Running Scared
I have recently witnessed yet another family who spent most of their years of existence running from ‘evil’ suddenly caught by it.
They avoided all modern media, nearly all movies, all forms of “rock” music, youth groups in churches, and just about anything else that could possibly be considered anything short of “perfect.” This running from evil was part of what they ate, what they wore, their education and everything.
Then, all in one day, they discover, that despite (and maybe even because
of?) their constant running from anything with the slightest hint of anything evil, evil found them. In fact evil had caught their familiy in ways that few families are caught. Things that the most liberal soul outraged!
Seems I heard someone say recently something to the effect of “You can’t run from it, it will hunt you down and catch you like a dog.” I know the word he used was “sorrow,” but it seemed to really be a good synonym for “evil” in both that scenario, and the ones I speak of now. If you haven’t seen The Village, do. If you don’t get it, either A. You are in a BAD way, or B. You are lucky enough to have not experienced what I’m talking about.
I really start to wonder if God ever intended for us to run from evil in the way that these people have. We don’t all hide in a “village,” but many hide behind high standards that keep them from living in our world.
I’m not advocating that we all start indulging in pornography, eating pepperoni pizza three meals a day, listen to music full of foul language or become nudists.
I am saying, though, that maybe the reasons for your decisions needs to be based on your knowledge of your relationship with Christ, and not on your fear of a relationship with the devil.
“Hey mom, look who’s on TV. The devil!” - Oh, did I quote another movie?
Everything in our culture is not evil, and running from everything in our culture will not protect you from evil.
