Understanding the Difference between 'Good vs. Evil'

Check the news stories across the U.S. and around the world every day and you can plainly see the daily battle between 'Good versus Evil' taking place. Think terrorists, drug cartels, greedy corporations, corrupt politicians... You can see that the difference between Good and Evil have apparently never been explained to hundreds of millions of people. It's amazing to observe.

I tend to come at these concepts from a Christian point of view, but the definition of what is Good and Evil tend to be very consistent across all religions and societies in the world. Think about this and you'll probably agree with that observation.

As you read the rest of this article, think about the people and events in the news and judge for yourself who are performing 'Good versus Evil' acts. As you might expect, many of the Evil acts are performed by people and organizations that are very self-centered, closed minded, and in hot pursuit of power and money.

Contrast this in your mind with the acts of those pursuing Good - trying to help, serve, and care for other people and God's creation.

[Selected Excerpts From the Bible]

Romans 12:9-21. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving God. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 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." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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Evil

Matthew 15:19. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

Mark 7:21-22. For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.

Romans 1:29-31. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

1 Timothy 1: 9-10. We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers--and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine

2 Timothy 3:1-5. There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

Galatians 5:19-21. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

Revelation 21:8. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

Revelation 22:15. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Examples of Words Describing Evil Traits or Behavior

murder adultery sexual immorality theft false testimony slander greed malice deceit lewdness envy arrogance wickedness depravity strife malice gossips vile rebellious lawbreakers

sinful unholy perverts slave traders liars perjurers lovers of themselves lovers of money proud abusive ungrateful unholy without love unforgiving lacking self-control brutal treacherous God-haters insolent boastful

rash conceited debauchery idolatry witchcraft hatred discord jealousy fits of rage selfish ambition dissensions envious drunkenness cowardly unbelieving disobedient senseless faithless heartless ruthless

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Good

1 Timothy 6:11. You, man of God, flee from all this [love of money], and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

Galatians 5:22-23. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Colossians 3:12. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Thessalonians 5:13-18. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances.

Titus 3:1-2. Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

2 Peter 1:5-7. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

Examples of Words Describing Good Traits or Behavior

righteous godliness self-control love gentleness kind endurance joyful peaceable patience

kindness goodness faithfulness considerate self-control compassion goodness humility humble patient

trusting hopeful persevering peace-maker encouraging helpful joyful prayerful thankful obedient

Why do so many people not understand the difference between Good and Evil? Apparently, there is a need to teach people the difference because somewhere along the line they have never learned the difference.

Think of Islamic terrorists, drug cartels, greedy corporations, corrupt politicians, ... Think about those that are reflecting 'Good versus Evil' behavior. It should be obvious.

Share this brief lesson explaining the difference between Good and Evil with others. Apparently, many people need it. If you don't like the heavy emphasis on Christian scripture, strip it out and share the lesson in your own words.