Som 109 structural evil

SOM-109 Structural Evil

This course will develop a theology
of structural evil. It will also
examine & discuss models of how
the church can intervene in
redeeming structures that are used
for evil in the world.

7 BASIC ASSUMPTIONS
1. God is sovereign & He created all things
both in heaven & on earth, visible &
invisible.
2. There are invisible realities & spiritual forces
that influence historical events.
3. These spiritual forces are either good or
bad.
4. There were two Falls: the fall of Satan & his
demons & the fall of man & woman.

7 BASIC ASSUMPTIONS
5. Satan & devils (powers & principalities) are
personal evil spirits who attack the Church &
hinder the spread of the Gospel.
6. There are structures of existence in our
world & they are not evil by themselves but
can be influenced by Satan to carry out his
devious work – hence structural evil.
7. The transformation of nations requires that
the Church deal with these visible & invisible
forces.

Defining STRUCTURAL EVIL
 Structure – the arrangement or
interrelation of all the parts of a
whole … forming an organism or
organization.
 Structural evil includes attitudes or
beliefs or culture – social; a system
that creates lack of economic
opportunities or alternatives –
economic; unjust laws or law-
enforcement system – political. It
can also be religious.

Understanding STRUCTURAL EVIL
 There are structured evils rooted
in society’s prevailing
religious, social, economic or
political systems.
 The key element of structural evil
is that it is organizational, a
pattern or network that opposes
the Kingdom.

Structural evil is a
system or pattern of
beliefs or activities in
an organization or
culture that hinders or
opposes the advance
of God’s kingdom in
this world.

Examples of STRUCTURAL EVIL
 Tax evasion
 Caste system
 Dowry
 Sexual mutilation
 Slavery
 Racism – apartheid
 Colonialism
 Bribery/governmental corruption

Structures

of sin

Cost of extending
basic social services
to people currently
in absolute poverty:
US$580
Billion

US$9.3

KEY ELEMENTS OF STRUCTURAL EVIL
• Existence of wicked power or spirit.
• Corporate: Organizational or Institutional.
• Systemic, patterns, networks of activities
or parts.
• Multiple nature: laws, law
enforcements, culture, taboos, attitudes, b
eliefs, lack of alternatives, repressive rule.
• Can be
social, political, economic, religious.
• Aims to create
chaos, division, injustice, human
suffering or natural damage.

POWERS & PRINCIPALITIES
 Eph 1:21 “All rule, authority, power,
dominion.”
 Eph 2:2 “Prince of the power of the air.”
 Eph 6:11 “Scheme of the devil.”
 Eph 6:12 “Not against flesh & blood,
against the rulers, against the powers,
against the world forces of darkness,
spiritual forces of wickedness in the
heavenly places.”

WORKS OF SATAN & HIS MINIONS
 Sin & Temptation.
 Demonization.
 Division.
 Illnesses (Lk 13:16), Mt 9:32, Convulsions (Lk
9:42), Muteness, Blindness (Mk 9:25), Fever (Lk
4:39).
 Disruption Of Nature - Mk 4:39 (Storm), 2 Kgs.
3:27.
 Disorder In Society & The State – World
(Kosmos), Age (Aion) – Structural Evil.
 Occult & Astrology (Humans Think They Can
Manipulate Powers Of Darkness To Their
Advantage).
 Non-Christian Religions & Cults.
 Opposition To God’s Work Of Salvation & The
Missions Of The Church.

THE MISSIONARY TASKS ….

 EVANGELISM & CHURCH
PLANTING

PENAL SUBSTITUTION
JUSTIFIED BY FAITH
 All have sinned & have come short of the glory of
God (Ro 3:23).
 The wages of sin is death (Ro 6:23; Eze 3:16FF,
18:4, 14:13ff).
 Christ died for the sins of sinners & paid the
penalty. He substituted for sinners (atonement) –
Ro 5:8; Jo 3:16.
 Faith in Christ brings forgiveness of sin (Eph 2:8),
eternal life (Jo 1:12, 3:16), & freedom (Eph 2:1ff) &
power over Satan.
 Justified by faith (Ro 5:1).

SATURATION CHURCH PLANTING
 Core group of national leaders agree to do a national SCP.
 Do research: unreached people groups, unchurched villages,
analysis of existing church health, etc.
 Call a national SCP congress (regional congresses) to share &
discuss the research.
 Each participating group makes a time-bound Church Growth
goal.
 Combine the individual goals – as the national goal.
 Organize a movement or structure to coordinate the SCP.
 Create Sub-Committees to provide support on key areas of
ministry (Coordination, Finance, Research, Strategy, Policy,
Church Relations, etc.).
 Promote the new Movement & invite others to join.
 Monitor & evaluate progress through periodic consultations.
 Update research & hold a National Congress every five years.


