‘Do not Murder’ – Exodus 20:13
This talk is the fifth in a series based on, and running in parallel to the Just 10 series, with J John in the North East of England. The mp3 of this talk can be downloaded here
Introduction
Stephen Jay Gould, an American Scientist and Philosopher once said -
‘Look, it’s a tough life and if you can delude yourself into thinking that there’s some warm and fuzzy meaning to it all, it’s enormously comforting. But I do think that it’s just a story we tell ourselves.’1
People are divided into those who believe that life has a meaning and those who believe that life is meaningless and random. The funny thing is, many of those who in theory claim to agree with Gould's statement, still think that human's have an inherent value, and therefore meaning. How can this paradox exist?
When I was a student, we used to do questionnaires on our university campus – a World View Survey2. Here is one of the questions.
Of the following statements, which do you think is most representative of your beliefs?
Human significance
- I have significance and dignity specifically becasue I am made in the image of God.
- I create my own significance in spite of the fact that there is no ultimate meaning or purpose
- I am significant becasue I am a human being,one of the most highly evolved forms of life on earth
- I am significant becasue of the god-like potential within myself
- As a product of directionless evolution, I have no more significance than a rock or a snail
- None of the above
How would you answer that question? We found that many people would answer 2 or 3, not believing in a real ‘meaning’ to life, and would have agreed with Gould that any attempts to consturct and believe 'a story' that gives us meaning is just a delusion – to make us feel better. However, as soon as you take them to the logical end-point of their world view position, that they have no more significance than a snail or a stone (answer 5)they were offended by the thought.
Why is this? What is it about us human beings that makes us believe that we have some real significance which is greater than that of a snail or stone? Is it a arrogance, a delusion, or is it something else?
What is it that makes up a person and that makes each one of us significant? What is it that gives us meaning, and makes us believe we have meaning? What is it that makes the way we treat one another important?
The answer is tied up in what is commonly known of as the ‘sanctity of life’
We are more precious that we think!
Over the last 2 decades a number of philosophers have begun to challenge what it means to be a person. Their use of the word ‘person’ rather than 'human-being' is significant, as we shall see in a bit.
One philosopher, Peter Singer defines a person as a being who has a capacity for enjoyable experiences, for interacting with others and for having preferences about continued life.3 John Harris, another philospher who has commented on the debate on personhood has defines a person as someone who is capable of valuing their own life.
In other words, a person is someone who has the capacity to enjoy life and relationships, values their own life and chooses how they will continue to live.
The problem is, this assumes a number of things. Persons must have a certain level of brain function to enjoy life, appreciate relationships and value their existence and this excludes a large number of human beings. From foetuses, newborn babies and infants who lack self awareness to a large group of children and adults with congenital brain abnormalities, severe brain injury, dementia and major psychiatric illnesses. Being a ‘person’ seems to be a remarkably fragile thing. If I were to have an accident which damages my normal brain function and fall into a coma, have I ceased to be a person? And what then if I recover, do I become a person again?
But what does this have to do with the ten commandments we may ask?
Well, the problem is that this philosophy is not just theory. The implications of this thinking are prevalent in our society today. When we start to make decisions about life based on a definition of personhood as a being who has the capacity to enjoy life and relationships, values their own life and chooses how they will continue to live, we are effectively saying that those who don’t have those capacities are not persons. As a result they are mistreated, dealt with as subhuman or disregarded. The recent debate about whether 20 or 24 weeks ought to be the legal limit within which abortions can take place has been around just these issues. Indeed the prevalence of issues relating to Abortion, Euthanasia, some issues relating to cloning and genetic engineering are as a result of this philosophy in part.
When we come to the manual for lifehowever, the place where we are told reliably where we get meaning from we see something totally different altogether. The Bible is clear that the characteristics that give us meaning and make us significant are not things we choose to do or think and are not the ability to enjoy life. Rather, what makes us of value and significant is that we bear God’s characteristics. We are made in God’s image.
The correct answer to our World View Survey questionnaire should obviously be -
1. I have significance and dignity specifically because I am made in the image of God
God created in his image
Genesis 1:26-27 are the bedrock on which our identity as human beings lies.
‘Then God said, “Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all life – the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals, and small animals.”
So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them.’ Gen 1:26-27
Notice that when God creates, he has in mind human beings purpose - what they have been created to do. They are to be masters over all life. But inevitable, this only happens after they had been created in God's image, patterned after him. To be made in God's image is, in part a description of what we are created to do (rule, create, have authority etc) but it is also a description of our being, our personhood.
