After the Paris massacre, we heard some unexpected wisdom from an unlikely source—the singer Madonna. During a concert, Madonna paused in between songs and said, "The way we change the world is that we change the way we treat one another on a daily basis," she said. "We must start treating every human being with dignity and respect." Apparently she took a lot of heat for that comment. News outlets thought it was too simplistic.

But Christian writer Joni Earecksen Tada commented, "Sometimes it's the simple statements that ring the truest." Then she added, "[During the days of the apostle Paul], Paul and his friends were facing their own global demons—Christians were being crucified, torched, thrown to lions, and dragged from their homes to be stoned to death. Civilization was crumbling within and beyond the borders of Rome, yet, inspired by God, Paul advises his friends, "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone … Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:17-18, 21).