There is much debate this day about how to respond to horrific waves of violence. The Bible is clear. Evil inhabits the world we live in. Sometimes evil takes a violent form. When this happens a violent response is appropriate, even mandated! This is an important truth, a fact of life that your children must know.
It is important to train and encourage people to turn against evil and violence. The virtues of peace must never be forgotten. However, when violence occurs under the banner of evil, those who do such evil should fear the sword. If these evildoers have no fear of a violent response against them, then there can be no expectation that their violent acts will be deterred.
Notice carefully what the Holy Spirit says in Romans 13:4:
For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
While the truth laid out in this passage may be repugnant to some, nonetheless, this truth is essential for any form of orderly government to survive and offer protection for its citizens. There are times when words are ineffective. There are times when the violent response of the sword is all that stands between safety and chaos. Those who would bring violence must know that violence will be returned to them for their actions. This response must be strong enough to strike fear into their hearts.
This is the God-given job that our military and police are mandated to enforce for the safety and well-being of all. We owe these servants our gratitude. History has shown that failure to repulse evil leads not to peace but to the most unspeakable forms of barbarism.
This truth is something that your children must be taught. First, so that they will learn to fear the consequences if they engage in violence. Secondly, so that they grow up expecting and requiring that their government, whether local or national, will have the courage to respond to violent evil in a way the brings fear to the evildoer.
The most obvious and effective response to evil is to bring the gospel to those who are lost. We must never lose sight of this ultimate truth. But while the mission of spreading the gospel is ongoing, we must also be ready to follow God’s directive to support those agents of wrath that God has provided for our safety.
We must pray earnestly for the spread of the gospel and for the safety of those that God has called to be his servants for our protection.
3 thoughts on “Talking To Your Children About Evil”
You quote one verse?
I encourage people to go read the following passages after reading the above war propaganda piece:
Matthew 5-7
Romans 12
Galatians 5:22-23
Ephesians 6:10-18
Brad, there is no conflict between these verses. The passages you quote all have to do with an individual’s walk with God. In Romans 13 Paul is addressing the role of the state and its responsibility to confront and defend against evil.
Is it wrong to add the verses that have to do with an individual walk in faith? To see the full context of the verse in Romans 13:4 it would be best to read Romans 13:1-14. There is no authority greater than God. We are told we are subject to the leaders of the world and to obey their laws. In Mark 12:17 “Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.” Jesus tells us that God is the ultimate authority but as we are also subject to mans law as Paul tells us in Romans, but are the same rulers not also subjects of Gods law? If they like it or not we are all subject to the authority of Gods will. Is there fear where faith lives? Is there darkness where there is light? Faith does not fear presidents and kings, rulers are subject to the same God that creates all things. The law that Jesus teaches is to love God and love our neighbor even as we love ourselves. If we follow what the Lord teaches then there is no reason to fear rulers is there? So, to repent with our mouth and ask forgiveness and mercy we are forgiven and receive the Holy Spirit. If we live by what Jesus teaches we have no reason to fear what is evil, do we? Should we morn for those that commit evil and sinful acts? No, we should morn those that suffer and die because of the evil and sins of man that have not received the salvation of Jesus. This is what we must teach our sons and daughters not to fear rulers and kings. There is only one King and his name is Jesus.