by Christian or not, everyone is bound to cross ways with toxic people. They make a mess in your mind and challenge your actions with their nasty words and wrong-doings. You probably want to get angry and scream at them, tell them how awful they are, and that God sees all and hears all and will punish them. But God has already given you ways how to deal with an evil person biblically.
How to Deal With an Evil Person Biblically: 10 Teachings
The Biblical scriptures reveal many teachings about how to deal with the evil of the world and the evil in people. These are ten of the best lessons you should take from the Bible about managing difficult people.
Distance yourself from the negative emotions they cause you
Everyone has a breaking point, and you will most likely become upset at times. You should avoid becoming angry since it just leads to greater sin and sorrow. It is preferable to find outlets for your rage, like prayers or a pastime like art.
If you find yourself becoming enraged with someone who is wronging you, pray to keep your rage in check. Try not to act when angry since your thinking will be clouded by emotion. It is better not to say anything at all than to say something in anger that you will later regret.
But don’t feel bad about becoming upset. It’s a natural and complementary reaction to people’s depravity.
When you’re upset, or in the thick of an argument, one of the finest things you can do is look at the scenario from a third-person viewpoint.
Consider whether the disagreement is about you or if the other person is projecting their own issues and fears onto you. Once you’ve figured it out, put yourself in the other person’s shoes to see if you can resolve the problem quickly.
Pray for them
Don’t dismiss the power of prayer. Praying for the salvation of those in your life who are attempting to make your life a living hell on Earth is one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself and them in the long run.
You might be tempted to ask for God to punish bad individuals because they have injured you, but stop right there. Asking God to cause harm to others is also a sin.
When praying for the enemy, ask for the salvation and softening of their soul. Ask God to alter their hearts and lead them in the right direction. You might supplement this prayer by asking the Lord to give them a lesson that will cause them to repent of their misdeeds.
Finally, remember to pray to God for forgiveness. Not everyone is powerful enough to keep the devil from tainting their souls. Furthermore, all evil is the work of Satan; it is not the fault of the people. They are simply his pawns.
Pray for yourself
Don’t forget to say a few prayers for yourself. Ask God for patience and clarity of thought. Be patient and try not to yell in the heat of the moment.
You’ll feel more respectable and ready to receive guidance about what to do and say next if you can keep cool.
Prayers for patience
Jeremiah 33:3
“God of wisdom, I call upon You and know that You will answer me and tell me the great and unsearchable things that I do not know. I thank You for divine understanding that reveals to me the things that I do not understand. I pray for patience and understanding in all areas of my life: my workplace, my home, my relationships, in all things. I thank You for allowing me to see things like You do. Amen.”
Proverbs 14:29
“Lord, help me to be patient with great understanding because an individual who isn’t and is quick-tempered displays foolishness. I pray that here on earth, I reflect You in all ways and that Your understanding will govern my behavior. Let patience have its way within my heart so that I can reflect God-like patience to those around me. Let Your understanding shape me as a person so that I can reach and understand those who need You. Amen.”
Proverbs 16:32
“God of Peace, Your word states that it is better to be a patient person than a warrior; it is better to have self-control than to conquer a city. I pray that I hold my peace and remain patient in all things. I declare that I will not react out of emotion, instead, I will reflect and wait before I act. Patience is better to have than power, so Lord help me remain patient. Amen.”
Habakkuk 2:3
“Holy God, Your word states that the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it lingers, I must wait for it, for it will certainly come and will not delay. Lord, give me the strength to wait upon Your promises. Help me to stay patient when the end goal seems so far out of reach. Just as I must wait for Your revelation, I pray that I learn to wait patiently with understanding for all things to come to pass in my life. Amen.”
Be self-critical
If you feel furious with someone, examine inward first. Most of the time, we get enraged by other people’s acts, not because they contradict our values and beliefs, but because they reflect our own. Your uneasiness may be reflected in their presentation of emotion and conduct.
To assess the scenario, consider whether the wicked person reminds you of yourself. Maybe they’re doing something you’ve done before. Maybe they’re doing something you’ve always wanted to do but are afraid to try because it’s wicked.
Don’t talk behind their back
Proverbs 20:19 (NIV) says: “A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much’’. This verse is the most popular Bible verse about gossipers.”
