Resisting: Introduction

Commentary

by

Perspectives

Oboedire | April 21, 2026

The need to resist evil increases in our day. It is a primary expression of our intent to live as human beings who cherish the sacredness of life, and a core manifestation of our commitment to God if we are people of faith. For those of us in the Christian tradition, resisting evil is at the heart of what it means to follow Jesus in our day.

From guides like James Lawson Jr. and John Dear, I have learned that resistance is a sign of what we are for more than a protest of what we are against. [1] Resistance is a testimony to what we value. We resist evil because a greater good ignites our soul. Jesus summed it up in the term abundant living (John 10:10), and said it was what he came to give us. In his offer is also an invitation to resist whatever diminishes or eliminates that life.

“Resisting” is a new, occasional series here on Oboedire where I hope to cast a vision in relation to the higher values that we hold as humans made in the image of God and as people of faith. I will use it to encourage you in your resistance, sharing my thoughts and those of others. I have put “ing” in the title to keep the never-ending nature of it in play.  Resisting is a disposition, not an event. [2]

I begin this series confessing personal fatigue in relation to resistance. And I imagine you are tired too. One of the strategies of evildoers is to create ongoing chaos that wears us out. But what I know from my mentors is that we must not quit speaking and acting when the perpetrators of evil are assaulting us with hubris and harm. Evil advances when good people are passive. As Walter Brueggemann noted, we are called to interrupt the silence of passivity with words and deeds. [3]

A few months ago, Jemar Tisby used a term I had not seen before: narrative resistance. Along with voting and protesting, he named it as one of the three most important things that we can do. As an older adult, and writer, I claimed it as my place to stand in resisting evil. And as Parker Palmer (who is 87)  has said about his social media posting, “I will write as my energy allows.” Like him, and so many others, I want to be “present and accounted for” in responding to God’s call to resist the devil (James 4:7).

I do not believe the devil is a supernatural being, at least not a snake or a red figure holding a pitchfork. Nor do I believe the devil is a specific human being or beings. But I believe the devil is real—a “dirty rotten system” (Dorothy Day) we cannot ignore, one that we must confront in the larger effort to overcome evil with good. [4] We do this in a variety ways. Resistance is a tapestry of endeavors using our respective gifts and graces.

One of the urgent needs is to expose theological hackery foisted by those who act as if what they are saying about God is true, when in fact it is not. Those of us who have devoted our professional lives to the theological task are especially called to call out the evil of theological falsehood. This is my lane, and I intend to run in it through this series.

If writings and resources related to resistance would be helpful to you, I hope you will follow this series and tell others about it. I hope you will share any posts you find helpful through your social network to create an even wider network of resistance.

[1] James Lawson Jr., Nonviolent Resistance and John Dear, Living Peace

[2] Just so you know, the posts in this series will be more “academic” in nature, and longer than usual. I believe that a responsive/educational stance is called for, not a reactive/editorial one. I am intentionally seeking to be more substantive, with footnotes and additional resources to take you farther.

[3] Walter Brueggemann, Interrupting the Silence

[4] Richard Rohr, What Do We Do With Evil?

The Rev. Dr. Steve Harper is retired seminary professor who taught for 32 years in the disciplines of Spiritual Formation and Wesley Studies. Author and co-author of more than fifty books.. He is also a retired elder in The Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.