The goodness of conscience is perverted into guilt complexes that torment.
The goodness of the God-given desire for personal autonomy is perverted when autonomy is permitted for only a select group or is practiced without commitment or responsibility.
The goodness of the need for personal power and control over our lives and situations is perverted when we try to play God or when the lust for absolute power and control takes over.
Hatred of oppression is a good thing. It comes from God. The perversion comes when we allow the enemy of God to turn us into oppressors ourselves, thinking that will stop oppression.
The goodness of the gospel of Christ was perverted by the evil one into violent crusades. The very thing God intended to save lives was used as an excuse to destroy.
What to do?
Surrender all to Jesus! By his Holy Spirit and the Truth of his Word, get to know him. But beware, even this goodness has a perversion. Take care not to replace the process of getting to know our Savior with striving to know all about him. Replacing relationship with acquiring knowledge is easy to do--even without noticing--and has caused many to miss the mark.
Think about it. Who do we enjoy surrounding ourselves with? Who do we allow close to us? Isn't it those who love us and have taken the time and effort to get to know us?
Knowledge about each other is a necessary basis for close relationship. But does anyone voluntarily surrounded themselves with those who may know a lot about them but really do not care about them, have no desire to be emotionally close to them? Our Creator is no different. He created us in his image. That image is an innate part of who we are, not some banner we bear.
Get to know him. Read his Word, the Bible. Read every day, always picking up today where you left off yesterday. Be doers of the Word and not hearers only. Be transformed by the washing of the water of the Word, refusing to allow God's goodness to be perverted in our lives.
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