by Mark Mayberry
Synopsis: Violence involves physical force that is intended to harm or hurt, damage or destroy, frighten or intimidate. Such conduct may be characteristic of this sinful world, but Christians are called to "pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14).
The twentieth century was dominated by humanistic philosophies that sought to dethrone God and deify man, or at least exalt human perfectibility as an attainable goal. Their failure resulted in untold heartache, hardships, and horrors. Both Lenin and Hitler conceived of a new man—not governed by Judeo-Christian ethics or morality; yet, utopia never materialized.
We live in an increasingly violent world. Fascism and Communism left a legacy of misery and murder. Over the course of the twentieth century, millions died in the ovens of Auschwitz, the gulags of Siberia, and the killing fields of Cambodia. In addition to state-sponsored mass murder, in recent decades the world has witnessed the rise of a virulent strain of Islamic fundamentalism. Lone wolf gunmen commit murder and mayhem with depressing regularity. On October 1, bullets rained down upon a music festival in Las Vegas, leaving fifty-eight people dead and about 500 others wounded. Houses of worship have repeatedly been invaded. On November 6, a rural Texas church was invaded by a lone gunman, leaving at least twenty-six people dead. There seems to be no end to the bloodshed.
While the talking-heads on television offer their politically charged commentary, believers turn to the Scripture for understanding, seeking a biblical perspective. Violence was one of the reasons that God brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly: "Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence" (Gen. 6:11-13; 2 Pet. 2:5).
The Hebrew word chamas, derived from a root meaning "to treat violently or wrong," refers to "violence, wrong" (Thomas 2555). Occurring sixty times in fifty-eight verses, it is translated "malicious" (3x), "violence" (48x), "violent" (6x), "wrong" (3x) in the NASB.
Vine says, "Basically chamas connotes the disruption of the divinely established order of things. It has a wide range of nuances within this legal sphere" (276). It includes the effect of bearing false witness, violent wrongdoing, etc.
Violence is characteristic of fallen humanity, i.e., those whose relationship with God is severed because of sin (Isa. 59:1-8, esp. v. 6). It stains their hands (Ps. 58:1-2) and their garments (Ps. 73:6).
Violence is rooted in a spirit of hatred. The psalmist David called upon God to "Look upon my enemies, for they are many, and they hate me with violent hatred" (Ps. 25:16-22, esp. v. 19). Reminding us that defilement comes from within, Jesus said, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders" (Matt. 15:19).
Violence is rooted in distorted desire, either passionate, possessive, or prideful. Solomon says, "the desire of the treacherous is violence" (Prov. 13:2). The word rendered "desire" (nephesh) is often translated "soul" or "life," but here it refers to one's "desire, passion, or appetite." As James explores the source of quarrels and conflicts, he affirms the same: "You lust and do not have; so you commit murder" (James 4:1-2).
Violence is rooted in an ignorance of God's purpose, plans, and precepts. Pronouncing all the tribes guilty, Amos calls upon the neighboring nations to observe God's judgment of Israel: "But they do not know how to do what is right," declares the Lord, "these who hoard up violence and devastation in their citadels" (Amos 3:9-10).
Violence is intoxicating. Evil men "eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence" (Prov. 4:14-19, esp. v. 17). Violence is enticing: "A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good" (Prov. 16:28-29; cf. 1:10-19).
Simeon and Levi stood accursed because they exacted fierce anger and cruel wrath upon the city of Hamor the Hivite (Gen. 49:5-7; cf. Gen 34). Abimelech, who attained power by fratricide—slaying the seventy sons of Jerubbaal (Gideon)—came to a similarly violent end (Judg. 9:22-24; 2 Sam. 11:21)
Babylon was employed by God to execute divine punishment upon the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem; yet, that fierce and impetuous people would subsequently be judged for having loved violence and bloodshed (Jer. 51:34-40, esp. v. 35; Hab. 2:8). The city of Nineveh faced similar condemnation (Jonah 3:5-9, esp. v. 8) as did Tyre (Ezek. 28:16).
The nation of Edom repeatedly betrayed their kinsmen, the sons of Judah and Israel (Joel 3:19). God said, "Because of violence to your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame, and you will be cut off forever" (Obad. 10-14). Sadly, the nation of Israel (Ezek. 45:9), the tribe of Judah (Ezek. 8:17), and the city of Jerusalem (Ezek. 12:19) were all guilty of the same offense.
Corrupt religions often evidence violent tendencies, including human sacrifice (Zeph. 1:9). Despite divine warnings, God's wayward people practiced the same, causing their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, an act so abhorrent that God said, "nor had it entered My mind that they should do this abomination" (Deut. 18:10; Jer. 32:35).
Abusive marriages frequently evidence violent tendencies. Rebuking the practice of divorce, God said, "you cover the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and with groaning." "For I hate divorce," says the Lord, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with wrong (chamas)" (Mal. 2:13-16, esp. v. 16).
Defending his innocence, Job affirmed, "There is no violence (chamas) in my hands" (Job 16:15-17). David said the same regarding his dealings with the sons of Benjamin, the tribe from which King Saul descended: "there is no wrong (chamas) in my hands" (1 Chron. 12:16-18).
Isaiah foreshadowed that the Messiah, God's Suffering Servant, would face death even though He had done no violence (Isa. 53:9). His peaceable nature is reflected in the following statement: "A bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish" (Isa. 42:3). His kingdom would be one of peace and security (Isa. 11:6-9; 60:18).
Jesus Christ alone holds the answer to the alienation, enmity, and violence that plagues humanity. If He could reconcile Jew and Gentile in one body, application of the gospel message can also yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness in our day (Eph. 2:11-22, esp. v. 17).
This issue of Truth Magazine focuses upon the theme of "Peace on Earth." Through obedience to the gospel, we can find peace with God and self. Additionally, we should also pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14-17).
Thomas, Robert L. New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries: Updated Edition. Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998.
Vine, W. E., Merrill F. Unger, and William White Jr. Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1996.
Author Bio: Mark and Sherelyn have labored with the Adoue Street church of Christ in Alvin, TX since 1998, where he serves as the evangelist and an elder. The church website is ascoc.org. His Bible study website is markmayberry.net. He can be reached at mark@truthpublications.com.