PLANTING
 SOCIAL CONCERN

Social Concern
Social Service + Social Action
Relieving human needRemoving the causes of human need
Philanthropic activityPolitical & economic activity
Seeking to minister to Seeking to transform the
individuals,individuals & familiesfamilies&structures of society
Works of mercyThe quest for justice John Stott, 1985: 31.


PLANTING
 SOCIAL CONCERN
 PRAYER & FASTING

CRISTUS VICTOR
 At the cross Christ defeated sin, death, & Satan
(Jo 16:11; Mt 12:28). These now have no hold
on believers.
 All authority is given to Christ … He is far above
all & every other name (Mt 28:18).
 The Church as His Body shares this authority
over Satan & evil spirits (Eph 1:22-23; Col 2:9-
10).
 In Christ the believer is given the authority to
disciple nations (Mt 28:19, 10:1ff; Lk 9:1ff; Eph
6:11,13).
 References: Mt 4:8ff; 2Co 4:4; Jo 12:31,
16:11,33; Col 2:15; He 2:14; 1Jo 3:8; Re 5:5; Eph
6:10-18; Ja 4:7).

TWO REALMS
LIFE IN RELATION TO THE
POWERS (Eph 2:2-6)

REALM OF DEATH REALM OF LIFE
CONTROLLED BY Col. 1:13 CONTROLLED BY
ANGELIC PRINCE Rom. 3:24-25
JESUS CHRIST

SPIRITUALLY DEAD MADE ALIVE
BONDAGE TO SATAN & SIN FREE & EMPOWERED

WRATH OF GOD GLORY

FAR FROM GOD NEAR TO GOD

NOT PART OF ISRAEL NEW ISRAEL

DIVIDED PEOPLE ONE PEOPLE

NO ACCESS TO GOD ACCESS TO GOD
(C) 2003 Dr. Jun Vencer all rights reserved

WORK OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS

SINNERS SATAN
Cancelled debts (Col. 2:14) Disarmed the rulers & authorities (Col. 2:15)
Made alive with Him (Col. 2:13; Jo 3:16; Eph Ruler already judged (Jo 12:31)
2:5) Victory – Satan fell (Lk. 10:18)
Forgiven us all our transgressions Christ is given all authority – over Satan, powers &
New creatures (2 Cor. 5:17) Christ gave principalitiesHis Church (Lk. 10:19)
authority to (Mt 28:18)
Powers & authority over all the demons, heal
Called to freedom (Gal. 5:1,13) diseases, proclaim the Kingdom (Lk. 9:1,2)
Abundant life (Jo 10:10) Authority over unclean spirits, cast them out, heal
Instruments of righteousness (Rom. 6:13) disease & sickness (Mt 10:1)
Holy nations (1 Pet. 2:9) The Nations will be discipled (Mt 28:19)

They will declare My glory among the nations (Isa. 66:19)
The nations shall walk by its light (Re 21:24)
All the nations will serve Him (Ps. 72:11,17)
The kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of the Lord (Re 11:15)
The earth will be filled…. (Hab. 2:14)

VICTORY OVER POWERS & PRINCIPALITIES
 Mt 28:18ff - … All authority has been given
to me in Heaven & on earth. Go therefore
& make disciples…
 Mt 10:1 cf Lk 9:1 – He gave (12 disciples)
authority over unclean spirits, to cast
them out, & to heal every kind of disease
& every kind of sickness.
 1Jo 3:8 – Christ came to destroy the
devil’s work.

VICTORY OVER POWERS & PRINCIPALITIES

 Col 2:15 – Powers & authorities disarmed,
made a public spectacle, Christ
triumphing over them by the cross.
 He 2:14 – The devil who holds the power
of death is destroyed & freedom from fear
of death is given to believers.
 Jo 14:12-14 – Greater things than this you
will do…You may ask Me for anything in
my name & I will do it.

You were once dead because of your
failures & your uncircumcised corrupt
nature. But God made you alive with
Christ when he forgave all our failures.
He did this by erasing the charges that
were brought against us by the written
laws God had established. He took the
charges away by nailing them to the
cross. He stripped the rulers &
authorities of their power & made a
public spectacle of them as he
celebrated his victory in Christ.

Christian Apathy Towards
STRUCTURAL EVIL – 1
Evangelical reaction to
some contemporary
psychological thought
which reduces human
individual
responsibility for sin.

