The Webster Dictionary meaning of evil: Daniel Webster defines 'evil' as "morally wrong, immoral, sinful, wicked, causing injury, mischief, trouble, pain, bad, harmful, repulsive".
The Webster Dictionary meaning of inherent: And his definition of 'inherent' is: "forming an essential or intrinsic element of; existing inseparably within an object or person". Is the human race cursed with two strikes against it at birth? Could there be a genetic defect in those who rise to infamy such as Attila the Hun, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Saddam Hussein, Jeffry Dahmer or John Gacy? Or has this evil come to us because of the fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve, as the Bible states? WHAT ABOUT ENVIRONMENT: home, church, school, friendships, fraternities? What part does upbringing, training, nurturing, learning and companionship play in a person's character? I BELIEVE THAT EVIL IS BOTH INHERENT & LEARNED In more than 40 years of very active Christian Ministry, I have formulated a definite opinion that - without doubt - EVIL is both inherent and learned. The Bible states, "The wicked are estranged from the womb. They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies". (Ps alms 58:3) And, "The scripture hath concluded all under sin". (Galatians 3:22) You don't need to teach infants how to lie. We've all seen them do that even before they can talk. Holding a cookie behind his back, little Billy will shake his head saying, "No, I didn't raid the cookie jar". St. Paul blames Adam for our fallen condition: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned". (Romans 5:12) THE REMEDY or ANTIDOTE AGAINST EVIL Then, he gives us the antidote or remedy against EVIL. "For as by one man's (Adam) disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One (Jesus Christ) shall many be made righteous". (Romans 5:19) Again, the Bible says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus". (Romans 3:23-24) Here, we find the dilemma of the human race. We were born with a nature that is at enmity with God. We are sinners by birth, by nature and unfortunately, sinners also by choice. But God, sending His Son to die for our sins - as our substitute - paid the ransom price to purchase our salvation. Through His grace, we receive a new nature and are born again from above. Here is the good news, then: "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord". (Romans 6:23) In the letter to the Romans, St. Paul agonizes over the fact that. "For I know that in me (that is in my flesh), dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not, for the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not that I do." "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" THEN HE GIVES US THE KEY: "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death". (Romans 7:18, 19, 24; 8:2)
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Author Oni T.
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