The phrase “necessary evil” is a popular phrase spoken today as well as in the past. This phrase goes back to Greek times, yet it is still popular in the modern day. With any phrase, we need to be cautious of using them as not every old phrase of the past is biblical.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the phrase “necessary evil” means “something unpleasant that must be accepted in order to achieve a particular result.” While this phrase and its meaning are accepted in the modern day, is it biblical?
Discussing the Concept of Evil
The Bible never tells us that evil is okay, nor does the Bible tell us it is permissible. Evil did not come into the world until the Fall of Man.
The Bible tells us God hates evil and sin as Proverbs 6:16-19 says, “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”
Evil and sin are polar opposites of God. God is full of mercy, forgiveness, and love. Evil is only full of pain and darkness. Since the Bible tells us that God hates evil, we can ascertain that the phrase “necessary evil” is not biblical. Never is it necessary for evil to be used in a situation.
The Bible warns us to stay away from evil as Paul tells us, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11). The Lord doesn’t want us to have anything to do with evil.
We are all born with a sinful nature, and we all freely commit sin, but God wants us to work against the sinful nature and the evil that easily creeps into our souls. James 1:21 tells us, “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”
As the Lord’s half-brother tells us, we need to “get rid” of all of the evil that is inside us. Instead of turning to evil, we need to turn to God. With God, there is only goodness, light, and love.
The Apostle John tells us, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Since God is only goodness, light, and love, we need to strive to reflect him in our own lives.
There is never a time for “necessary evil.” Evil is never necessary. Rather than rationalizing evil and sin in our lives, we need to take a stand against it. This phrase is not biblical, and it can lead many individuals into sin. Even in the hardest of situations, it is never biblical to do evil.
When we are tempted toward evil, God can help, yet we must go to Him in prayer. Paul urges us by saying, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
What Are Necessary Evils?
The phrase “necessary evil” is closely related to the phrase “lesser of two evils.” Neither of these phrases is biblical as they are both condoning sin. As human beings, it is easy for us to rationalize our sinful behaviors, yet there cannot be true freedom if we are living a life of sin.
If we live in accordance with the sinful nature, we are a slave to sin. Romans 8:5 tells us, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”
In other words, we choose if we are going to live in conformity to the Holy Spirit or the sinful nature. If we live according to the sinful flesh, we will only experience pain and an impaired relationship with Christ.
However, if we choose to live according to the Holy Spirit, we will live in the light, truth, and love of God.
Choosing to steer clear of evil can be difficult for all of us, including the most spiritually mature Christians. Due to our sinful natures, we will constantly be tempted by our sinful natures to do evil.
With the addition of the teachings of the world around us, it is not surprising that even as Christians, we try to rationalize sin or cause it as a “necessary evil.”
The world tells us it is okay or even “necessary” to lie, cheat, or manipulate a situation in order to achieve the outcome we desire. The Bible teaches the exact opposite, as evil is never acceptable.
There is never an instant in the Bible when God says evil is permissible. God is holy, perfect, and righteous (Leviticus 19:2; 1 Samuel 2:2).
Since God is holy, He cannot stand in the presence of sin. Holiness and sin cannot coexist. This is why God cannot have a relationship with individuals unless they have placed faith in His Son and have been forgiven of their sins.
1 Peter 1:15-16 gives us an important teaching on God’s holiness as Peter writes, “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”
As this passage of Scripture tells us, since God is holy, we need to strive to mirror this same holiness in our lives. The Lord doesn’t desire us to live a life of rebellion and evil.
We might rationalize our sin, thinking that our sinful act was a “necessary evil,” but we have to be honest with ourselves and accept the truth that there is never a time or situation for a “necessary evil.”
As believers, we have to own up to our actions and choose to make the right decisions even when it is hard.
There will be many times in our lives that we will be faced with difficult situations and difficult decisions, yet it is vital that we choose to follow God rather than our own sinful flesh.
Our sinful flesh will tell us “necessary evils” are okay and permissible, yet the Holy Spirit will convict us and urge us to do the right thing. We will be wise if we choose to listen to the Holy Spirit’s conviction and avoid participating in sin.
We have all rationalized sin at some point in our life, and many of us may have grown up with the teaching of the phrase “necessary evil,” yet it is crucial for us to turn away from this type of thinking.
What Does This Mean?
The phrase “necessary evil” is not biblical and will only cause harm for ourselves, others, and God. Instead of rationalizing our sin as “necessary evil,” we need to turn to God in prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in His steps.
The more we turn away from false teachings and beliefs of the world, such as adhering to the phrase “necessary evil,” the more we will grow to become like Christ and shine brightly for Him.
For further reading:
Can We Really Overcome Evil with Good?
Did Evil Exist Before Adam and Eve Sinned?
Prayers for Deliverance from Temptation, Sin, and Evil
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