The short answer is “Yes.” Evil is a real part of life, and we need to know how to respond to attacks from the Evil One and his schemes.
We do not study evil to become evil. There is a difference between sharing the history about Hitler, and teaching kids how to be like Hitler. We don’t study Hitler to become tyrants. We study Hitler’s schemes to try and prevent someone like him from bringing similar death and destruction.
I study evil to know how to better defend my community from evil and how to advance righteousness instead. I don’t want my children or neighbor’s children to be recruited to be witches, sodomites, atheists, sexually active outside of marriage or overcome by other types of evil. So, I must be on guard against evil and have strategies to repel it. But, the majority of my time is focused on learning to live a healthy, productive life that pleases God and brings blessing to my family and community.
First, an encouragement to focus on what is good. The following sections from the Holy Bible explain how God wants us to know a lot about how to be good and very little about how to be bad.
For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning what is evil. Romans 16:19
Observe and hear all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you, and with your children after you forever, when you do that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 12:28
Seek good, and not evil, that you may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as you have spoken. Amos 5:14
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Romans 12:9
Second, agree that we are in a battle with evil, until the time God chooses to destroy it.
Almost any evil and disgusting thing imaginable is mentioned in the Bible. There is rape, incest, ripping pregnant women’s wombs open and all kinds of torture and torment. There are many examples of demonic battles and demon possessed people doing terrible things and causing pain and grief.
Why did God allow so many depictions of evil to be recorded in His Word? Because spiritual warfare and evil are a real part of the world we live in. We may want to skip those parts of the Bible or become angry at the person who makes us aware of demonic activity. We may want to hide in a fantasy where everything is safe and encouraging. But, that does not change the fact that we are in a spiritual battle, whether we like it or not.
- Satan, God’s enemy, brought sin and death into the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3)
- Satan has devices and schemes against us. (II Corinthians 2:10-11)
- Satan and his demons are at war with God’s children. (Ephesians 6:10-20)
- Those who are not following Christ Jesus are sons of disobedience and following Satan. (Ephesians 2:1-3)
- Satan wants to steal kill and destroy. (John 10:10)
Don’t get scared, God is bigger than Satan. God destroys death with eternal life and puts an end to Satan’s power.
Then comes the end, when Christ delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. (I Corinthians 15:24-26)
Third, know the right reason to study evil … to bring healing and set people free.
A doctor has no desire to get sick personally, but he spends years studying diseases, so he can be God’s hands to bring healing to those who are sick. In the same way, we are God’s servants to bring freedom to those who are oppressed by the Evil One.
After Jesus rose from the dead, He gave these instructions to His followers:
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15-18)
In conclusion, we study evil in the Bible to understand how God wants to be glorified in evil’s defeat, how to stand against the Evil One, and how to bring healing and freedom to our community. The battle plan is to preach the gospel and teach people to live in obedience to Jesus Christ. As a result, life, healing and freedom will follow. Once the gospel is established in a community, we are to stand faithfully and continually proclaim God’s salvation and His righteousness. (Ephesians 6:10-20 & Matthew 6:33)