Sermon Tone Analysis

12

OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:21

Peacemaking does not always go as easily as we would like it to.

Although some people will readily make peace, others will be stubborn and defensive and resist our efforts to be reconciled.

Sometimes they will become even more antagonistic and find new ways to frustrate or mistreat us.

Our natural reaction is to strike back at such people, or at least to stop doing anything good to them.

As we have seen throughout this book, however, Jesus calls us to take a remarkably different course of action: “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.…

Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:27–28, 35–36).

From a worldly perspective, this approach seems naive and appears to concede defeat, but the apostle Paul knew better.

He had learned that God’s ways are not the world’s ways.

He also understood the profound power we have through Christ.

When he was subjected to intense and repeated personal attacks, he described his response with these words: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.

On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor.

10:3–5).

Paul realized that a true peacemaker is guided, motivated, and empowered by his or her identity in Christ.

This identity is based on faith in the most amazing promise we could ever hear: God has forgiven all our sins and made peace with us through the death and resurrection of his Son.

And he has given us the freedom and power to turn from sin (and conflict), to be conformed to the likeness of Christ, and to be his ambassadors of reconciliation (2 Cor.

5:16–20).

It is the realization of who we are in Christ that inspires us to do the unnatural work of dying to self, confessing sin, addressing others’ wrongs graciously, laying down rights, and forgiving deep hurts—even with people who persist in opposing or mistreating us.

Paul also understood that God has given us divine weapons to use in our quest for peace.

These weapons include Scripture, prayer, truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Eph.

6:10–18; Gal.

5:22–23).

To many people, these resources and qualities seem feeble and useless when dealing with “real” problems.

Yet these are the very weapons Jesus used to defeat Satan and to conquer the world (e.g., Matt.

4:1–11; 11:28–30; John 14:15–17).

Since Jesus chose to use these weapons instead of resorting to worldly weapons, we should do the same.

Romans 12:14–21 describes how we should behave as we wield these spiritual weapons, especially when dealing with people who oppose or mistreat us:

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.

This passage shows that Paul understood the classic military principle that the best defense is an effective offense.

He did not encourage a passive response to evil.

Instead, he taught that we should go on the offensive—not to beat down or destroy our opponents, but to win them over, to help them see the truth, and to bring them into a right relationship with God.

As this passage indicates, there are five basic principles that contribute to a victorious offensive.

We have already referred to most of these principles in previous chapters, but now we will look at them again to see how we can use them with people who have persistently resisted our efforts to make peace.1

Control Your Tongue

The more intense a dispute becomes, the more important it is to control your tongue (Rom.

12:14).

When you are involved in prolonged conflict, you may be sorely tempted to indulge in gossip, slander, and reckless words, especially if your opponent is saying critical things about you.

But if you react with harsh words or gossip, you will only make matters worse.

Even if your opponent speaks maliciously against you or to you, do not respond in kind.

Instead, make every effort to breathe grace by saying only what is both true and helpful, speaking well of your opponent whenever possible, and using kind and gracious language.

As Peter wrote, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9; cf. 1 Cor.

4:12–13).

In addition to preventing further offenses, controlling your tongue can help you to maintain a loving attitude and an accurate perspective of your situation (see chapters 4 and 8).

As a result, you are likely to think and behave more wisely and constructively than you would if you indulged in all kinds of critical talk.

Instead of undermining further progress, you will be prepared to take advantage of new opportunities for dialogue and negotiation.

Seek Godly Advisors

As Paul says, it is difficult to battle evil alone (Rom.

12:15–16).

This is why it is important to develop relationships with people who will encourage you and give you biblically sound advice.

These friends should also be willing to correct and admonish you when they see that you are in the wrong (Prov.

27:5–6).

Godly advisors are especially helpful when you are involved in a difficult conflict and are not seeing the results you desire.

If a lack of noticeable progress causes you to doubt the biblical principles you are following, you may be tempted to abandon God’s ways and resort to the world’s tactics.

One of the best ways to avoid straying from the Lord is to surround yourself with wise and spiritually mature people who will encourage you to stay on a biblical course, even when the going is tough.

Keep Doing What Is Right

Romans 12:17 emphasizes the importance of continuing to do what is right even when it seems that your opponent will never cooperate.

When Paul says, “Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody,” he does not mean that we should be slaves to the opinions of others.

The Greek word that is translated “be careful” (pronoeo) means to give thought to the future, to plan in advance, or to take careful precaution (cf. 2 Cor.

8:20–21).

Therefore, what Paul is saying is that you should plan and act so carefully and so properly that any reasonable person who is watching you will eventually acknowledge that what you did was right.

Peter taught the same principle when he wrote:

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.…

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.…

But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

1 Peter 2:12, 15; 3:15b–16

This principle is dramatically illustrated in 1 Samuel 24:1–22.

When King Saul was pursuing David relentlessly through the desert, intending to murder him, Saul carelessly entered a cave where David and his men were hiding deep inside.

David’s men urged him to kill the king, but David refused, saying, “I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD’s anointed” (v.

10b).

After Saul left the cave and walked away, David emerged and called after him.

When Saul realized that David could have killed him, he was deeply convicted of his sin and said:

You are more righteous than I.…

You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.

You have just now told me of the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me.

When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed?

May the LORD reward you well for the way you treated me today.

I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.

verses 17–20

Years later Saul’s prediction came true, and David ascended the throne of Israel.

David’s determination to obey God and to keep doing what was right helped him avoid saying and doing things he would have later regretted.

As a result, all of his enemies were eventually won over or defeated.

Thousands of years later people are still taking note of David’s righteousness.

I have seen many others who resolved to keep doing what was right even in terribly painful situations.

When John’s wife, Karen, divorced him and moved in with her high school sweetheart, John was devastated, especially when his church refused to do anything to try to save their marriage.

But he drew on God’s grace and resisted the temptation to give in to self-pity or bitterness.

He refused to criticize Karen, especially in front of their children.

He bent over backwards to accommodate their ever-changing visitation schedule.

Most of all, he continued to pray for Karen, and whenever they talked with each other, he asked God to help him speak to her with genuine love and gentleness.

After about a year, Karen and her boyfriend were fighting continually.

As she compared his behavior to John’s unfailing kindness in the face of her betrayal, she began to realize what a terrible mistake she had made.

With great trepidation she asked John if there was any chance they could get together again.

To her amazement, he said yes and suggested that they start counseling with the pastor at his new church.