Necessary Evils
Posted by: randalm <randalm@...>
http://www.forthright.net
Going straight to the Cross
Today, a double. When good brother Neale writes,
you need to catch it as quickly as possible.
Necessary Evils
by A. A. Neale
A good friend of mine used to say that politics
and government were a "necessary evil." The
politicians were crooks, and government existed
just to milk you of your hard-earned money, but at
least, he would say, they're a little bit better
than anarchy.
I beg to differ. According to the good Bible,
government is ordained of God, and kings and
governors are "sent by him for vengeance on evil-
doers and for praise to them that do well" (1
Peter 2:14). Politician is just another word for
public servant, government people who make the
machinery of bureaucracy work. And for all its bad
name, bureaucracy, like government and
politicians, is a necessary ... good.
Why, then, do we call necessary evils those things
that God has given us for our good? Unless it's a
lack of gratitude on our part and the upcropping
of that old tendency to complain about God's
merciful provisions for his people. Just as when
Israel belly-ached about that bread of angels with
a wonderful taste given to feed them in their trek
across the desert.
There is no such thing as a necessary evil. If
it's evil, it was never necessary. If it's
necessary, it is not an evil thing.
Make up your mind which it is. I'll just thank the
good Lord above for his mercy and wisdom when he
gave us politicians and government. Even when the
other party's in office.
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