TWO-TIER WORLDVIEW

• BASIS: LOGIC, REASON, SCIENCE.
• NO SPIRIT WORLD OR CONCEPT OF POWERS &
PRINCIPALITIES.
• PRIMARILY A WESTERN WORLDVIEW.
• GROUNDED ON A DEISTIC BELIEF SYSTEM.

THREE-TIER WORLDVIEW

• BASIS: REVELATION, EXPERIENCE, REASON.
• RECOGNIZES THE REALITY & INFLUENCE OF SPIRIT WORLD.
• DEVELOPING WORLD WORLDVIEW.

TWO-TIER WORLDVIEW

(PAUL HIEBERT)

• Presents Difficulty In Developing A Holistic & Transformational Ministry
(Kingdom Of God & Discipling Nations: Mt. 10:1 cf28:18ff).
• The Included Middle Does Not Reject The Value Of General Revelation Such As
Science & Medicine In Dealing With Powers & Principalities.

DENIAL OF EVIL
• Sin is the result of socio-political
categories.
• Fallacy of false dilemma, i.e., either
personal sin or structural evil.
• Poem:
But I am happy for the lesson it (crimes) had
taught, that everything I do that’s wrong, is
someone else’s fault.

DISTANCE
• The further from the sin, the less
responsible (e.g. stockholder of
Tobacco Company).
• The fault lies with the person who chose
to pay for his own death & funeral.
• BUT Human depravity.

DESIRE FOR NEUTRALITY.
• Don’t rock the boat.
• The primacy argument & the
danger of disjunction.
• Non-involvement.
• BUT With evil, there is no
neutrality.

DICHOTOMOUS VIEW OF MAN.
• Man is made up of body (material) & soul
(spiritual).
• Matter is evil, soul (mind) is good (cf. Gnosticism
&Nestorianism).
• Deal only with the soul (cf. Primacy Argument).
• BUT Christians’ high view of the body
(resurrection & blessed hope).
• BUT Model of Jesus (valued both body & soul in
His ministry).

ADMISSION OF HELPLESSNESS
• Church is powerless to deal with the
overwhelming problem of structural evil or “I
am alone” or Elijah syndrome.
• Not trained politically to manage power.
• BUT Profiles of Courage:
 Moses, Elijah, Jesus.
 William Wilberforce, Martin Luther
King, Nelson Mandela, Cory Aquino.
 Nisha Sharma on dowry system.

GROUP CONDITIONING
• Group culture.
• Seduction of the culture of corruption upon
individuals.
• Members have strong inertia to go against
their own structure.
• Frog in the kettle – good simply dies.
• Anatomy of corruption: Hab. 2:18-19, 15-16,
6-12.

ACQUIESCENCE TO AUTHORITY
• We didn’t do the act or approve of the gov’t
policy (cf. Rom. 13:1-7; Trial at Nuremberg).
• Human authority is derived from God & is
subject to accountability.
• We have a choice: Christ or Caesar; good or
evil.
• There is no moral hiding place.
• The Christian task is to make what is moral legal
& to declare illegal what is immoral.

An Evangelical View
 STRUCTURES ARE NOT EVIL. (Ge 1:31)
 STRUCTURES CAN BE INFLUENCED BY
EVIL:
 All have sinned (Ro 3:23).
 Walked according to prince of the air (Eph
2:2ff.).
 Satan influences evil men&women to carry
out his purposes of resisting the will of
God through structures&systems (laws,
culture).
 Influenced by evil (from Ro 13 to Re 13).

SPHERES OF ACTIVITY OF THE
TRIUNE GOD
TRINITY FATHER SON HOLY SPIRIT

BIBLICAL
CREATION CALVARY PENTECOST
PARADIGM

KEY TERM WORK WORD WONDER

PRIMARY
WORLD CHRIST CHURCH
FOCUS

RECEPTIVE
LIBERALS EVANGELICALS CHARISMATICS
GROUP

What Evangelicals Can Do
 Intensify evangelism&church
planting.
 Participate in Biblical social concern,
e.g. concern for the poor.
 Engage in prayer&fasting.
 Model the Kingdom life in our local
churches – peace,
justice&righteousness.
 Have faith for change.

