Clinging To What Is Good

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good."
Romans 12:9

This, like many scriptures, can so easily be misinterpreted. What does it really mean to abhor what is evil and cling to what is good? It is important that we read these scriptures in their fullness otherwise we can easily pervert and abuse them. Just a few more lines down Paul also states that we should:

"Bless those who curse you, bless and do not curse."
Romans 12:14

As well as:

"Repay no one evil for evil."
Romans 12:17


We can not read the words abhor what is evil and cling to what is good without also reading the rest of these scriptures. The reality is that we truly don't abhor what is evil. How can we abhor what is evil if in doing so we become evil as well? We talk about the things we think "evil" people are doing and pretend that we are not like them. We talk about the people who hurt us, bother us and annoy us. We judge them, criticize them, and ridicule them while in the mean time, we are being evil.
If you really hate evil, than when it is done to you, you will bless and not curse.
Yea, if you really truly hate evil than you will have no part in it. As soon as you Judge and compare others, you have fought evil with evil. You have become just like them. You call me names and I'll call you names. That is evil vs evil. Don't think for a moment that you hate evil if when you are faced with it, you fire back with it, even if it is not in person. You call me names and I will wait and call you names later behind your back. Evil! Yea, we hate evil when it is done to us. We know what evil is when it is done to us. We may not think it is bad when we do it to others but we know when it's done to us don't we? Don't be a fool. If you really hate evil than you need to cling to what is good. When evil is done to you or in the world, respond with goodness. Otherwise, your just the same. Most of us only hate evil enough that we can't stand it when it is done to us. We don't hate it enough that we would never participate in it ourselves. Repay no one evil for evil! It is easy not to steal, cheat, murder and curse when you don' have to. Thats easy! What happens when you are faced with a real problem? Will you respond with evil or will you cling to what is good? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. Will you respond with these? This is the fruit of the Spirit my friends. Unless, you respond to evil with these, unless you cling to these, you are no different. Let love be without hypocrisy!

Be angry! Be so angry that you learn to keep your mouth shut! Be so angry that you respond in love! Be so angry that you show kindness, gentleness and forgiveness!!!

"Be angry and do not sin." Ephesians 4:26

This is the Truth! Your anger toward sin should lead you not to sin. It should lead you the peace and joy that is in Christ. It should immediatly prompt you walk in the Spirit!

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Romans 12:21