JOHN PIPER ON NOT BEING OVERCOME BY EVIL

From his sermon on March 20, 2005 --

"We let our emotions and our thoughts and our actions be reflexes to what people say and do to us. And the corollary is that we can then blame them for our evil-our anger, our bitterness, our discouragement, our depression, our vengeance. But Paul says, No. When Christians encounter evil, they don't merely respond to evil, they respond to Christ who deals with the evil. He died for it, or He will punish it in hell. Christ is the dominant reality in our lives, not other people's evil. Therefore, do not be overcome by evil. Do not be governed by it. Do not let your enemy's hostility make you hostile."

These are wise and penetrating words from a man I deeply respect. I urge you to read the whole sermon in light of what's going on in Pinellas Park.

Blessings.