TRUTH
Acknowledgement Interdependent
Repentance
Transparency MERCY Future
Clarity Compassion
PEACE
Forgiveness
Harmony
JUSTICE Acceptance
Well-being
Healing
Right Respect
relationships ‘Ubunto’
Equality Progress
Restitution

Painful
Past

“Ang “Sapagkat ang kalabannati’y
“Sa abaninyo, pananalig sa
“Pagaralinninyonggumawa
“Mga kapatid, kanyang
“Dahil“Tayo’y ano ang
“Kamuhian mo
sa mga eskriba
Matthew 23:23 mapapalanilalang,kundi kung
Diyos, tumalimaang mabuti,
masama, ibiginPariseo! mga
hindi at ng tao,si nilikha sa
ng mabuti; Pairalin Mga
mga isang Abraham
mga tao ang
tatlongito’ynanana pamamagitanItigil ang pang-
katarungan; ni pinuno,Jesus
at pairalin man niyangsiya’y
sabihin sa mga hukuman
nangsiya’ypapuntahin ng
mapagpaimbabaw!
Cristo mga
tili: ang 1:17
Isaiah 1 Corinthians
maykapangyarihan, atikapu
Diyos upang iukolnatinmga
Ibinibigayninyo ang ang
aapi; Tulungan ang
may pananampalataya,
sa lupangipinangako
ang katarungan.
ulila; Ipagtanggol ang mga
atingbuhay At humayosiya,
Bakasakalingkahabaganng
sa kanya.gulaying walang
ngunit tagapamahala ni
nghindi paggawa
sa naman niya
pananampalataya,
James 2:14-26 halagangunitkinaliligtaannin
kadilimangnamamayani ng
mabuti, na hindi niyabalo.”
bagamat itinalagagawa?
pinatutunayan sa na sa
Yahweh ang
alam
pag-asa, at 11:8
Hebrews pag-
13:13
matitirangbuhay sa ang mga
sanlibutang ito – bansang
Diyospara sa atin noon ng
kung saanparoroon.”
Maliligtasbasiya pa
yongisagawa ang
gayongpananampalataya?ng
lalongmahahalagangaral sa
hukbongespiritual …
manguna.”
ito.”
ibig; ngunit ang Patay ang katawanghiwalay
Kautusan: ang katurungan,
kasamaan sa himpapawid.”
Amos 5:15
pinakadakila sa ang pgakahabag, at ang
sa espiritu; gayon din
naman, patay ang
katapatan.”
mga ito ay ang
Eph 2:10 pananampalatayanghiwalay
pag-ibig.” sa mga gawa.”
Eph 6:12

Spiritual Warfare - 1
 Identificational Repentance
* Identify National sin (Lev. 18; Num. 35:33-34;
Deut. 21:22-23; Hosea 4:2-3).
* Corporate Confession of sin (Dan. 9:20; Neh.
1:5-6; 9:2; Deut. 9:18-20; Ezek. 22:31-32).
* Apply Christ’s blood
* Restitution as able.

 Reconciliation Walk
* Tracking path of crusade (Lyn Green –
YWAM)

 Levels of Spiritual Warfare
• Ground-level SP – casting out demons
• Occult-level SP – dealing with astral
powers & world of darkness
• Strategic-level SP – confronting high-
ranking territorial spirits assigned by
Satan
 Prayer Journeys
• Field trips to practice prayer walking
• Aid to spiritual mapping

 Spiritual Mappings
• Identify the strong man:
 Revelation of territorial prince or power.
 Natural person whom Satan is using.
 Identify corrupt social structures.
• Bind him.
• Divide his spoils.
 Method
• Historical or religious research (cf. Acts 16:18 – no
name).
• Prayer (Wagner: Seek God’s gifted intercessor;
redemptive gift of the City, Territorial spirits
assigned to the City, Corporate sin, God’s plan of
attack & timing)

MORE THAN CONQUERORS
LIFE IN RELATION TO THE POWERS (COL. 1:13)

REALM OF DEATH REALM OF LIFE
CONTROLLED BY CONTROLLED BY JESUS
ANGELIC PRINCE CHRIST

KINGDOM OF DARKNESS KINGDOM OF LIGHT
SATAN IS DEFEATED EPH. 2:8 JESUS IS LORD
ROM. 3:24-25
IRREVOCABLE TRANSFER OF REALMS (COL.
1:13,14,27; EPH. 3:17)

JUSTIFIED BY FAITH + HOLINESS + VICTORY IN CHRIST
(PENAL SUBSTITUTION) (SANCTIFICATION) (CRISTUS VICTOR)

