Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sin became a part of the human condition, people have struggled with evil tendencies that come from their fallen state. Having been a therapist who counseled many different people, I learned just how evil people can be to other people, to animals, and toward their Creator. Abuse of every kind imaginable has scarred the human race starting with the first recorded murder of Abel by his brother Cain.
This fallen, sinful state has come down through hundreds of generations and the evil it breeds now seems to have permeated every human organization, agency, office, and government so thoroughly that it leaves us wondering if evil has completely won.
We were told by God what things would look like as we approach the end of the age before Christ returns to set everything right. God also gave us instructions about how to deal with evil people.
In 2 Timothy 3:1-5 it says, "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."
As I trained to become a Marriage and Family Therapist, I was taught about Anti-Social Personality Disorder and the spectrum of sociopathic and psychopathic behavior. I was so naive and young back then that I thought I would never meet such a person. I thought these people were rare and that you really only hear about them in television shows about criminals like Jeffrey Dahmer and the likes. Boy was I wrong!
There is one jolting experience I had as an intern working in a clinic. I will never forget meeting with a client that made the skin on my arms crawl as they described what they had done to their pets as a child. This person also spoke about people in their life that suddenly turned up dead and a few other innuendos. I don't know if this person actually killed these people or not, but I knew that I never wanted to "counsel" this person again, so I referred them to a therapist who was far more seasoned than I was.
Later in my private practice, I ran into situations where one spouse would come across very charming, funny, and likable, only to find out they were abusing their spouse and children in the most heinous ways. I began to realize there are more people than I realized who can be described as "evil".
If you find yourself in a situation where you are dealing with a truly evil person, guard yourself and your loved ones. Read God's Word thoroughly to build your confidence about how to deal with them. Here are a few more verses to get you started:
The Apostle Paul had very firm words for people who called themselves Christians in 1 Corinthians 5:11, "But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one."
The Psalmist said this in Psalm 26:4-5, "I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked."
It is sometimes a good thing to "mark and avoid" certain people who have given themselves over to evil.
There are times when it is appropriate to get the authorities involved. "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." - Ephesians 5:11
For our own good, we are not to take revenge against an evil person (or even a sinful person who commits an evil act) but we can pray for justice and pray for their soul to turn away from evil and to turn toward God.
Romans 12:19 says, "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.'"
Finally, take comfort in knowing that all evil will be judged and will come to an end.
Isaiah 48:22 says, "'There is no peace,' says the Lord, 'for the wicked.'"
Revelation 21:8 says, "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Take heart and know that all evil will come to a just end One Day. In the meantime, it is wise to take precautions when you are dealing with a potentially dangerous person whether it is a family member, a co-worker, or anyone that crosses your path. A wise believer in Jesus Christ will pray for discernment about each person they interact with and then, will protect against evil with healthy boundaries. God Himself sets limits (boundaries) and He helps us, His children, set up protections when needed.