be patient light of the gospel and the joy of the
of such significant direction. The and loving and thereby put less Lord. To limit God’s answer to the
focus is not on our sin, nor on our strain on our own disposition. So end of history is to refuse an answer
wayward will, but instead on God’s many people feel that it would be and to resist the reality of His present
Kingdom and His will. Prayer must a wonderful world if other people sovereignty. Therefore, let us pray in
be made for confession of sins, were righteous so that we could faith, saying,
and thanksgiving for forgiveness is be comfortably undisturbed in our
Our Father, who art in heaven,
essential, but prayer cannot revolve sinning, or in our spiritual laziness.
Hallowed be thy name.
around our life, our will, our hopes, or This petition is directed against
Thy Kingdom come.
our planning. That God has room in all these things when, by its
Thy will be done,
His purpose for our hopes and needs simplicity and plainness, it overrules
On earth as it is in heaven.
is clear enough in the next petition, all persons in heaven and earth
wherein we are asked to pray for our and supplants their will and their
daily food, but to limit prayer to our planning with God’s will and God’s
lives and our will is to abuse prayer, Kingdom.

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