The lust for violence
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HAPTER
4
“Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter— On the side of their oppressors there is power, But they have no comforter. 2 Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, More than the living who are still alive. 3 Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. 4 Again, I saw that for all toil and every skilful work a man is envied by his neighbour. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. 5 The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh. 6 Better a handful with quietness Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind. 7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun: 8 There is one alone, without companion:
Ecclesiastes a Reflection on Life – Kaleidoscope of Thoughts
He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labours, Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, “For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity and a grave misfortune. 9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 13 Better a poor and wise youth Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more. 14 For he comes out of prison to be king, Although he was born poor in his kingdom. 15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place. 16 There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king; Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.”
The lust for violence
Chapter 4:1-8 The lust for violence
The modern artist must live by craft and violence. His gods are violent gods. Those artists, so called, whose work does not show this strife, are uninteresting. -Ezra Pound
Read chapter 4:1-8
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he Qoheleth sees the violence and the imbalance of power. The oppressors gain ground and strength, whilst the oppressed have no comforter, and are powerless. He loathes the violence perpetrated; yet, he sees it as the way of humanity. Today, we too are perturbed and appalled by the atrocities committed in the world. Yet, we welcome the violence into our lounge rooms and do not give a second thought that this desensitizes humanity to the face of evil behind the evil deeds in the world.
Ecclesiastes a Reflection on Life – Kaleidoscope of Thoughts
Fascination with evil Sex is glamorized, violence glorified, we love the gangland mafia series, we love the TV series based on true stores of murder, rape and violence. It intrigues us. Humanity is intrigued by evil; and if we cannot see them at the prescribed time, we ensure that they are taped for our viewing at a more convenient time. We have an inherent lust for viewing violence; we demand more realism, more intriguing plots, powerless victims, and more debauchery, all that paves the way for snuff movies to find their niche. Whilst on the one hand we demand more brutality on the screen, on the other hand, we cry out against the violence that stalks our city streets. We spend fortunes on video games that engage us in virtual crime and violence against others and when that no longer holds the thrill, we venture into the real world, as the adrenaline rush once satisfied now demands greater gratification and excitement. People lose touch with reality as they lose themselves in virtual worlds. The virtual world and the real world merge. The ease in which one is able to take life in the virtual world creates the longing to explore the possibilities, the sounds, to feel, to smell fear up close, and like the virtual world, walk away without consequence. We think all that comes through the screens is innocent fun. However, the reality it is that a demonic enemy is afoot, subtly conditioning humanity that this is okay. He creates in the mind a curiosity of wanting to know what it
The lust for violence
would be like to rape, kill, torture, and all the other abominations we sit like zombies watching on the screen. The desire is planted to experience the thrill and see what one can get away with. It becomes a drug, an addiction, which must be satisfied at all costs. Ever so artfully, evil hatches his perverse plans in the minds of humanity, his puppets.
Paradigm shift The devil is the master puppeteer who has had 6,000 years to watch humanity, know their weaknesses, and exploit them to his advantage, without us even suspecting he is manipulating us to serve his purpose. The master evil puppeteer and his minions are at work each and every minute of every day. They are unrelenting. This also presents a challenge in how we think about people who commit unspeakable atrocities. Paul was clear in Ephesians chapter 6, that we have a fight against the spirit world, not against fellow humans. However, when we hear of atrocious crimes against another person or people group, we are incensed, and rightly so. Facebook pages run with hateful comments against perpetrators of evil in the community. We hate them with a passion, demanding they receive the full punishment the Law of the Land can impose. In addition, we put up media posts that hope they will rot in hell for eternity.
Ecclesiastes a Reflection on Life – Kaleidoscope of Thoughts
It is a monumental struggle to see worth in the person who perpetrates such evil. Yet, walking in agape love and hope towards ALL humanity (Jn.3:16), demands a paradigm shift in our thinking, one that moves from the natural earthly realm, to one of a spiritual focus. Some questions a discussion such as this evokes are, if a person who engages in such evil were to repent tomorrow, would we be happy for them. What if Hitler called out to Christ in his final moments, would we begrudge him salvation? On another front, when we read the papers and listen to the news reports about their innocent victims, we note decidedly more attention is given to the victim who society deems as an ‘upstanding person’ compared to the press given to the prostitute or homeless bum who has met a similar untimely end. The question of ‘worth’ arises on all levels, and has presented a challenge in humanity’s thinking, from the time of Cain and Abel (Gen.4.). What is the measure of one’s worth and value? Does lifestyle, looks, or social standing determine worth? So many things tug at our heartstrings that as a by-product we devalue others. Yet, is not all humanity lost? Are not all in need of rescue? Did not Jesus come to save all humanity? Was not Paul a wretched murderer, before he became the most influential Apostle in Church history?
The lust for violence
The way of agape Humanity is so, so, lost without Christ – they are victims in a spiritual war! I weep for this world so tangled in his evil web of lies, violence, and deceit. I think of people who so blinded commit such atrocities for they too are victims – puppets in the hand of the master evil puppeteer - I weep for them. I weep for their victims who cross their paths unsuspectingly, people trusting in the basic good in humanity, unaware of the evil brewing in the mind and behind the smile of the person before them. One day Christ shone His light in the midst of Paul’s darkness, and he was never the same. This needs to be our prayer for this world of puppets gripped by the evil puppeteer. Our hope is that they experience Christ’s light shining in their darkness, to liberate them from the puppeteer’s vice-like grip. The enemy comes to kill steal and destroy, and he cares not about the means to achieve his end (Jn.10:10). However, Christ came to give life abundant, not just future, but here and now. Forgiveness is the greatest tool at our disposal to bring us freedom. When Jesus hung on the cross, He said of those who had whipped Him, tortured Him, mocked Him, lied about Him and nailed Him to the cross; “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do…” (Lk.23:34). Forgiveness is the greatest challenge in our Christian walk. To forgive is a reflection of walking in agape love, a love that loves whether
Ecclesiastes a Reflection on Life – Kaleidoscope of Thoughts
the person deserves it or not. Christ gave His life for humanity, fully knowing they would reject Him. To walk in agape love is to extend forgiveness. To extend forgiveness is to live in freedom.
Food For Thought Who in my life do I need to walk in agape love with and forgive? What areas of my TV/Video viewing do I need to re-evaluate as to the appropriateness of the content? What is my prayer in relation to the things that God is highlighting to me?
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