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Wednesday, July 2, 2014

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Amos 5:14-15, 21-24
Psalm 50:7-13, 16-17
Matthew 8:28-34

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"bad to the bone"

"Hate evil and love good, and let justice prevail." —Amos 5:15

"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil" (Is 5:20). The Lord wants us to "hate evil," not rename it by a more acceptable name (Am 5:15). Our culture of death specializes in "spin" control, using smooth words to rename actions blatantly and objectively evil in the sight of God. Just because our society regards acts as acceptable and commonplace does not mean God no longer regards them as evil and wrong. Some examples of this are:

  • We have a legal right to abort a "fetus." God considers this evil the murder of a living child (see Ex 20:13).
  • Those who support the evil of abortion are called by the supposedly "good" name of pro-choice.
  • Homosexual acts are consistently presented in the Bible as abhorrent to the Lord (see Lv 18:22; Rm 1:24-32). Yet if anyone speaks this truth in public, he or she is instantly vilified as evil and intolerant. In truth, it is evil to disregard and shout down God's good standards.
  • Corporations exploit the poor and uneducated, conscripting them to work for low wages in subhuman conditions. This injustice is called by the "good" names of maximizing profits and increasing shareholder value.

These are but a few examples of how our society warps God's good and holy commands and twists them to appear restrictive, intolerant, and even evil. There can be only one future for "those who call evil good, and good evil," and that is eternal woe (Is 5:20). Repent! "Make no mistake about it, no one makes a fool of God!" (Gal 6:7) "Seek good and not evil, that you may live" (Am 5:14).

Prayer:  Jesus, give me Your mind (1 Cor 2:16) and standards.

Promise:  "Let justice surge like water, and goodness like an unfailing stream." —Am 5:24

Praise:  Lydia, a young woman, so hungered for God's Word that she prayed with others for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Reference:  (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 2, 2014

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