"Violence has no place in America! Anyone who preaches violence should be shot like a dog!" Heard on KGO Radio, San Francisco in the 60's What's going on? Ferguson and now Baltimore? A dead man, angry mobs, polarizing police in riot gear, tear gas, bricks, stones, looting and fire. Will violence never end?
Every generation since Cain killed Abel in cold blood, asked the same question: What is wrong with us? And how can we eradicate this violence and bring order? Every age has faced both the terror of violence and the aftermath of rampaging rage. What are we to do? And as a pastor I know I can not just offer ignorant irresponsible answers like, "Give Peace a Chance," or "Bomb 'Em All!" As I was watching the drama play out on Baltimore's streets on-line, I went to my bookshelf and grabbed a book by Os Guinness called, "The Dust of Death." It is an expose of sixties philosophical thought and how it "Changed America Forever." In one chapter Os speaks on the political violence of the counterculture and how society used it as a weapon both to make a point and get what they wanted. Things never really change. He begins by asking this question: "Is violence Crisis or Catharsis?...One side sees violence as a crisis that breaks down the order and values they stand for; the other side sees it as a catharsis, the recreation of people repressed by cultures and governments." So is this violence a structural breakdown, a falling apart of human decency or is it a legitimate statement that begins the process setting people free from systemic oppression and societal manipulation? Your perception depends largely on what side you are on - - who you are cheering for. Do you see the situation as the valiant cops quashing the vitriol of an angry mob? Or is it the marginalized and oppressed fighting back against their tyrannical oppressors? Violence is truly in the eye of the beholder! Understanding violence is not as easy as you may think. In fact, Os Guinness points out that our non-Christian worldviews of today actually have no leverage to speak against it. In fact, in most materialist systems, violence is quite "normal." It just is. For instance he states there are three main streams of non-Christian thought and they all see violence as a "necessary" and even "legitimate" part of their ideology: (1) Evolutionary Theory: he quotes a very influential humanist of his day named Konrad Lorenz who states, "In evolutionary thought, animal aggression is not destructive and diabolical but essential and life-preserving...human beings, in the same way, have aggressive instincts of animals without the necessary inhibitions." Violence is in our DNA. The solution for the evolutionary theorist is either firm state control (Marxism) or drugs. We are animals, as Darwin once said, "Red of tooth and Claw." Not much optimism there. (2) Psychoanalytic Theory: Freud says every human must deal with the forces that cause repression. These forces are conflicting desires, "pleasure principle" vs. "reality principle." Because of this, violence is in the core of our make-up, a battle rages within ourselves. We have an innate tendency to aggression, so either we turn it inward and destroy ourselves or turn it outward and destroy others. He quotes Malcolm X which displays this inherent aggressive nature, "I'm nonviolent with those who are nonviolent with me. But when you drop that violence on me, then you've made me go insane, and I'm not responsible for what I do." (3) Cultural Theory: The key idea with culture and politics in most every materialistic system is the idea of "struggle." As Mao Tse-tung once said, "Political power comes out of the barrel of a gun." Might makes right. Truth becomes the majority law which is then imposed on everyone else...often through the use of force. So you see, without God intervening, violence is just a part of life. You better get used to it, or buy a bigger gun. Os Guinness quotes Albert Camus to sum up the normalcy of violence, "Men of action when they are without faith have never believed in anything else but action." So what does Christianity have to say to counteract violence? I could speak on this all day, but Os has a quote that I think sums up a well balanced and realistic take on violence: "No force that does not issue from justice (an attribute of God and his righteousness) and that is not restrained by justice can achieve justice. Some force is necessary...but any overreaction, even in the name of truth, crosses the line from force to violence again." He gives some practicality: Following Christ is often lonely. "Sometimes Christians must have the courage to stand with the Establishment, speaking boldly to the radicals and pointing out the destructive and counterproductive nature of their violence. At other times they will stand as cobelligerents with the radicals in their outrage and just demands for redress. Christians are cobelligerent with either or both when either or both are right, but they are also fearless in their opposition to either or both when they are wrong." One final statement: "Christians are not partisans; nor must they be prone to propaganda." Jesus faced violence head-on by submitting to it and forgiving those who hated him. Do you forgive or fight? Do you stay partisan, or seek justice? What if the family of the man who died was truly wronged? Will you listen or jump to conclusions based on what the people you like say? Love requires listening. And honesty. And no more stupid, silly posters...they only incite more anger. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God!
4 Comments
Tom Tom
4/29/2015 04:27:24 am
This type of protest violence has become increasingly disconcerting to me. I am usually upset by it because people including the media are usually jumping to conclusions and people are siding with there friends view regardless of the facts or due process. From the beginning of these violent upsets people have ignored the truth after all the evidence has been presented. I also wonder if all these protesters have jobs or not. I know I would need to get time off work to go protest and I don't think it would be a good excuse to do so.
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chris
4/29/2015 08:15:30 am
Tom, I think you should go and protest! You would make sure people do the right thing!
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liz
4/30/2015 10:14:26 pm
Hello, I really enjoyed this blog post. While I can't say that I share the same religious views as you, I do agree that violence only sparks more violence. However, I do not believe that one can rightfully condemn the "rioters" in Baltimore, Ferguson, etc. These "rioters" (I use the word in quotations because I do not agree that rioting is what they're doing) are only fighting for what they believe in: equality and justice. I feel that the biggest problem with these situations is ignorance. Across the globe, opinions are formulated before people are accurately informed. Personally, I do not even believe I know enough about these situations to form an accurate opinion about these situations. I'd be interested in hearing more about your opinion on this.
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chris
5/1/2015 12:40:25 am
Thanks Liz for your honesty and kind approach to dialogue. I understand the angst of the rioters. Many are simply asking for justice and a fair hearing. I completely support that. I wish our news media was more restrained and less political. They always have one agenda, "To stir the pot." What we need are "local" community leaders to stand up and call for restraint from the rioters, while they demand answers from the justic system. We all have a right to a "fair and speedy trial." They need to demand it, and restrain those who are throwing bricks. Sadly, our world is full of decay on both sides, and the media knows how to stoke the flame of anger which is making matters worse. Thanks for you humble approach to discussion and I appreciate your honesty about your beliefs. Our country needs to hear from all people of "good will" like yourself. Have a good day!
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