Good and Evil: Part two

Just when midterms, essays and group projects were piling up to ghastly levels, you picked up a copy of the IDS and turned to the opinion page for a brief respite. Only some columnist was doling out work, too. What nerve! Last time I wrote, I challenged everyone to ponder the question of whether we are evil. I concluded that though we are indeed incredible beings, we are flawed. I ended by urging all of you to take a look inside at your own heart to see if you agreed with me.\nDid you do your homework? Did you agree with the conclusion I reached? Who among us has not lied or cheated at some point? Who has never been cruel, hateful or self-centered? Parents strive to teach their children to do good; no one ever has to teach them to do wrong.\nMany philosophies recognize humanity's problem with evil, and they offer advice on how to fix it. Do this. Don't do that. This is right, this is wrong.\nSome good advice, perhaps. Problem is, they don't provide the strength to do it. It's like we're all standing on the shore of California, trying to swim to Hawaii. Someone comes along and offers you a swimming manual, "How to Be a Better Swimmer." Good advice, maybe, but even the best swimmer is still not going to reach Hawaii. You need someone to take you there. Likewise, we do not just need guidelines on how to be good people; we need empowerment to live it. \nSo how do we get that? Go to your local drugstore and get SuperLiving, found in the vitamin section. Just kidding.\nEven though America has its roots in Christianity, many do not grasp what it's all about. It is not about going to church, though Christians do that. It's not striving for compassion, justice, charity and integrity, though we earnestly seek those things. Christianity claims that God created humanity perfect, in His image, but that we disobeyed Him, which has brought the world into its current diseased state. Because of His great love, He made a way to redeem us, namely by Jesus' death on the cross. He now offers forgiveness and regeneration to all who would accept it. Christianity is about being made right with God, enabling us to have a personal relationship with Him. \nThat is all well and good for me, but why should you believe it? Jesus made some pretty big claims about who God is, what He is like, the existence of heaven and hell, etc. Why should you agree with my assertion that he spoke the Truth? Well, you shouldn't. After all, I'm just an opinion columnist, and we are a dime a dozen. \nRemember the show "Reading Rainbow?" Don't laugh. The show's host, Lavar Burton, always recommended some book to read but concluded by telling viewers not to take his word for it alone. Likewise, do not take my word for it. Look for yourself. I have, and came to the conclusion that Christ really was crucified and then rose from the dead. If that is true, then Jesus' words have credibility, and my faith is grounded in historical fact, not just some idea. Evil is the disease; a bloody cross and an empty tomb are the cure.