Evil’s Viscious Spiral

But if it all comes down to our own choices, then why, given time, can we not improve? Don’t most of us really want to love and be loved? So why do evil actions have an innate tendency to multiply in a downward spiral?

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Surely, if it all comes down to our own choices, then all we really need to do is to start seeing sense; and, given time, can we not improve? Maybe there are some ‘bad apples;’ but don’t most of us really want to love and be loved? True – we do. But if it were that simple, why is it that all these thousands of years have failed to produce a truly just society? Men have dreamt of and longed for such an ideal and tried this or that system with varying degrees of success. It has often been claimed that we would soon be there – only to see civilisations and empires crumble yet again into chaos.

And what we see being constantly re-enacted in human society we also see happening time and again in our own lives. Most of us are only too familiar with the situation described by St Paul in Romans 7:21-24:

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

So what is the underlying problem? Put simply, evil propagates evil; and, in the absence of any unifying purpose, everything has a natural tendency towards a state of increasing disorderliness.

Tit for Tat. When we are treated unfairly, we want revenge; and if others will not avenge us or pay us back, we will often seek it for ourselves.
Betrayal Breeds Ill Will. Even if we don’t seek revenge, it is difficult to forgive and even harder to love the one who has wronged us.
Selfishness is Simpler. ‘Look after number 1’ is a much easier maxim to understand and follow.
Abuse devalues us. It is frequently the case that, over a period of time, those who have been abused end up becoming abusers. There is a sense of inward shame that often causes the abused to seek to justify or normalize, what has happened; or else seek validation from others — even from their original abusers.
Power is addictive. We like the feeling of being in control — even when we aren’t really — and we strive to keep it that way.
Love makes us Vulnerable. Those who love are setting themselves up to be hurt and exploited. Who will protect them?¹

In one sense, evil is rather like gravity. The heavier an object is, the more it tends to pull in the things around it; becoming heavier and heavier until finally it becomes a black hole, imprisoning everything that comes too close. Although most of us have an inward dislike of evil, yet it has a kind of attraction for us; so that, little by little, we begin to tolerate and compromise with it; then excuse it and finally defend it, saying, “That’s just the way I am.” And one of the most fundamental laws of physics, the entropy principle, tells us that, if left to itself, any highly-organised system naturally degrades into a state of increasing disorder. ²

We Become What We Choose

As a tree grows, its branches harden. Although it can be reshaped by pruning and regrowth, it continues to carry the marks of its past. The same is true of human character; we are constantly being shaped by our circumstances and our responses to them. But it is commonly observed that two people may be exposed to very similar life experiences and yet come out of them very different. Some emerge from mistreatment with a very bitter and twisted attitude: others with an amazing capacity for positivity, forgiveness and compassion. It depends how we choose to respond. But is that the whole story? A tree branch may be trained or pinned down into a particular shape; the tree may even fall: but as long as it’s roots remain in the ground it may still shoot skyward again. To what extent can we reform ourselves? Christian theologians have differing perspectives on this issue.

Total depravity – a Calvinistic Perspective

In Calvinistic theological circles, the result of this downward spiral is known as ‘Total Depravity’ or ‘The Bondage of the Will.’ It expresses the realization that, since Adam forfeited his original relationship with God, human nature has been weakened and corrupted to such an extent that we are incapable of living in a way that pleases God. Everything we do – right down to our innermost desires – is tainted by sin and selfishness. Even our most noble-seeming actions are polluted by false motives. From this viewpoint, there is nothing we can do to deserve God’s favour. His mercy is an act of pure, undeserved grace on God’s part. Even if he chooses to withhold forgiveness and make an example of us, that is no more than we deserve and that He, as Judge, is entitled to demand. These principles are clearly taught in Scripture.

For He said to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” So then it is not of the one willing, nor of the one running, but of God, the One showing mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “Even for this same purpose I have raised you up, that I might show My power in you, and that My name might be declared throughout all the earth.” Therefore He has mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will, He hardens. (Rom 9:15-18)

The Importance of Freewill – an Armenian View

On the other hand, Christians who adopt an ‘Armenian’ point of view emphasize the ongoing importance of personal choice. This, also, is clearly taught in Scripture.

Now therefore fear Yahweh, and serve him in sincerity and in truth. Put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, in Egypt; and serve Yahweh. If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh. (Jos 24:14-15)

Likewise, Jesus was constantly challenging his hearers to make choices.

‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ (Mt 4:19)

‘Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.’ (Mt 7:7-7)

‘Then Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” ‘ (Joh 6:67)

But, in reality, the theological contrasts are just opposite aspects of the same problem. As human beings, made in God’s image, we were given the power of personal choice; so that we might have the freedom to choose the way of love. We are responsible for our choices: but by choosing our way instead of God’s way our natures have become distorted by the influence of evil. Its corrosive influence makes us unfit for heaven, and controls us to the extent that our very best efforts leave us unable to break free of it.

The question of who has done the most evil — or been the most religious — is irrelevant. We are all facing a death sentence from this spiritual killer disease. Not one of us can claim that it was not the result of our own choices; and, in spite of any self-improvement efforts we may make, ultimately things can only get worse – unless God himself intervenes.

What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin. As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one. There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. They have all turned aside. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not, so much as one.” (Rom 3:9-12)

The Depths of Depravity

Most of us lead fairly sheltered lives. We seldom directly encounter a serial killer, rapist or torturer; much less experience a serious urge to become one ourselves. We would far rather love and be loved. Very occasionally, we may be so frustrated and angry at someone that we may briefly say, ‘I felt like killing him:’ but we seldom really mean it. Occasionally, when watching a horror film, we may find that the suspense that makes our hair stand on end is, in some senses, stimulating and exciting. Yet few of us can avoid being revolted by scenes of wanton cruelty, When we witness the suffering of others, our natural empathy is stirred, so that we begin to not merely observe the other’s difficulty; but also to feel their pain.

On the other hand, empathy commonly enables us to imagine, and share in, the joy of others; whether it be in the homecoming of a loved one or the scoring of a winning goal. It also enables us to visualize the emotions of joy and wonderment even when we are merely observers, rather than participants in the experience. For most of us, unless we are suffering from depression, our empathies are weighted in the direction of finding it easier to receive encouragement from others than discouragement. This natural positivity is very beneficial: but it leaves us with something of a blind spot where evil is concerned. We lack understanding of the ways in which evil can get a grip on our lives.

If we ask what will be the probable effect of a person having a face-to-face experience of the love of Jesus, almost everyone will tell you that they would expect people to be so overwhelmed by love that they would forever be influenced to emulate His character. But, strangely, that is not what Jesus himself says.

This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.” (Joh 3:19-21)

If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do to you for my name’s sake, because they don’t know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me, hates my Father also. If I hadn’t done among them the works which no one else did, they wouldn’t have had sin. But now have they seen and also hated both me and my Father. But this happened so that the word may be fulfilled which was written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’ (Joh 15:18-25)

Light does not just reveal beauty: it exposes ugliness and shows us hidden things the way they really are. The tiniest light will still shine even in deepest darkness; and the darkest black will appear even blacker by comparison. So, for any creature that habitually lives in darkness, the instinctive response when exposed to sudden light is fear and avoidance.

Loss of empathy

The first casualty from the influence of evil in our lives is often a loss of empathy for others. This is a favourite tactic for sowing division in society by cultivating a ‘them’ and ‘us’ attitude; in which ‘they’ are in various ways of lesser value and less worthy of respect than ‘we’ are. So we become preoccupied with self and indifferent to the feelings and welfare of those around us. Please be aware, however, that this does not necessarily indicate a moral or spiritual issue. Sickness and fatigue can easily result in emotional ‘flat spots’ from time to time. So rest awhile and give your body and mind space to recover: but if the problem persists, seek help.

Getting a ‘kick’ out of corruption

This is much more serious, and can take many forms. There can often be a sense of excitement when engaging in risky actions. Note that these also can be quite innocent; such as taking a ride on a big dipper: but the adrenaline rush, or other physical reactions, can easily lead to addictive behaviours.

Shame and Defensiveness

By now, you know something is wrong: but you won’t want to admit it. You seek to make excuses for your vices. On the one hand, you are starting to despise yourself and on the other hand, rather than resisting, you start to believe that you cannot help being the way you are: so you may as well ‘be yourself’ and indulge your desires.

My Testimony

I hate talking about this: but this is what happened to me. I was very sensitive as a child and bullied as a ‘cissy’ and ‘cry-baby’ from very early on. I reacted by deliberately hardening myself towards others and becoming a loner. To make matters worse, I had a bed-wetting problem, which I never dared divulge to my peers. This persisted into my teenage years, increasing my isolation; and the insinuations of homosexuality became more pointed. The doctor prescribed some tablets (testosterone, I think) in an effort to stop the bed-wetting. The result was instant puberty! I was so scared that after 2 nights I refused to take any more. The bedwetting didn’t stop: but neither did the erections and curiosity soon led me into self-stimulation as a way of finding temporary relief. I hated it: but I was hooked.

