There was a time in my life when I was a corporate attorney. I wore power suits, worked 80 hour weeks and sold my time in six minute increments. I wrote and researched and researched and wrote and almost always ate dinner at the firm every night of the week.
And in that world one afternoon on the 35th floor of our offices looking across at the Sears Tower an attorney told me, “I don’t believe in evil.”
I didn’t know how to respond. My mind drew the blank of an open-mouthed codfish.
There wasn’t room for argument. It was simply case closed. The words came out of his mouth fait accompli. There is no such thing as evil. Period.
There is nature and nurture and misguided choices. There is misguided youth and judgmental society. There is an inability to control actions and a case for medication. There is room to live and let live. But there is no evil.
“The fact that ‘devils’ are predominantly comic figures in the modern imagination will help you. If any faint suspicion of your existence begins to arise in his mind, suggest to him a picture of something in red tights, and persuade him that since he cannot believe in that . . . he therefore cannot believe in you.”
C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters, Letters from a senior to a junior devil, p. 40.
Four months later I was in Kyiv, Ukraine working as a legal specialist on a UN counter human trafficking program. And no one doubted that what we were up against was evil.
We had to inhale it on a daily basis. The wrecked and wretched misery forced on women ten, twenty, thirty times a night. The broken limbs of toddlers, the beggars, the baggage, the gaping holes in their lives and souls that no amount of counseling or treatment could ever completely restore.
The layer upon layer of STDs, the bullet holes, the forced abortions, the inability to have children ever again. Evil had a face – up close and personal – and every day we tried not to flinch as we looked back into its hollow eyes on behalf of the women we worked to preserve.
Sporting horns, a goatee, and dressed in red tights or not, evil was alive and we all believed.
I am no longer afraid to call something “evil.” To use the word that makes many of us itch and scratch uncomfortably in our seats. Because to name something is to acknowledge its existence and thereby equip ourselves to respond.
Evil discounted will only advance.
But evil named, called out from behind the skirts of free speech or the church or a government policy, or my own heart can be confronted. It can be dragged out into the light and exposed. And we are all the freer for it.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:5.
Sign up to call a spade a spade here.
I live in a little sheltered bubble. Then, things like this make their way in, and I remember how evil this world really can be. I feel helpless to stop it; small and powerless. BUT…then I remember that I serve a BIG God, and nothing is impossible for Him. None are greater than Him, the battle has been won and He is our refuge. So, after the ick of today, I’m running to Him and asking Him what I can do, in my own small way, to fight the evil that’s out there.
You and me both.
Sobering.
Calling a “spade a spade”… I severed all personal and blog ties with them yesterday. Whether Amazon takes evil off the site or not, someone still made the choice to put it out there in the first place.
I love that! “Evil discounted will only advance.”
Apparently that guy lived in a rose colored bubble. Do you have a protect children/boycott amazon button? I’d like to add it to my blog. My boycott continues until they implement policy change.
Bravo.
And, thank you for this.
While I am usually an advocate for free speech and against censorship, I refuse to support the ideology that free speech can be used to validate the victimization of children. Yes, I realize that as I condemn censorship and greatly desire this book censored; my stance is hypocritical. But I would rather be a hypocrite and protect my children, then support this book. I rarely blog about hot topics such as this, but this made me so angry that I couldn’t be silent. Bravo, on a great post.
So glad I have never used Amazon.
It just makes me sick to know someone thought it was okay to encourage others to commit such horrific crimes against children. To write such a book and then profit off it as well? Oh yes, this world is full of evil.
Well said. As a survivor and a mom I find these actions to be unforgiveable. I’ll never buy amazon again.
The mind boggles, doesn’t it?
I was at #amazonfail last night – and I have to say – when I saw your twitter avatar come up and your tweet – I was proud – I was proud to say “I read her!”. My avatar was there too – but only because I now know – well – well, rather – I read, so many “mommie bloggers. I’m a man, and after reading hundreds of blogs in prep for beginning my own blog next week, it’s only the “mommie bloggers” who have touched my heart.
I heart Christian mommie bloggers – and their hubbies too. Being single I feel I should include them – I’d wouldn’t want a single man gushing all over my bride – so I love you guys too (fist bump and man hug).
And one more thing. I read about blogging and I know how good it is to blog about a hot topic and keyword said topic all over the place for google rankings – and I saw the people marketing their posts over at #amazonfail – which is fine – good for them – they all seemed like good tweeple. But there is something about a post like yours, that speaks of the evil, but doesn’t go for the schtick (do they use that word in South Africa). That is awesome.
Anyway – too many words already – just wanted to say I saw you amid the gazillion tweets – and I was proud to say – I READ HER.
God Bless
Craig
Craig! You be sure and tell me when your blog is live. I will be proud to be your very first commenter. You bless me with your encouragement. I look forward to returning the favor!
Lisa-Jo. I’m thanking you ahead of time for your encouragement.
Because I just.don’t.feel.ready – not good enough.
So thank you more than words can say. My twin blogs will be born on Monday – if I’m brave enough to hit the publish button. That’s not a given :)
the baby girl will be … deepintolove.com
her brother will be … deepintoscripture.com
I’d be so honored if you came for a peek.
It’s hard and not one bit fun to look evil in the eye and to let our hearts break for those being crushed under its awful weight. Thank you for seeing, for speaking up with boldness and power, and for taking action.
Here’s a link to an interview with the author – shocking! http://www.newsfirst5.com/player/?video_id=4850
Yea, I didn’t have the stomach to listen to anything he said. Yesterday was outrageous enough to bring on the need to hurl in epic proportion to the whole thing. But man, if I don’t love seeing social networking kick the stuffing out of corporate giants! Up with the mini van mamas!
Applauding this post! And thankful that social media gives us the opportunity to exercise our right to stand up to evil! Thanks for posting this!!
I was raised charismatic so forgive me while I jump up and down, screaming and waving my white hankie because “YES! EXACTLY!”
Great post and so true- glad I found your blog! I looked into this Amazon thing and… wow. Thanks for a great post. Speaking of being an attorney- I was pre-law and debate team all the way through college but ended up with a marriage and family degree instead. I do love to see your gift of communication continue on though, even if you’re not practicing law!