We have recently done a Thursday study on Acts 18: 10 and years ago we did one on 1 Chron 4: 10. And clearly on the minds of both were harm and violence being done to their bodies. And exactly at time I started writing this, there was a message came through about violence within the family. So, I guess that must be the topic to be dealt with. We have all come a very long way in technological advancement. We have built the tower of Babel, millions of times over, and millions of times higher. But the earth has not yet been destroyed by fire. With all of humanity’s advancement, the basics of nature and character, are exactly the same; we are all made in the image of Adam Gen 5: 3. We could start a seemingly intellectual debate on child violence, abuse, etc etc. We could debate on when discipline upon a child turns into pure violence on a child. We could discuss when a plate or knife thrown by spouses, constitutes attempted murder. We could legislate until the cows come home. And as we often find, the people who legislate against all these things, we later find out they are guilty of doing the very thing they legislate about. They want everyone to see how morally upright they are, whilst they themselves are full of dead men’s bones. So, I will not deal with it from a “holier than thou” viewpoint. Image of Adam is within us all. The anger of Cain Gen 4: 6 and the anger of Jesus John 2: 15-16 are not the same. One is unrighteous, selfish, jealous anger, the other is righteous anger. So, you must know the difference. Gen 4: 8 anger led to violence; ultimately murder. So, we know that ultimate violence, causes physical pain and injury, and in many cases death. Harm and pain hurt. They hurt. I don’t know if you have ever screamed with pain. I have. I can well understand the thoughts of Paul and the prayer of Jabez, “keep me from harm”. They are real fears. It is real pain. There are many causes of violence within people. The ultimate factor is that it is within us. In-built. As the world deteriorates into bedlam with violence over any and every issue, people are venting their anger at government suppression of their lives, by killing people they see as the cause of the corona virus. It cannot be at all condoned. Never ever. But due to violence at home, due to suppression and pent up feelings, there comes a time when all of this violence within, erupts. Some spouses, so pent up with anger, even take it to the next level. Violence is innate. Yes, we can have it exacerbated by wrong tv, by watching boxing and the current murderous trend of kick fighting. Violence which is innate is exacerbated by what we watch. Because we do not all see God in the same way (boxing forbidden) so TV stations and politicians, give their approval for these things to be watched by the masses. Hence the problem is multiplied, Can Christ solve or curtail these Image of Man desires? Yes. The LORD can slowly wean us back to the Image of God in which we were made. Laws of man, cannot change us within. The can only store up emotions, which lead to explosions within. God can suppress, and help us to suppress and control these emotions. But they will always be there.
MCC Admin
13 Iyyar 5781