You and I are God’s image bearers. We are like him simply by being the people we are. This starts at the point as which 2 cells come together in a mother's womb, and in this life ends when our hearts stop pumping and all electrical impulses cease in our brains. If you are aunsure of this, ask yourself the question, when your mother conceived and the first cells began to multiply in your mothers womb, was that you? Of course, in a very simple but very profound form, yes it was.
Back in Genesis 1, before Adam and Eve had done anything, either good or bad, they were God’s image bearers. Before you did anything, either good or bad, you had value and significance because you were made like God and he loved you. This is very freeing.
Often we measure how valuable we are by how much good we have done (creating significance) or by how much bad we have done (crushing our value). But that is a faulty perspective. God sees our value, even if we are rebels who only ever reject him in the fact that first and foremost we are like him. We are made in his image – no matter how we try to deny or run away from that image.
We are far more precious than you think!
Do not Murder
So, bearing all that in mind, let us think about the 6th commandment.
‘Do not Murder’ – Exodus 20:13
Most societies in the world, including ours takes the deliberate ending of life prematurely very seriously and obviously the Bible does to. And our considerations of the sacntity of life have shown us why, whether governments and authorities acknowledge it. At the heart of the act of murder is a rejection of the image of God in man.
In early 2000 I was in Zambia. My brother visited me for a few weeks so we dropped over the border ino Zimbabwe for a few days holiday. This was at the time when the issues that Robert Mugabe had with Britain and Tony Blair were beginning to raise their ugly head for the first time. My brother and I were sat in a bar in a hotel in Kariba watching British flags and images of Tony Blair being burnt on the streets in Hurare only a few hours away. We were safe in the rourist area and were not in any real danger – but even so, we felt something of the fear and insult that destroying an image of Britain was meant to display.
Similarly, when God sees his image being destroyed, as a persons life is prematurely ended – he sees that as an attack on him and an insult to his character. He sees his image being deliberatly destroyed. Every one of us has dignity and significance because we are made in the image of God and any destruction of that image shows a disregard and a rejection of the dignity and significance of God. That is why the Bible takes Murder so seriously.
Is God a hypocrite?
'But hang on a minute' we may say. 'There are many occasions in the Bible where God seems to instruct people to die or be killed. How can this be?' Is God a hypocrite?
It is true, there are occasions in the Bible where death instructed but it is always in the context of judgement for rejection of that image. It is the outcome of seeking to maintain and defend the dignity and significance of being made in God’s image. Round the world from the flood of Noah right up to today human beings have died – tragically and sadly becasue others have been seeking to defend the dignity and significance of being made in God’s image.
So far, most of us seem to get off Scot free from this commandment don’t we. We haven't murdered - or have we?
A couple of years ago, Leonardo Dicaprio starred in a dramatic, gripping and moving film called Blood Diamond. The story line was based on the truth of the Illegal Diamond trade in Sierra Leone which left many dead, and more enslaved, but crucially all fuelled by the appetite for cheap diamonds in the west. The idea being, in an indirect way, those of us who buy cheap diamonds are responsibly, from a distanct for the deah of thousands of Sierra Leonians. As we left the movie, we were all moved to tears. The command to not murder it relevant to all of us. Decisions we make day by day, if only we could dig deep enough would face us with these issues time and time again.
But we don't even need to dig deep below the surface. Jesus doesn’t allow us to get away with it and makes it plain for all to see.
Murder – who is innocent?
‘You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘DO not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgement.’ But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgement! If you call someone and idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.’ Matt 5:21-22
In the middle of the sermon on the mount, Jesus cuts to the chase and makes clear that anger and hatred is the same as murder in its intent. The problem is the underlying desire.
There is a relationship between the attitudes leading to murder and our attitudes when we are angry, and as Jesus expands on it, he piles examples on top of one another – anger, hatred and contempt. And as we hear his words they leave us gasping for breath because we know that we may not have committed the act of murder , but we are just as guilty as if we had. We have hated, been angry and acted with contempt towards others.
The problem is, the world judges by deeds, but Jesus teaches that what is really important is our thoughts and desires. The world says that man is good if he has never done anything wrong, but Jesus teaches that man is good only if he has never even desired something wrong.
Of course, Jesus is not talking about all anger. On one occasion, his righteous anger burned red hot in the temple when the stall owners were stopping the gentiles from worshipping God by filling the temple courts with shops. He was furious and everyone saw it. This is a right and honourable anger.