No matter how angered or annoyed you’re by someone, don’t give in to the dark side and start talking bad about them when they’re not around.
A blabbermouth and gossiper is a person who sins, according to the scriptures. Also, if the person you wish to talk about is someone prevalent in your life, you will be ruining your relationship with them.
You will betray their trust, and your relationship might never mend.
Don’t try to change them
It’s okay to ask for God to cleanse evil people’s souls, but you shouldn’t take on that challenge yourself. You’re already helping God in this mission by praying and loving the wicked doers.
God is the only one who can truly change someone, but even he doesn’t do it forcefully. He would try to teach those people a lesson, show them his power, and sometimes even punish them. Remember that he’s the only judge who can declare this sentence.
You shouldn’t get consumed trying to change anyone because you’ll never succeed. You can’t force someone into changing.
You should continue saying your prayers and setting a good example. Most people are visual learners, and they might pick up more from your actions than your words.
Accept their wickedness
To understand why you shouldn’t shy away from an evil person’s wickedness, you need to understand the verse of Matthew 5:39.
Matthew 5:39 (ESV): “But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
Remember that Jesus is not telling you to never reject evil, but rather to accept shame and bad feelings rather than seek vengeance. If you accept, you will be able to achieve peace and will not be angry with people who have harmed you.
By refusing to pursue vengeance or payback against those who have personally offended you, you are able to show them what God is like. God, in his love, does not punish those who offend him.
He makes no attempt to “get even” with sinners. Rather, God invites individuals into a relationship with himself and promises to forgive their sins.
Ask for God’s help and guidance
Every Christian has a goal to love all humans and creatures unconditionally, as Jesus Christ did. However, not everyone can maintain such a high standard.
God is aware of this, and he’ll surely come to your assistance if you’re worthy of it. Whenever you deal with challenging people, ask for his help.
Ask for wisdom on how to approach situations with evil people. Ask him to guide you throughout the conversations with these people.
Love them endlessly
According to psychology, bad individuals are those who have been ignored and are eager for affection. The verses of the Bible might claim that evildoers are devoid of faith and love.
Show your affection for them by doing nice things for them even if they don’t deserve it. You should not expect anything in return.
You may be inclined to ignore these folks and go about your business, but love is what they actually need from you. Jesus has said that if you simply love people who do you good, your love isn’t exceptional or unconditional.
Let God take care of it
However, there comes a time when nothing is getting through to the evil person. Then, it is time to distance yourself from them. You could still love this person and care for them, but you don’t have to suffer because of them.
Make the choice to leave them in God’s hands. He will take all the needed measures to deal with them and thank you for all that you did.
Matthew 18:15-19 (NIV) talks about how the church has the right to exile evil people who reject the help of fellow Christians.
The verse advises you to first talk with the person in question one on one. If they don’t repent, do an intervention. If they still refuse, take them to church. If that doesn’t work either, you should leave them behind.
Another biblical scripture concerning this matter is Matthew 15:39. These biblical verses talk about Jesus and him helping a starving crowd. He was with them for three days helping, but soon enough, he saw that the people were using him. He wasn’t able to help them because they didn’t want to help themselves.
After realizing this, Jesus left the people.
Bible Verses About Dealing With Evil People
Ultimately, you can learn many lessons from the Bible about dealing with challenging individuals. However, there are twelve verses that directly address the issue of how to deal with an evil person biblically.
Romans 12:19
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Exodus 14:14
“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
Proverbs 29:11
“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.
James 1:19-20
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Ephesians 4:31-32
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, and forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
1 Peter 3:8-18
“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”
2 Timothy 3:1-5
“But understand this, that in the last days, there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”
Matthew 5:38-39
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
1 Corinthians 15:33
“Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
Matthew 5:43-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.”
Proverbs 25:26
“Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.”
Matthew 7:12
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Bible say about dealing with evil family members or spouses?
The two most important things you should do is continue loving them unconditionally and pray for them. However, be mindful to not take their abuse. If they’re hurting you plenty, leave them and leave the job to God.
How to deal with an evil person biblically if they’ve done a crime?
When you’re searching for ways to deal with a criminal, the best thing to do is pray for them but keep your distance. Mention them in your prayers but keep your distance so that you don’t become their next victim. Leave all the rest to God and the law.
