On Violence - Finding a Moral Line - Ft. Lavender Bleu

 

 

Hey youth!

Today Lavender Bleu from Always Write The Good Write is back to guest post on our November series, "Finding a Moral Line", to give her opinion on violence.

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Hi again, it’s Lavender Bleu. ^-^ 

I’m going to cut to the chase this time, we’re talking about violence today. I’m a Mennonite, so violence is a complicated subject for me. Traditionally, we are pacifists. Mennonites who were alive during WWII didn’t fight in the war, they were conscientious objectors and worked with relief programs instead of being drafted into the military. But you’re not here for a history lesson. (If you are, then you’re in the wrong place.)

First, let’s address violent crimes. We know that homicide (murder) is bad because of Exodus 20:13, the infamous “You shall not murder.” Homicide is the killing of another human (infanticide is the killing of an infant [baby]). First degree murder is when the criminal has planned the murder ahead of time and then enacted on it. This is considered the worst kind of murder because it was premeditated upon. This is also called capital murder. Second degree murder is when the criminal intends to murder the victim, but does it on a whim wihtout any planning in advance, making it not premeditated. Felony murder is a murder that happens during another crime. There is still that same intent to kill, but it’s more of a side-effect of whatever crime the criminal is committing. Murder is sinful and wrong because it is killing another human being while having the intent to kill them. The Bible is very clear on what is says about murder.

Manslaughter is a little different, though. There are four kinds of manslaughter, like there are three kinds of murder. Voluntary, involuntary, vehicular and intoxication, no defense. Voluntary is very likely to be a reduced murder charge since it was voluntary, since manslaughter is killing another human being without malice aforethought or not having the proper situation for murder. Involuntary is when the criminal does something that unintentionally kills the victim. Thoughtlessly punching someone, for example. Vehicular is, appropriately, involving a vehicle. This happens when the driver of the vehicle does not intend to hurt anyone but drives with negligence. This is why we should not text and drive, people! You do not want to have the guilt of taking a life (or lives) because of your phone. Intoxcation, no defense bascially means that the criminal committed manslaughter while too drunk to premeditate or even think. Yet another reason to not drink alcohol and run risks. (I am of the opinion ‘better safe than sorry.’) Manslaughter is also sinful, since is results in the death of a human being. However, I do believe that involuntary manslaughter can be an exception as long as the person accused of the crime did what they could that was in their power to prevent it. If it was a freak accident, or even just a normal accident, then it was not their fault. Sometimes God just decides it’s people’s time to leave Earth.

Both kinds of assualt are also sinful because it is causing harm to another person. Rape, robbery, negligence, endangerment, kidnapping, extortion, and harassment can all be violent. Even without violence, these crimes are sin.

So we can all agree that killing or harming someone is bad, right?

Now we have the subject of violent sports. This is interesting, since hurting someone is wrong. The difference between two athletes practicing martial arts together and voluntary manslaughter, though, is that there is an agreement between the two parties involved. Both athletes are aware that they are practicing a sport that is, by nature, violent, and that there could be injuries and accidents involved. They are aware that they can hurt each other, and that some exercises may be centered around things like that. A victim of manslaughter does not want to die (though if you know someone who wants to, that should be a major red flag) and does not have any knowledge of the crime that is going to occur. This is how martial arts are different from sins like murder and manslaughter and how they are acceptable. After all, even Israeli soldiers had to learn how to fight.

We have concluded that murder, mandslaughter, and other violent crimes are sin, while practicing martial arts is not. What about fighting back as the victim of a violent crime?

When your life is in danger, you need to do what you can to save yourself or protect others. If you can do that without killing the other person, then that’s great. But the thing is, that’s not always possible. A murderer won’t be scared off with pepper spray. God will forgive you if you kill them, whether or not you were trying to. One thing to be aware of is that the Bible does say that murderers should be given captial punishment (killed). Leviticus 24: 17, 21 “‘Anyone who takes the life of a human being is to be put to death. Whoever kills an animal must make restitution, but whoever kills a human being is to be put to death."

This is a difficult topic. It’s sin to kill someone. It’s sin to kill someone even if they are trying to kill you. Both are forgiveable sins and should not be judged. Only God can judge. I do believe that some criminals are deemed ready to die by God, and that is why their victims strike them down. Killing another human is one of the worst offenses there is because we were made in God’s image. We were made to dwell on Earth and subdue it. We are more than animals are. That’s why murderers cannot offer compensation, but those who kill another person’s animal, can. Humans are irreplacable. So when it comes down to you or someone else living…sometimes you need to do what you would ordinarily consider unthinkable. If you ever find yourself in such a situation, let God’s hand guide you. He knows what is best, and He knows what will happen. Follow His lead. That said, anyone committing a crime should know that people don’t want to die and will struggle for their lives.

So we can conclude that when it comes down to a life or death situation, it is forgiveable and acceptable to fight back. A criminal should be aware that there could very well be backlash on their end.

So what about war?

War is complicated. It’s hardly ever between two countries, and there is usually a bunch of politics involved. WWI and WWII, for example, involved enough countries for them to be called the World Wars.

When a country attacks another country, there will be backlash. The country being taken over has the right to defend itself against the other nation. This is normal and should be expected. I can not, however, justify conquering another nation, as this will inevitably result in war and the loss of lives. And we’ve already talked about how human lives are priceless. It is natural to have a military and use it as a means of protection, but military should be used very very carefully since war involves lives and can get out of hand quickly.

But politics exist, and they’re honestly kind of annoying. Protectorates are when a country tells another country that they will protect them in exchange for having a military base on their land. Whenever the protectorate is attacked, the country that is protecting them, defends the protectorate. This is also natural and should be expected.

I, personally, could never go to war. I believe that any form of killing is wrong, and is sinful, but self-defense, while still sin, is acceptable, because the attacker initiated the violence and should expect a reaction that reciprocates it. Likewise with one country attacking another. If you feel called to join the military, that’s cool. I’m pretty chill with that. I just can not justify myself joining. Especially since the US tends to intervene in other countries’ wars a lot and will definitely not fight back only as a means of self-defense.

So there you have it, my (probably messy) thoughts on violence. So now that you’ve read this, take some time to think on it and decide where you stand. It’s important to figure things out before you need to know what your view is.

Until next time!

- Lavender Bleu

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Thanks to Lavender Bleu for posting for us. Leave a comment with your thoughts, suggestions for WTY, requesting to see a collaboration, requesting something for us to cover, etc. 

And please stay tuned for the next post, when I'll give my thoughts on this matter, as well. :) 

- EJ 

(P.S. Due to device complications, I can't respond to comments unless I'm on a very glitchy, very crash-y laptop. But I will reply, so please don't let that deter you from commenting here!)