Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday. During this birthday celebration of the church in southwestern Nigeria, at least 50 worshipers, including children, were killed by gunmen. The single brutal attack was more appalling than the mass killings we have witnessed in the United States within recent weeks. What causes such barbaric and gruesome acts of murder?
There are many answers and theories. One of the more prevalent is, mental health disorder. Mental Health Disorders or Mental Health Conditions, are a large and diverse group of issues that affect behavior patterns. Some of the most frequently diagnosed mental health disorders are – depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and schizophrenia.
It is believed that many mental health disorders are brought on by substance abuse and the absence of environments that emphasize mutual support and respect. Genetically, someone might be at higher risk to develop schizophrenia if it runs in their family’s genes, and/or if they have some kind of naturally occurring imbalance of chemicals in the brain. The same can be said of persons with bipolar disorders. This condition is seen more often in people with a sibling or parent (a first-degree relative) who have the condition.
In most cases, mental health disorders are triggered if environmental risk factors like stress, exposure to toxins or viruses during brain development or the use of mind-altering drugs are experienced. In essence, substance abuse and toxic environments are major contributors to mental health disorders. Environments like abusive family settings, poor role-modelling and the condoning of destructive behaviors in the culture, are recipes for bizarre behavior.
However, we must not attempt to remove personal responsibility for crime. Evil must not be overlooked. In assessing the recent tragedies, few opinions have included evil as a possible cause. By evil I mean the lack of goodness. Or, the diminishing of good in the world. According to Philosopher J.P. Moreland, “… evil is goodness spoiled. You have good without evil, but you cannot have evil without good.”
Evil demands that someone be held accountable for wrongdoing. Evil also presupposes the existence of law and a lawgiver. Evil is wrong done to others, and it can exist even when unaccompanied by external action. Murder is an evil action, but it has its start with the moral evil of hatred in the heart (Matthew 5:21-22). Jesus said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person” (Mark 7:20-23).
Some would refer to the words of Jesus as detoxification – the process of flushing the body of toxic substances that affect behavior. The Bible contends that the substances that affect behavior are far more destructive than drugs that alter brain chemicals. Again, it was Jesus who said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” (John 10:10).
This was illustrated a few days ago when one of our children overheard a child speaking to himself while playing a video game. “I can’t kill him. I have to kill him,” the child said. “who are you talking to” our adult child asked. Surprised, he uttered, “huh? Oh… it’s a game. It is my brother’s game.” “So, what do you do in the game?” He stared at the screen and said, “you do this and that and sometimes you have to kill people… but it’s just a game, not real life.”
That encounter at a public library is a sampling of a culture that continues to blur the lines between reality and fiction. We fail to realize that we undermine and trivialize the sacredness of life as we foster a culture of death. Jesus contends that murders begin in the mind.
Let us contribute to a culture that promotes character development. Let us restore virtue to our academic curricula. Let us promote the sacredness of every life. And remember, it was Jesus who said, “I have come that you might have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
Well said David. A necessary reminder and corrective for people whose ideas affect the minds of others!
ReplyDeleteWell said. I think it frightens us to believe the enormous capacity for evil that exists within the human heart. By God's grace we can be cleansed and become instruments of His goodness.
ReplyDeleteVery good insight, you are correct, we have nurtured a culture of murder , the word evil is not politically correct for us say in today’s world.
ReplyDeleteVery well ventilated David. Too often, we turn a blind eye to social practices that provide fertile ground to incubate, and subsequently unleashing evil on the society. The tragedy is, even Christians are sometimes guilty of this.
ReplyDeleteWe have deliberately eliminated the category of evil because we don't want to call it sin. Sin would make us sinners in need of a Saviour. The Saviour we know is Jesus.
ReplyDeleteEEC Many.thosand years ago the Lord said that "every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil at all times" But now there is the gift of salvation of mercy and grace. I do believe there isa combination of mental health issues and a stony evil heart t.hat refuses to repent. We continue to trust that His mercy and grace will supercede
ReplyDeleteand a cleansing and transformation will take place.
June 8, 2022
Social practices may be the culprit that has brought on some or many of these seditious and violent acts associated with mental health issues which become a great disadvantage to innocent children in the first place As a former teacher mental health was not an equation in the classroom during my years Is it possible that the home especially the parents who without any choice continue to have children who unfortunately are not treated well from birth but grow up like a plants receiving no care or water ? So then Should some of the resources be targeted to helping more of these families in a very strategic way ? Wouldn’t it make sense to conduct studies which would target children who may be at a great disadvantage providing them with the necessities which help them to grow and flourish ? I raised twin daughters as their mother gave them away at birth. I was 52 years old when I took them At 23. They are now graduates of the same international University and work for the largest investment firm in their state. Their brothers who they do not even know have mental issues before they were born Focus on the child cannot be over stressed An innocent underserved child need the opportunity to grow and flourish to reach their full potential in life Some children have more than they need and those resources go to waste. It is a sin
ReplyDeleteVery relevant and fitting for the time. Keep right on sharing our unspoken responses to the tragic effects of the sinful heart.
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