Let’s Wise Up – We Can’t Fix Evil

Pro 9:6-9 Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.” (7) Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. (8) Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. (9) Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

One of the consistent traits of a RASN is he/she is what Proverbs calls a “scoffer.” Scoff, interesting word. Let’s look it up:

“To express scorn, derision, or contempt. To mock.”

There it is. This contempt can be shown in the tone of voice, in the words stated, or in facial expression. You know it when you see it. Scoffers are incredibly arrogant. They see themselves as elevated, as better than, as superior and so from their high point they view others with contempt, especially when anyone dares to point out their evil.

Notice carefully that Proverbs tells us not to bother correcting a RASN – at least don’t expect them to receive that correction humbly. It’s not going to happen. The RASN is never wrong and he rages against anyone who dares to tell him he is wrong. All you will get is hatred and more abuse.

Have you ever experienced having a RASN rage at you because he/she found out that you said something negative about them? When we are the target of this kind of wickedness, we sometimes just need someone to talk to about it. You may have a trusted friend or counselor who is willing to listen and to provide you with reassurance. Your intent is not to do harm (which is what the RASN does when he talks about you!). You just need someone to help you understand what is happening to you. But what happens if the RASN finds out that you talked to someone about him? Exactly what Proverbs says – the scoffer will hate and abuse you.

Have you ever had a RASN rage at you by telling you something like – “How dare you talk about me to anyone! That is gossip and slander and I am going to punish you for it!” There is not a crumb of humility or of confession of his own sin. Nope. It’s all your fault. Never mind the fact that the reason you had to talk to someone is due to the ongoing, long years of evil the RASN practiced. Nope. That suddenly is immaterial. There is no repentance. No asking for forgiveness for causing you to suffer. It just isn’t going to happen.

You know that old saying, “you can’t fix stupid”? Well, you can’t fix evil either. As Scripture says, a leopard can’t change its spots. And the RASN is what he or she is. Abusers never change.

I have had on a couple of occasions, abuse victims get angry at me for saying this – “abusers never change.” They reply with something like “Well, my God is big enough to save anyone!” But this is not true. There are things even God cannot do because He can never act in opposition to who He is. God is pure holiness and righteousness. His justice is absolute so that He will never just wink at sin. That is why the Cross was necessary for our salvation. But the blood of Jesus Christ will never be savingly applied to anyone who refuses to humble themselves, confess their sins, and turn to Christ in faith and repentance. That is something God cannot and will not do.

Because He is Big Enough to send the wicked to hell and rescue the oppressed to call out to Him for salvation.