The Passive/Agressive Evil

"The greatest evil is not now done in those sordid "dens of crime" that Dickens loved to paint. It is not done even in concentration camps and labour camps. In those we see the final result. But it is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clear, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice."

— from the Preface to The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis

Nice quote. Is the "greatest evil" done by the passive/aggressive? By the subtle? Or is evil itself subtle? Does it always look like "nine - eleven" terrorism? Surely those were evil acts! Nowadays we are afraid to even mention the word. The word offends, even judges. But unfortunately, it is real...it is very real. We find it in politics/government, schools, businesses,marriages, even churches. Yes, we find it within ourselves. Maybe that's why these institutions appear corrupt. From what Merton calles the "false self". That's a whole other blog entry!

1 John 1:8 "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives."

So, there is good news here and bad news. Bad news, we are in fact sinners...which means we must wrestle with evil within ourselves, to work on removing the log in our own eye. This is a lifelong process. I doubt we will have much time to be concerned with the splinter in our brother's eye. Turns out, his splinter is his own log also. But ahh, the good news, He is faithful and just and will forgive us if we but only ask. Vs. 9 says He will "purify us from all unrighteousness."

When I was on the Applachian Trail, I remember the bliss of a hot shower after being out on the trail for a week, smelling like roadkill. Nothing to bathe in but rain and a pond here and there. Sweet purgatory. After all that is what it is isn't it? The difference, being a "purging", a purifying "yet so as by fire". (1 Cor 3 :15). My guess, a painful process. Unfortunately, purgatory appears misunderstood by Protestants and Catholics alike. Purgatory...this too is another blog entry!

Ok Murph, off your soapbox. All of this to say sin can appear neat and clean, even attractive. If we would only ask for God's Irish Spring and become "clean as a whistle"!

Pax Christi,
Murph