“Evil preaches tolerance until it is dominant, then it tries to silence good.” ― Charles J. Chaput
Evil preaches, "Peace, peace," but there is no peace.
Evil uses the promise of peace to secure more power for itself or to escape the power of the good. If evil can get good to stop fighting, it has a chance. In fact, that is its only chance.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." ― Edmund Burke (attributed)
If good men do anything, evil is on its heels. So evil must convince good men to stand down. This sometimes comes in the form of a flex that promises it won't get worse if good concedes. Other times it comes in the form of a plea for mercy that begs good men to stop pursuing them.
Either way, when good men stand down, evil rises up. It cannot stand side by side with good, so it must convince good to stand down.
Psalm 106:30-21
Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: And so the plague was stayed. And that was counted unto him for righteousness Unto all generations for evermore.
So what will it be Christian men? Stand down and let evil run rampant or stand up and put evil down?
Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
to serve the King of kings.
Rise up, O men of God!
The kingdom tarries long.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
and end the night of wrong.
Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
her strength unequal to her task;
rise up, and make her great!
Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where his feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
rise up, O men of God!
― William P. Merrill,
Rise Up, O Men of God
No comments:
Post a Comment