As the salt of the earth and the light of the world, we must heed the instruction to abstain from every form of evil, as Paul urges in I Thessalonians 5:22. To abstain means to hold ourselves back, to exercise restraint and self-control, ensuring that we act with a sound and sober mind. Evil, in its many forms of wickedness and corruption, not only involves the act itself but also the harmful effect it has on others. We must be vigilant in our actions, aware of how they influence those around us, for even causing a weaker member to stumble is a grave matter. Walking circumspectly, as Paul advises in Ephesians 5:15, requires us to truly perceive and contemplate our situations, conducting ourselves with prudence and wisdom to set a proper example. Paul himself lived with great care, knowing others observed and imitated him. In I Corinthians 8:9-13, he demonstrates this by refusing to eat meat offered to idols if it might harm a brother's faith, declaring that such an act against a brother is a sin against Christ Himself. We, too, must show this love of God in our thoughts, words, and deeds, never giving even a hint of evil in our way of life, so that we may truly be the salt and the light to this world, glorifying God the Father and His Son.

Evil stands as the very antithesis of the eternal life that comes from knowing the Father and the Son. It is not merely unpleasant but carries a malignancy, something purposefully injurious or intentionally unkind, designed to harm life or liveliness. Clearly, evil is not something to be associated with or glorified, for the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. The call is to abstain from every form of evil, from everything that opposes life, especially eternal life. The rituals surrounding certain celebrations revel in trickery, sorcery, spiritism, and the dark ways of the evil one, and such practices do not promote life. There must be a choice between life and evil, as they are mutually exclusive. The greater challenge lies in combating the evil within, which is promoted by the adversary and permeates the world, seen in cutting words, deception, manipulation, self-centeredness, and countless other harms. Yet, those in whom God dwells have the means to overcome evil with good through the eternal life available in relationship with Him. Emulating the Life-giver means choosing life and condemning evil, pursuing a life of the highest quality, as God lived it while human.

As Christians, we must abstain not only from sinful actions but also from that which even appears to be wrong. God expects us to apply spiritual wisdom in areas where He has not specifically spoken, and avoiding the appearance of evil is one such area. Some actions may not seem wrong to us, but if others perceive them as sinful, engaging in them can make a poor witness of God's way of life. Safe and proper behavior is to lean always toward virtue, and when in doubt about whether our conduct appears evil, we should refrain from it. If a behavior is perceived as wrong by some, a Christian should likely avoid it, especially in the presence of those it offends. An action may be lawful according to God's law, but if it causes someone to stumble or sin, we should refrain from it unless such restraint interferes with our obedience and worship of God. At the same time, we must live righteously, regardless of whether it offends others, and not compromise on matters such as keeping the Sabbath. Abstaining from the appearance of evil requires extra effort to avoid offending others while remaining a faithful witness to God's way of life, and a servant of God has the help of the Holy Spirit to abstain from sin and grow in spiritual perception to know when to act and when to abstain.