Evil Sometimes Wears a Mask of
Justice
Rabbi Yehudah “Tochukwu” ben Shomeyr
Our fallen
and deprave nature, our Yetzer Hara (Evil Inclination) the Rabbi’s say is there
to challenge us, not to “tempt” us, but to keep us in check, challenge us to
actually look toward and choose the Yetzer Tov (Good Inclination). Yet we often
times use it as an excuse and guise for false piety and “righteous indignation.”
Our flesh so wants so bad to be the Jesus with the whip, chasing out the money
changers, when in fact it is just that our fallen selves simply loves a
blood-bath and a good ol’ lynching (character assassination). We will even go
so far as to twist Scripture to justify our witch hunts. Romans 16:17 is a
classic, we quote that with chest puffed out and declare, “See! I am just in my
campaign against so-and-so!” But if you care to take the verse in context with
the passages before and after you will see that it is a last resort and
reserved only for those who teach contrary to the cardinal and essential doctrines
of our faith and are trying to claim they are not, so as to infiltrate and
corrupt our circles. This verse is not speaking of those who simply have a
different Halacha (tradition) than our own.
Why do we not
instead focus on these verses?
For, brethren, ye
have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the
flesh, but by love serve one
another. – Gal. 5:13
With all lowliness
and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; - Eph. 4:2
This is my
commandment, That ye love one
another, as I have loved you. – John 15:12
Be kindly affectioned
one to another with
brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; - Rom. 12:10
Owe no man any thing,
but to love one another: for he that loveth another
hath fulfilled the law. – Rom. 13:8
But as touching
brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you:
for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. – I Thess. 4:9
For this is the
message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love
one another….And this
is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ,
and love one another, as he gave us commandment. – I John 3:11, 23
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God;
and every one that loveth is born of God, and
knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God;
for God is love… Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another, No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us… And we have known and believed
the love that God hath
to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love
dwelleth in God, and God
in him. – I John 4:7-8, 11-12, 16
And now I beseech
thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which
we had from the beginning, that we love one another. – II John 1:5
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: - Heb. 10:24
Finally, be ye all of
one mind, having compassion one
of another, love as
brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: - I Pet. 3:8
LOVE AND EDIFY! THAT IS THE ODER OF
THE DAY!
Shalom,
R. Yehudah “Tochukwu”
ben Shomeyr
