How Should Christians Respond To Evil In The World?

How a few short verses on who God is transformed my aching and heavy heart.

The world can be pretty dark and bleak.

Iran and what’s happening there. Children born alive and left to die from failed abortions here in Aus. And then I’ve been looking into the Epstein files and trying to wade through fact and fiction. It’s horribly evil. Truly. It’s Old Testament Israel sacrificing kids, evil. Stuff I would prefer is conspiracy theory and leave it there, but we can’t.

In the midst of that, and catching up on my Bible reading plan, I was in Nahum, and this short little book was an unexpected healing balm for my weary soul. Perhaps it will be for you as well.

Nahum 1:6–8

[6] Who can stand before his indignation?Who can endure the heat of his anger?His wrath is poured out like fire,and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.[7] The LORD is good,a stronghold in the day of trouble;he knows those who take refuge in him.[8] But with an overflowing floodhe will make a complete end of the adversaries,and will pursue his enemies into darkness.

There is much to unpack here, so I’ll try and give it a go.

First, let’s start with the most important part — God hasn’t changed.

He is still the stronghold and refuge for those that belong to Him. He is still just and will avenge evil.

For context, these verses sit within the three chapters that make up the book of Nahum. They serve as a prophetic warning to Israel about what would happen to Nineveh. The last two chapters are about this. The first chapter, and the verses above, are Nahum’s prophetic word from God to remind Israel of who God is.

That means it serves as another timely reminder for us.

Like Israel, we are surrounded by nations and peoples that do not acknowledge God and participate in evil. So we must study the Word of God diligently and preach to our hearts and minds the truth of who God is and how He is above all things.

How God deals with evil

Secondly, look at how God deals with evil.

There is a very scary reality for those that do evil and refuse to repent. The darkness is real. God is justice. All His ways are right. This means He will deal with evil in ways we could never fathom. And let me just say, what a terrifying moment, horrendous beyond all imagination, when those that choose evil over repentance will stand before the Almighty Creator and be cast out and utterly condemned.

After all, as it states in verse 6: who can stand before His indignation?

Who can endure the heat of His anger?

We see evil and shudder, rightly so.

Well, wait until God’s wrath is fully delivered, when justice is truly served. No human mind can even start to grasp that. Oh, that people would repent and turn in their ways before it’s too late.

As horrifying as that reality is, it equally is the truth that also serves as hope for us to hold on to - that God has not forgotten, nor does He ignore, evil. All things will be held to account, including our careless words (Matthew 12:36).

With all that said, our hearts can be tormented seeing and experiencing abuse and desperately wanting to see an end to it all. “How long?” we cry out. Come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20).

God's grace in a evil world

So how do we navigate this all in the day to day?

Well, here are some hard and good truths to hold onto according to Scripture.

God is unbelievably gracious and kind to give His image bearers more time to repent and turn to Him. He could end it all now, and millions would perish. But each day is an act of grace - more time for repentance and change (2 Peter 3:9).

God willing, these men and women will be brought to their knees in repentance and see the evil hearts they have. God willing, justice will be served this side of heaven as well.

And when that doesn’t happen, we can reflect and see another glorious and yet fairly hard truth to accept.

How God gives us a new heart

It’s only by the unending patience, faithfulness, compassion, grace, and love of God that we haven’t been given over to the depths of our own wicked hearts (Ephesians 2:2–5; Romans 8:6–7; Colossians 2:13).

We like to think, “We would never.” But the reality is:

Sin corrupts.

Power destroys.

Greed rots lives.

Pride brings foolishness.

The untamed tongue brings shame and pain.

And many of us would be capable of doing the most vile of acts.

If we were left to it all, we would be no different. It is only because of Jesus we are battling sin, being made new, and trying to walk the narrow path which leads to life.

Don’t ever forget that.

Biblical truth to hold onto

And so, back to Nahum 1:7.

The Lord IS good — because He gave us new hearts and gives us the Spirit to lead us into holiness.

He is our stronghold in days of trouble — and trouble we are in. It’s all around us. But He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46).

And He knows those who take refuge in Him — you are KNOWN completely by Him, which means all those worries are cared for. Cast your anxious thoughts on the One who can handle it (Psalm 139:23).

Cast your soul and eyes to Him. He will keep you, strengthen you, and prepare you for a time such as this.