Making matters far worse, however, this was the time when news of the Moors Murders was just breaking. Ordinarily, I had little exposure to pornographic or sadistic material: but at that time I used to spend about half an hour every morning sitting between rows of newspapers on the train and bus, going into gory detail about how these crimes had been committed, the murderers’ enjoyment of sadism and desire to commit the ‘perfect crime’. It turned my mind: and I found myself fantasizing about what it would be like to inflict such abuse on others. And all the while the ‘need’ for sexual stimulation was growing until I couldn’t get through a day without it.

I dread to think how this would have ended: but mercifully it never got beyond the planning stage. That same year I had an encounter with the miracle-working power of Jesus that finally convinced me of His reality; and I asked Him to become Lord of my life. For a few days the compulsions stopped: but then returned with all the force of a ten-ton truck. But in those few days I had learned something of vital importance: I was told that the compulsions I had been feeling could be the result of demonic bondage. That sounded like silly superstition to me – except that the symptoms matched. I tried to resist, but with no effect. Finally, in desperation I prayed, “Jesus, if You don’t deal with this I’ll be stuck with it for the rest of my life!” Then I told it, “In the name of Jesus, get out!” I felt something let go of the back of my head; and in under 40 seconds I was free. I just lay there perfectly calm and relaxed, thinking, “What happened?” I’ve been free ever since.

I don’t mean by this that I’ve never since faced sexual temptation. The mental and emotional scars took years to heal. I thought I would never be able to handle normal sexual relations and resolved to remain single for the rest of my life: but God had a better plan. My wife and I recently celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary! We currently have 3 children and 3 grand-daughters.

Is There a Point of No Return?

This brings us to a crucial question: “Is there a point of no return?” Can the downward spiral of evil reach a point where it becomes unstoppable; or, at least, where it becomes impossible to halt without destroying its perpetrators? Or, worse still, is it conceivable that, like some ghastly black hole, evil and those who have embraced it will always exist in some shut-away part of God’s creation?

Looking at the world around us, there is no shortage of natural illustrations of the ‘point of no return’ or ‘slippery slope’ principle; so we cannot easily rule out the possibility of this applying in the moral realm also. And the teaching of Jesus and his disciples concerning hell strongly suggests that this may indeed be the case. We naturally recoil from the idea. Indeed, the more we reflect upon the kindness and love of God the more repulsive the idea becomes and the less we want to believe that God would ever have created such a universe. But, what if there really were no viable alternative? What if the relationship between love, free choice and moral evil really is such that love cannot exist without the possibility of evil?

One Vital Choice We Can Make

But, although we are powerless to save ourselves, there is one vital choice left open for us, if we really want it. That is to cry to God for mercy. But that is both the hardest and the easiest choice you will ever make.

The Hardest Choice Ever

Without God’s help, this choice is not just hard; it’s impossible. That is because you will be coming directly up against the downward force of evil that has been steadily increasing its influence ever since you were a child. You will find all kinds of urges and arguments telling you not to do it; that you’re bound to fail; or that you need more time to make up your mind. You are simply not going to want to do this at all, or else you’re going to secretly want to hang on to the idea that you can do it yourself, your way. It’s humiliating; a public admission of your own failure; a judgement against yourself; a death sentence against all your ambitions and plans; a giving up of your own ‘rights’ and ‘freedoms’. And, to make matters worse, you won’t be able to claim any credit for it; you won’t even be able to claim that you are at least entitled to claim God’s mercy. Mercy is just that; it’s undeserved — entirely at the discretion of the one giving it.

The Easiest Choice Ever

But, on the other hand, it’s a no-brainer. “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”³ On the other side of giving up your supposed ‘freedoms’ and dying to your old ambitions and wishes you find real freedom and abundant, everlasting life in all its fulness (Jn 8:36 & 10:10). Though you come to Jesus as nothing more than an undeserving beggar, his response to you is, “Him who comes to me I will in no way throw out” (Jn 6:37). And once you have come, and he has come into your life, he confers on you the right to become one of God’s own children (Jn 1:12-13).

Footnotes

This point is discussed further in the final chapter, under the heading, ʻThe Perfect Judgeʼ. Or, for a more detailed discussion see ʻLove Needs a Championʼ at https://life.liegeman.org/love-needs-a-champion/.
Of course, this confronts physical scientists with something of a mystery; since there is one system that has managed to consistently buck this trend: the development of life, consciousness and intelligence. Some simply claim that this is only a temporary reprieve and ultimate chaos awaits us all. But others pause to consider the possibility that all this incredible order points to the conclusion that a far higher law and purpose has ultimate control over our destiny.
A quotation from the journal of James Elliot; one of five Christian missionaries who died while attempting to make contact with a remote Ecuadorian tribe.

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