In my most recent post, I explained that the root of the turmoil behind the headlines isn’t about politics, the environment, morality, or social justice, but rather spiritual. Why are people so out of control? Why are they so filled with hate? If racism, white privilege, police brutality, or President Trump are to blame, why are minority businesses being looted? Why did Black Lives Matter run Seattle’s first black police chief out of office? From a purely secular viewpoint, nothing makes sense—unless you consider that Satan is behind it all.

There’s plenty of evidence. Pick any day and the news reads like the list of sins in Galatians 5:19-20—

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

Sexual mores have changed drastically in the past few decades. Witchcraft is fashionable. Demons are sexy; paranormal romances are all the rage (try searching for “fantasy” books at your local library). Jews don’t “count” as a minority and anti-Semitism is increasing. Crime in general is up, as are reports of “fits of rage” over such minor issues as wearing a mask to avoid spreading COVID-19. Murders—the ultimate hate crime—are skyrocketing. Our entire nation is split by dissensions and factions.

What is the antidote to this surge of evil? If the problem is spiritual, so is the cure. It’s nothing new. Paul offered a solution almost 2000 years ago, and it’s found in the same chapter:

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)

…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

As our nation has moved away from God, this type of fruit is becoming scarcer. But as the darkness increases, so the light becomes more visible. In the midst of the stories about death and destruction, we’re drawn to articles about acts of kindness, self-sacrifice, and love.

How can we produce the Spirit’s fruit? In order to walk by the Spirit, we need to invite Him to live within us, then give him free rein to make us into the person who displays this type of fruit. This level of submission to God’s will isn’t easy, but isn’t that what being a disciple is all about?

If we ever needed proof that we humans are inherently sinful, we simply need to look around us. There’s only one answer to sin, and that’s found in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.