“DELIVER US FROM EVIL!”

By Edwin Cooney

“….lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil…”

According to scripture (Matthew 6:9-13), the words above -- part of "The Lord’s Prayer" -- were left to us by Jesus Himself as an example of what we may legitimately ask of God when we pray. Thus, several questions:

What is evil?
Is the commission of evil ever useful to humankind?
Can there be good without evil?

Okay, I’ll confess: I spent five days in or near Las Vegas last week and “sin city” is still on my mind! Las Vegas and the state of Nevada are not only home to the gambler but also home to the prostitute — presumably of either sex. The money spent on “sinful indulgence" is in the billions and those who indulge themselves come from all over the world. Casinos go out of their way to provide creature comforts to more easily draw or—if you prefer—tempt their clientele. Casinos provide free drinks if you are gambling. Food is often exceedingly inexpensive. In short, the good citizens and civic leaders of the State of Nevada are most definitely more interested in your money than they are concerned about your soul.

From the moment most of us open our eyes for the first time, we’re taught to hate all things evil and to love all things that are good. According to my dictionary, "evil" is broadly defined as "reprehensible immorality" or "harmful and destructive wickedness".

Certainly, we are instructed to abhor that which would harm us, but do we? Who doesn't overeat, smoke or drink? Who doesn't lust for the wealth or for the love the eminently successful appear to possess? Might there be some of us who abhor politics as grasping and phony while at the same time yearning to possess the almighty dollar -- regardless of the dirty hands that dollar may have passed through?

Do we not only utilize evil but insist on mastering it? Certainly we do if we regard war as evil! Ah, but we insist that there exist “necessary evils" designed and indulged in for the protection of all that’s good and moral within the borders of America, “…land of the free and home of the brave!”

Of course, Nevadans don’t have a monopoly on gambling or on sin any more than do Americans in comparison with the rest of the world. People from Monte Carlo to Hong Kong indulge in every conceivable sin humankind can imagine. It is just that we Americans in our political pronouncements often pat ourselves on the back as being a tad more moral than decadent Europeans who’ve adopted, among other things, legal prostitution, the decriminalization of marijuana, and -- worst of all -- Socialism with its free education and single payer health care systems.

Meanwhile, here at home, many of us, regardless of political or religious persuasion, would rather spend money entertaining rather than educating or improving ourselves. What other explanation is there to account for the high cost of sports heroes, singers, movie actors and actresses versus the comparatively small salaries we pay teachers, nurses, and most preachers?

As I see it, while there are any number of evil deeds -- murder, rape, thievery, cheating, aggressive war, and so on -- I believe (as did the late great Attorney Clarence Darrow) that most wrongdoing has more to do with addled brains than with addled spirits. Darrow once observed that Americans need more hospitals than they do jails. We know that emotional trauma or brain injuries are a large part of the cause of many evil deeds and yet we seem to prefer violent confrontation with social misfits rather than humane healing treatment for those who offend us. Of course, those who commit unlawful and violent acts must be effectively restrained from repeating such offenses. Nevertheless, if we don’t at least begin to seek alternative ways of protecting ourselves from evil-doers other than through the use of evil methods, evil will surely prevail.

As a believer, I’m convinced that you and I represent God’s greatest creation. Ironically, our greatest sins are ultimately against ourselves and not directly against God, because God is above and beyond the range of our ability to harm. Hence, that which we label "evil" is evil because we are the ultimate victims!

As for America’s “Sin City” (as has often been said of New York, America’s original “Sin City”), it’s a fascinating place to visit but I wouldn’t dare to live there!

As for who will deliver us from evil deeds and institutions, my guess is that God has assigned that task to you and to me!

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
EDWIN COONEY