Good vs. Evil

I've been so busy with triathlons and bike races, so I haven't had time to type this up. Here is my sermon from May 15th, 2011:

So this week let's talk news & media. Do you guys & gals know what's going on or do they shelter you in this house? Well let me share with you anyway. We, the United State Military, killed "Osama Bin Laden." Good finally won over evil. We were attacked many times by that man and his disciples. Our most devastating tragedy was 9-11 in New York City. That day has impacted my life as I was living in New York that day and would have been in the buildings. I escaped because of God's Will; others did not. We will remember their lives forever.

So on May 6th 2011, we were given the news of "Bin Laden's" death; A victory for those lost; Again, a win of good versus evil.

Where does that fit into the readings of the Bible?

Luke 6:45 states:

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

The media right now are acting like false teachers, filling our ears with false translations of the Bible, with prejudice, hate, greed and desire for information of "Bin Laden's" death.

The Apostle Paul gave warnings to the people and church's of false gospel.

Roman's 16:17-18 states:

Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

So the media is sucking us in to continue to celebrate the death of an evil person, feeding us with ever detail; putting him, "Osama Bin Laden," on the foregrounds of leadership of evil. We must continue to ignore it because it will lead us into sin.

The Prophet Isiah and Jesus both warned against misleading others into sin.

It says in Isiah 5:20-21:

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and clever in their own sight!

Matthew 18:6-7 states:

But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!

Reading and learning the wisdom of the Bible helps us discern good from evil, good teachings from evil teachings, even when evil is disguised as good. A victory over evil is good, but celebrating it is evil.

Once we distinguish that good from evil, we can practice good in our own lives.

My final reading is Proverbs 2:6-13:

For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, Guarding the paths of justice, and He preserves the way of His godly ones. Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity and every good course. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; Discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you, To deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things; From those who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness.

Wisdom is always the buffer against conflicting ideas. When good wins over evil, brief celebration is acceptable, but one must let it go.

I, as a former New Yorker, am happy for the death of "Osama Bin Laden;" the victory of good versus evil, but I will let it go. I will not fall into the pit of sin and continue celebrating. We must move on and continue our prayers for those who lost their lives in the fight of good versus evil. It is constant and never ending, but we will live with our own peace.

Let us pray.

Thank you Lord for out victory. Continue to protect those who protect us. We will always remember those who left us; They will not be forgotten.

Peace be with you.

and everyone says

Amen.