The Inner Line of Good and Evil
Inner Change Drives True Religion and Justice
When we contemplate good and evil and our desire to live virtuous, honorable lives, and to have a society that is just, it’s tempting to focus solely on external factors—political systems, societal norms, or the behaviors of others. We often look outward to address these issues, hoping that by changing the external, we’ll achieve righteousness. James 1:27 helpfully invites us to a deeper reflection that begins within each of us.
The Battle Within: Understanding James 1:27 and Solzhenitsyn’s Insight on Good and Evil
James emphasizes that true religion involves caring for the vulnerable and remaining unstained by the world. This message aligns with a profound observation made by Alexander Solzhenitsyn in his work The Gulag Archipelago. Solzhenitsyn, who served as a captain in the Soviet Army but was later held as a political prisoner by Joseph Stalin in the horrific Gulags, wrote about his terrible experiences in the Soviet prison camps:
““The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties—but right through every human heart” ”
He underscores the idea that the real battleground between good and evil is not just in political systems or social structures but within the human heart. While systems and institutions can be skewed and unjust, these imperfections often reflect the inner failings of the individuals who operate them, benefit from them, and refuse to reform them. If those individuals do not allow God to transform their hearts, they perpetuate injustice and corruption.
Aligning with God’s Grace for True Virtue and Justice
James’ call to be “unstained by the world” is not about withdrawing from society but about entering into that society to care for those who are damaged by it and the hardship of life. True religion, he says, involves letting God’s grace reshape our hearts, choices, and perspectives so we make decisions that reflect virtue and justice. This transformation is vital because, as Solzhenitsyn said, the division between good and evil is not just a matter of externals but is deeply embedded within each person.
When Christians turn the focus to themselves and align themselves with the aims of God, we walk toward true religion. This means we must recognize that the internal line of good and evil needs to be addressed and transformed by the gospel of Jesus and the power of God’s truth and grace.
By allowing God to move this line within us, we can contribute to positive change in the world while remaining unsullied by it.
The work of justice begins with the work of grace in us.
