Nice People

It is assumed, by some, that wicked people will be wicked in every respect. That faulty assumption has led many to a faulty conclusion. If you meet a really nice person who is polite, friendly, and kind, but who turns out to also be an adulterer, or a homosexual, or a heroin addict, does that prove that adultery, homosexuality or heroin use are no big deal? Some seem to think so.

I took a course in Brazilian history and culture in college. The teacher, Dr. Ellis Long, had lived in Brazil, at Sao Paulo, for about 15 years. Across the hall from the Long family’s apartment there lived a nice old man. He was friendly, generous, and kind to the Long’s children. He was also, it turned out, a Nazi war criminal. Did his kindness to the Longs excuse the gassing of prisoners at concentration camps? If I remember correctly, this “nice neighbour” was convicted of 900,000 counts of murder.

Let’s face it, very few people are completely evil. The fact that someone is nice does not mean that they are right.

People are too easily taken in by style. If a politician or a preacher has a pleasant smile and a smooth presentation, some people will accept what is said, although it may contradict both the constitution and the scriptures. On the other hand, if someone tells it like it is in a stern tone, some folks are ready to reject the truth.

John the Baptist was not soft-spoken (Mt 3:7-10), nor for that matter was the Apostle Paul (Romans 1:18-32; Gal 5:12). Even Jesus spoke very bluntly at times (Mt 23). On the other hand, some whose speech can be as “smooth as butter” are deeply evil (Ps 55:21).

If God says something is evil, it is evil. Sure, some of the people who do things God has forbidden seem to be nice people. Satan is smart enough to disguise himself, and his evil work (1 Cor 11:14). Don’t be fooled by appearances. The fruit looked good to Eve, but it was evil.