Good and Evil in a Broken World

Everywhere you look, the headlines remind us of it: violence, cruelty, corruption, and injustice. Even people who don’t agree on much can agree on this—we are living in morally outrageous times. Good and evil are not abstract ideas. They are on display in the world around us every day.

It is right to be angry. In fact, there are times when it is wrong not to be angry. The Bible itself says, “Be angry, and do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26). To shrug at evil would be inhuman. Outrage at wickedness is a good and godly response.

But here’s the danger: stopping at outrage. Moral outrage may be the first step, but it cannot be the last. If anger is where we stay, we will never get to the real solution. Outrage points us in the right direction, but by itself it cannot heal, restore, or save.

The Bible says the problem of evil isn’t just “out there”—it’s also “in here.” It runs through every human heart, including mine and yours. As Romans 3:23–24 puts it plainly: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Years ago, when a newspaper asked, “What is wrong with the world?” G. K. Chesterton gave the shortest answer imaginable: “Dear Sir, I am.” That honesty echoes Scripture: the line between good and evil runs through every human heart.

And 1 John 1 reminds us that if we deny our sin, we deceive ourselves. But if we confess it, God is faithful and just to forgive and to cleanse us. Honesty about our sin opens the door to grace, because God delights to forgive in Christ.

That is the good news of the gospel: Jesus Christ lived the only truly good life, died for our sins, and rose again in victory. In Him, forgiveness and righteousness are offered freely. As Scripture says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

So don’t wait. The Bible urges us: “Now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Today is the day to repent, to believe in Jesus, and to find forgiveness and life in Him.

And here is the wonder of the cross: in what looked like total defeat at the hands of pure evil, Jesus actually won the ultimate victory. He overcame evil not with retaliation but with sacrificial love.

As Craig Keener observes, “One can, however, overcome evil by refusing to come down to its moral level, not retaliating in kind.” And John Stott adds:

“It is good never to retaliate, because if we repay evil for evil, we double it… It is even better to be positive, to bless, to do good, to seek peace, and to serve and convert our enemy… To repay evil for evil is to be overcome by it; to repay good for evil is to overcome evil with good. This is the way of the cross. Such is the masterpiece of love.”

That is why Scripture calls us: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

Two Next Steps

• Pick up a Bible. Don’t just take our word for it—read for yourself. Start with the Gospel of John and see what Jesus has to say. I think you will be amazed.
• Give church a chance. Christianity was never meant to be lived alone. Find a church that opens the Bible and proclaims Christ.

And if you are nearby, we would love for you to reach out to us at Central Presbyterian Church in Irvine. Give us a call, or drop us a note on our website—we would love to talk with you. Whether you are exploring faith for the first time or returning after many years away, it would be our joy to walk with you.