POWER OVER SIN, DEATH, SATAN, LAW

STRUCTURAL EVIL
POLITICAL
* UNJUST & OPPRESSIVE SYSTEMS, LOSS OF BASIC

THE WORLD IS THE EMBODIMENT OF EVIL, MAN UNDER
FREEDOMS, TYRANNY, CORRUPTION, DYNASTIES, NEPOTISM

BONDAGE TO SIN AND SATAN, IDOLATRY, INJUSTICE,
LAWLESSNESS, WICKEDNESS, POVERTY, SIN, DEATH
SOCIAL (CULTURAL)
* SECULARISM, RACISM & DISCRIMINATION, VICES,
CRIMINALITY, WICKEDNESS & IMMORALITY, VALUE EROSION
(COMMUNITY, FAMILY LIFE), SLAVERY/BONDAGE, OBSCENITY
IN ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT, EPIDEMICS (HIV)

RELIGIOUS
* RELATIVISM, IDOLATRY, SATANIC WORSHIP, OCCULTISM,
HUMAN SACRIFICE, ASTRAL SPIRITS, WITCHCRAFT,
FORMALISM, LEGALISM, CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION

ECONOMICS
* MASS POVERTY, EXPLOITATION, UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES,
USURY, CHILD LABOR, CONSUMERISM, MATERIALISM

MEDIA
* BUSINESS ORIENTED, BIASED NEWSCASTING,
STATE/IDEOLOGICALLY INFLUENCED, INFLUENCED BY THE
RICH, TOOL FOR MIND CONTROL, SENSUAL

EDUCATIONAL
* VALUE-NEUTRAL, COERCIVE CATECHISM, SECULAR
PHILOSOPHY, RATIONALISM/SCIENCE, INDIVIDUAL PURSUITS
OF SUCCESS, INSTRUMENT OF THE STATE

ECOLOGICAL
* DEFORESTATION, PUNCTURED OZONE LAYER, POISONED
ATMOSPHERE, POLLUTION OF
ENVIRONMENT, ABUSE/DEPLETION OF NATURAL
RESOURCES, NATURAL DISASTERS

GENERAL: Recognition of sover- GENERAL: Recognition that cul-
eignty of God in creation – visible & ture, ideology, laws & policies can
invisible – & the presence of wicked legitimize & empower people &
forces (Satan, powers & structures to carry out &
principalities) influencing humanity, perpetuate evil in the world.
systems & structures to defeat the RESPONSES: Research, value
Church & hinder the advance of the transformation, policy advocacy,
Kingdom of God. just legislation.
Responses:
Personal level – e.g. inner healing,
deliverance, holiness of life or
righteous living.
Corporate level – e.g. spiritual
warfare, prayer & fasting.

GENERAL: Recognition that
all have sinned & in
GENERAL: Recognition that cultural, corporate &
bondage to Satan &
governmental structures can be influenced by evil or
sin, therefore alienated
demonized (Rom. 13 cf. Rev. 13) to oppress humanity,
from God & powerless to
suppress the Church, & hinder God’s redemptive agenda.
overcome the forces of evil
in the world. RESPONSES: Research, public advocacy, promotion of
freedom, engagement in the public square, involvement
RESPONSES: Evangelism, in the market place, influencing public opinion through
church planting, media & education, impartial justice system & law
discipleship, develop a enforcement.
biblical worldview, calling.

TOWARDS A CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO STRUCTURAL EVIL

STRUCTURAL EVIL DISMANTLED

POLITICAL
* JUSTICE, BASIC FREEDOMS, STABILITY, PEOPLE
PARTICIPATION, ERADICATION OF GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

SOCIAL (CULTURAL)
* EQUALITY, LOW CRIME RATE, MORAL LIVING,
STRENGTHENING OF FAMIY VALUES, INCREASE IN LIFE SPAN

ACTION PLANS
RELIGIOUS
*RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE, FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE, PUBLIC
WORSHIP, RIGHTEOUSNESS, ABSOLUTE TRUTH, GODLINESS,
FREEDOM FROM OPPRESSIVE SPIRITS,

ECONOMICS
* DEMOCRATIZATION OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, INCREASED
PRODUCTION, GROWING MIDDLE CLASS, FAIR LABOR PRACTICES

MEDIA
* BALANCED MEDIA COVERAGE, INFLUENCED BY
FACTS, MEDIA FOR JUSTICE, PEACE, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS

EDUCATIONAL
* CORE NATIONAL VALUES, FOCUS ON LIBERAL ARTS,
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, SKILLED LABOR FORCE,
INTEGRATION OF CITIZENSHIP DUTIES.

ECOLOGICAL
* REFORESTRATION, CLEANLINESS, LESS FLOODING, SOIL
CONSERVATION, ECOLOGICAL BALANCE

Revelation 11:15:
Then the seventh angel
sounded: And there were loud
voices in heaven, saying, "The
kingdoms of this world have
become the kingdoms of our
Lord & of His Christ, & He shall
reign forever & ever!"

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