Outright Evil

The Bible identifies the wickedness of the human heart - and we have to admit that we are not basically good, but that we are sinners in need of a Savior.  We may think that our sins may not be as grievous as the next person, but when it comes right down to it, the sinfulness of our hearts is an affront for God and we 
need an antidote, an advocate who will cleanse us from our sins - every single one! I want to return to Scripture in Jeremiah 17, which says:
9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
10 I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.

This is pure evil - the death of a pastor in Arizona who was literally crucified at the hands of someone who had a grand plan to take out 14 others.  The Christian organization, International Christian Concern, reported:

A man has publicly confessed to the murder of 76-year-old Pastor Bill Schonemann of New River Bible Chapel in New River, Arizona, in new jailhouse interviews. The pastor was found dead in his bed with his arms open wide and affixed to the wall.  

The article referenced a piece at the Arizona's Family website, which stated:

The man accused of brutally murdering a pastor at his northern Maricopa County home in a religiously motivated attack sat down for a jailhouse interview with True Crime Arizona correspondent Briana Whitney on Monday, where he admitted to the crime and told her he had other targets.

During the interview, 51-year-old Adam Christopher Sheafe confessed to crucifying 76-year-old William Schonemann at his New River home nearly two months ago. Schonemann was found dead in his bed, covered in blood, on Monday, April 28, as deputies conducted a welfare check at his home on Cavalry Road near 16th Street.

“I drove from there (Phoenix) to Bill’s house, like two in the morning on a Sunday night, and I executed him,” Sheafe said.

Sheafe then described how he allegedly killed Schonemann before placing a crown of thorns on his head.

Sheafe had identified pastors across the country whom he intended to execute, including one in Mobile, Alabama, according to the article.  He said he felt no remorse and that God would forgive him because of these heinous acts, that he believed was some sick form of judgment on church leaders.  

ICC reported that, "According to Fox News, Sheafe’s motive was that 'churches were leading their congregants astray by teaching them to follow Jesus, whom he says is a false God.'”  The website went on to say:

During an interview with True Crime Arizona, Sheafe stated that he has no sense of guilt or contrition about the murder.

“Not only do I have zero remorse,” he said, “(if given the chance) I will execute every single priest and burn every church to the ground.”

This is pure evil, but is an indicator of the hatred that Satan can stir up in human hearts. In this case, there were plans for a murder spree of religiously-inspired violence, violence that the suspect believed was a righteous cause - to the extent that he believed God would forgive him.  We recognize that the devil is stirring the hearts of people to persecute the Church and individual believers.

We can also be reminded that the enemy desires to destroy our lives, as well.    And, he can do it in any number of ways.  He will tempt us to do wrong, to activate the evil that is resident within our own hearts, to commit acts against the Most High God.  Even though we are born-again, we are still prone to the impulses of the flesh.  So, we have to use our spiritual resources, to take the necessary measures in order to crucify the flesh and live in the power of the Spirit.  

We cannot breeze thoughtlessly through life as a believer in Christ, thinking that we are not vulnerable to temptation, that we are not capable of sin, even heinous sin.  We must crucify even the impulses, the thoughts, that would be used to lead us astray.  Jesus purchased our victory over sin through His death and resurrection - we can be motivated to act according to that reality in our own lives.