(EMAILWIRE.COM, September 11, 2006 ) Alexandria, VA -- MP3 Audio file at http://www.loveallpeople.org/notnecessarytosin.mp3. If we want to avoid sin, God will always make a way for us to do so. Hungry people do not need to steal food. Cold people do not need to steal clothing. Lonely people do not need to borrow another person's wife. Poor people do not need to covet another person's possessions. Fearful people do not need to bomb apartment buildings or torture their prisoners. Oppressed people do not need to murder innocent civilians.

God will always make a way for our legitimate needs to be met without causing us to sin. Count on it! Sin is always avoidable. It is never necessary for any of us to sin against other people or against God.

As the Bible says . . .


1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 (RSV)

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"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is
faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength,
but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that
you may be able to endure it."
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Although these words were written by Paul to the Christians at Corinth in the first century, A. D., they actually apply to all people, everywhere, at all times. This is a "universal truth," like the Law Of Gravity, applying to everyone. WE DON'T NEED TO DO EVIL IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH GOOD. God will provide us a "way of escape" from the temptation.
Jesus makes the same point in a different way: It is necessary for temptations to come, but it is not necessary for us to yield to them.


MATTHEW 28:7-9 (RSV)

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"Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that
temptations come, but woe to the man by whom the temptation comes!
And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and
throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than
with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away;
it is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be
thrown into the hell of fire."
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Source: http://www.hti.umich.edu/r/rsv/


The teachings of Jesus apply to all people, not just to Christians. (The Qur'an specifically teaches Muslims that Jesus ("Isa") is a prophet.)
Regarding Jesus as a prophet, the Qur'an says . . .

Say: We believe in Allah and (in) that which had been revealed
to us, and (in) that which was revealed to Ibrahim and Ismail
and Ishaq and Yaqoub and the tribes, and (in) that which was given
to Musa and Isa, and (in) that which was given to the prophets
from their Lord, we do not make any distinction between any of
them, and to Him do we submit. (Qur'an 2.136, Shakir translation)

Note: Allah means God; Ibrahim means Abraham; Ismail means Ishmael;
Ishaq means Isaac; Yaqoub means Jacob; Musa means Moses; and Isa
means Jesus.

Source: http://www.hti.umich.edu/k/koran/


The Qur'an further says that Jesus was strengthened with the Holy Spirit . . .
. . . and We gave clear miracles to Isa son of Marium, and
strengthened him with the holy spirit. (see Qur'an 2:253)


The idea that some things are "necessary evils" is a false idea, invented by man to justify his willingness to do evil. Sometimes we see an easy way to accomplish a good result, but it requires doing evil in order to attain the greater good. But if we search the entire Bible, in every authoritative version we can find, we will not find the words "necessary" and "sin, " or the words "necessary" and "evil," in the same verse or anywhere else, connected so as to justify doing evil.

Therefore, what we should do is to keep on looking for an acceptable way to accomplish any good purpose, without doing evil to others. Jesus says, "Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8 RSV)

Perhaps we cannot find an acceptable way right away. What should we do then? Keep on looking! The way is there, and we must keep on looking for it until we find it. God intends for us to do what is right. And He will always make a way for us to do what He wants us to do, if we keep on trusting Him to provide it.

"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth,
do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the
wilderness and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:19 RSV)


Blessings to you. May God help us all.

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