Today, with growing polarization everywhere we look, it’s easy to believe in a caricature of the world. It’s easy to see our side as making rational choices, and see the other side — of whatever issue — as always choosing evil.
I imagine the devil is quite happy with all this, not only because of the division he creates, and the anger and vitriol generated, but because it is a master deception, which makes each subsequent deception more effective. Not only do we begin to see the world as black-and-white, polar opposites, but is also increasingly obvious which side is right, and good, and moral. At the same time, we see our opponents as enemies, evil in thought and deed, stopping and nothing to impose their evil on the rest of the world. Given the extraordinary danger, and their willingness to use most diabolical tactics, it becomes clear that the only way to resist them is with extreme measures.
The devil loves this because when it reaches this stage he has set up both sides to fall for his real temptation. What temptation is that? Why it is the temptation to do good.
“Wait a minute,” you say, ” what you mean ‘temptation to do good?'”
We are tempted to exchange a greater good for a lesser one.
I say that because, in the end, every temptation is the temptation to do good. That probably strikes you is not only mistaken, but perversely wrong. After all, some few twisted individuals are tempted to perform cruel torture on their victims. How can that be any temptation to do good? Well, sad to say, and repulsive as it is to think about, sadistic killers act out these diabolical impulses either because it gives them some perverse pleasure — and pleasure is basically good — or because they believe it’s necessary to achieve some greater good. And, as little as I like saying it, that’s at the root of all sin.
For Example, when the Serpent tempted the woman, there were three aspects to the temptation:
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; Gen 3:6 NASB.
It was 1) good for food–that’s positive; 2) a delight to the eyes–also good; and 3) desirable to make one wise–wisdom is good! In general, getting wisdom is a good thing. Scripture repeatedly tells us to seek wisdom. And she was wiser afterward, in precisely the way the Serpent suggested. Before she ate, she only knew good. Afterward, she knew good and evil! Wisdom is good, but it is not the greatest good. And that encapsulates how we are tempted: we are tempted to exchange a greater good for a lesser one. Mankind exchanged the good of trusting God for the wisdom of knowing evil, and we have struggled to trust God ever since.
When Judas betrayed Christ, he thought he was doing something good — he thought he was helping Christ proclaim and establish his kingdom. How do I know that? Because of his reaction when he discovered that Christ was going to allow himself to be crucified. He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” which indicates he was surprised! He expected something else! It was only when he “saw that Jesus was condemned,” that he realized that he, Judas, had done a terrible wrong.
Sin is an addiction, like substance abuse. In the beginning we seek euphoria, but over time the euphoria fades, and eventually we seek (in vain) to flee from shame and pain. It is well known that only when we hit bottom, when we realize how depraved our action to become, that we can turn around. But, like Judas, not everyone who hits bottom turns around.Both Judas and Peter betrayed Christ. Peter repented, and threw himself on the grace and mercy of Christ. Judas despaired and, as he always had, relied on himself for solution.
On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus warned the disciples of this. He said, “The time is coming when a man who kills you will think he is thereby serving God.” John 16:2.
What does that have to do with the polarization we find in the world today? I’ll talk about that next time.
