Petting Wolves
The threat of nuclear war hangs over the world like a sulfuric stench. Like the smell of rotting eggs, it is not easily ignored, but we find a way. We pretend that evil doesn’t exist and that no one would dare. We demote evil to the place of unpleasantness and ignore its true nature. Like a child petting a wolf, we pretend we can tame it. For if we could only understand what is producing evil, we could live together in peace.
Perhaps we could unlock our doors and prove we believe evil respects us now. We could curtail punishment for crimes, eliminate laws that produce criminals, or rid ourselves of the tiring notion of policing. We have come to believe that reducing laws and, therefore, reducing the definition of crime will tame evil. Somehow, we have concluded that the insatiable appetite of Evil will be satisfied and stay within its bounds if we only try to understand it. We could lay down our arms and surrender to the notion that being nice will curtail evil and, like petting a pack of wolves, would prove our desire to live in peace.
We could ignore centuries of war, hatred, murder, assault, robbery, and every vicious crime, but we know deep down that ignorance may be bliss for a child, but it is blindness for an adult. We can pretend that humanity is essentially good and needs to be understood, but we all know instinctively that humans are not very nice people. God created humanity and said It is Good. And so, it was, until Evil entered the garden and humans felt the passions of greed, pride, and the unquenchable desire to be like God. To make the rules. To set the boundaries. To create one’s own path and one’s own truth. And finally, to bite into that forbidden fruit regardless of the consequences.
The Warnings of Jesus
We could ignore the warnings of Jesus that there would be wars and rumors of war until He returns. We could ignore His warnings about life after death and how our decisions on earth will determine how we fare in that world. We could ignore our sinfulness and believe we are better than some and certainly not as bad as most. We could make peace with evil and call it good, erect monuments to our altruism, and respect all views and ideologies as equally good and sound. We could, and we seem to be trying. In modern slang, how is that working for you?
Or we could understand that evil can’t be tamed but can only be conquered by God Himself at His appointed time. But God, in the meantime, has given us laws to help us restrict the effect of evil on civilization. The Ten Commandments was and still is an excellent place to start. As the Apostle Paul states:
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.
Romans 13:3-5, NJKV
Ultimately, God will triumph, and Evil will be banished, but until then, only Jesus can give you true peace and rest. Only laws and enforcement can help mitigate evil, and only you can open your eyes and stop petting wolves.
Dr. James D. Allen
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Dr. James D Allen
Dr. Allen served as a seminary VP, pastor, and as a trustee on a Christian mental health Board. He has earned a BA, MA, MA Biblical Counseling, Doctor of Ministry. Dr Allen has also preached on 5 continents, lived in 3 nations, and so has a diverse Christian experience. He has a distinguished career of being a pastor, consultant, author, and educator. MY FIRST LOVE--Being a Pastor and encouraging others!