In fact, elsewhere, when Paul speaks of anger, he doesn’t say ‘don’t get angry’. He says -
‘And “don’t sin by letting anger gain a control over you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a mighty foothold to the devil.’ Ephesians4:26-27
There is such thing as right anger, right in intent and desire, and even right to be displayed, but even that must not gain control over you. Don’t allow it to get a grip. At the end of each day, draw a line.
So how do we handle anger?
Anger Management
Getting practical –
- Anger can and must be controlled.
It is a natural human reaction that can be directed creatively or destructively – it is far easier for us to let it be destructive than creative. We need the Holy Spirit’s help but we can do this. if we think we can't we are wrong. We don't all need ritilin, we need self control! So how do we do this?
- Try and understand what you are angry about.
We need to get to the heart of what we are angry about. It may be obvious and immediate, but it may be much deeper and firmly rooted and need a little more help to deal with it. When my wife and I were first married we had an arguement over which way around the toilet roll was put on the toilet roll holder. Now, that wasn't the issue - the issue was deeper than that, but the straw that broke the camels back was a toilet roll. We had to try and understand what the issue was.
- When you feel anger, stop, pray and think!
This is easier said than done, especially int he heat of the moment, but you are not a slave to your emotions. Our emotions are to be listened too, then controlled and tempered. Don’t react in an uncontrolled way that will probably lead to you harming yourself or others. Think - not 'how can I be angry', but 'how can I be gracious'. It is important to replace our anger with something. If they have left the towel on the floor again – how can I be gracious to them?
- Replace you anger with Grace
We have been responded to graciously, so the least we can do is the same. Rather than lashing out about our childs behaviour, seek to change their behaviour rather than scream at them. If you have missed the promotion, try harder next time, try laughing rather than shouting!
- Avoid escalation.
Any angry response will almost certainly threaten or hurt other people and lead to more anger. Break the chain. Saying, “I’m sorry, but that upset me” may give the same message as shouting or swearing, and it stands a better chance of getting a “Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that” back. Be wise towards those whose actions trigger your anger. Avoid blame, choose times to say things wisely. Make it easy for others to respond positively to what you are saying. Not saying “You make me angry” but “I have a problem with my temper – I need your help to deal with it when you do …”
Avoid nursing your anger, and avoid the escalation of anger. Don’t relive your anger moments – thinking of what you should have said. If you can’t dismiss the issue from your mind, think of the constructive, godly response rather than the destructive response.
Some of us find this harder than others. We get angry in different ways. Some of are like the jetski - we speed up to full throttle very quickly, but as soon as the foot is off the accelerator we slow to a stop very fast too! Some of us are like an oil-tanker. We take a long while to get going, but once we have it takes a long time for us to calm down again. We must be prepared for this, know how we work and act accordingly.
- Watch out for long-term – negative affects of anger.
The results of undealt with anger can be catastropic. Resentment, bitterness, a self-centres self-pity and even Depression. We will all have met people like this. If necessary we must seek help, but lets not let these things get a grip of our hearts!
We read just a few moments ago -
'Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a mighty foothold to the devil.’ Ephesians 4:27
Elsewhere James says ‘resist the devil and he will flee’ (James 4:7) . Follow these few words of advice and by God’s grace he will flee. No-one need be at the mercy of their temper and anger, no matter how hard and long the battle is.
Which leads us to our last point
Real Life is given to life-takers
Moses, David and Paul all committed Murder. Yet these men are the men who have written the majority of the words through which God has spoken over 4000years. If we are feeling condemned by what we have read, if we know that we have desired the downfall of others then we know we stand under the judgement of Jesus words. But the message of the gospel is a message of hope. Paul puts it like this.
‘I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.’ Romans 7:21-25
Steven Curtis Chapman wrote a song that captures just these words.
Well, who is this angry man I see
In the mirror looking back at me?
It’s a man who’s tired, a man who’s weak
And it’s a man who needs a Savior
......
And what is this longing in my soul
That I get so scared and angry?
I need more than just a little help
I need someone who will save me
Come and save me
I need someone to save me
Who will save me?
Come and save me
And who is this one nailed to a cross
Who would rather die than leave us lost?
He’s come to rescue us, come to set us free
Hallelujah, hallelujah
It is Christ the Lord…our Savior4
1 For this quote in it's context, taken from a US TV program, visit http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/re2/chapter2.asp
2 http://www.uccf.org.uk/resources/world-view-survey.htm
3 See the article on the Christian Medial Fellowship website - http://www.cmf.org.uk/literature/content.asp?context=article&id=684 John Wyatt, What is a Person in Nucleus Magazine, Jan 2004 p10-15
4 Steven Curtis Chapman, from the song 'Savior' on the Album 'Declaration'