Lawlessness: The Rising Tide

by PRASHER, G. | Category: Focus | Jul 2005

Britain's Parliamentary General Election two months ago reflected public concern regarding what is perceived as an alarming growth in the crime rate, especially violent crime. Surveys indicate that in England and Wales many people are increasingly afraid of going out at night, and that there is more extensive installation of security devices than in any other European country. Gun culture is spreading, firearms offences having doubled between 1999 and 2004.

Rival political parties therefore each tried to impress the electorate with promises of effective measures to bring about greater security. This was against the background of extensive legislation within the last decade which created 270 new offences, resulting in growing rates of imprisonment and the most crowded jails in Europe. Additionally, 'neighbourhood wardens' and 'community support officers' have been introduced to provide what is described as 'reassurance policing'.

Scripture warns that grievous or terrible times will come in the 'last days', when many will be characterized by fierceness or brutality (2 Tim.3:3). This is already evident in the ruthlessness of violent crime in today's world. Psalm 36:1 relates the transgression of the wicked to the fact that, 'There is no fear of God before his eyes'. Lack of regard for God, or even recognition of His existence, leads to no sense of accountability, and consequent excesses.

The world was shocked in April 1999 by the horrific shootings at the Columbine High School, Littleton, Colorado. Rachel Scott was one of twelve young people who were murdered that day, along with a teacher, by gunshot wounds inflicted by two rampaging students. Rachel's father, Darrell Scott, was invited to address a subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. He boldly expressed his conviction that such crimes were basically the result of declining recognition of God in American schools: some extracts from his address are as follows:

"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used ... The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart ... I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy - it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best. This was written way before I knew I would be speaking here today:

Your laws ignore our deepest needs, your words are empty air.

You've stripped away our heritage, you've outlawed simple prayer.

Now gunshots fill our classrooms, and precious children die.

You seek for answers everywhere, and ask the question "Why?"

You regulate restrictive laws, through legislative creed.

And yet you fail to understand that God is what we need.

Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, soul and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honour God, and in so doing we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs politicians immediately look for a scapegoat ... They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws � We do not need more restrictive laws � No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts."

Such tragedies impress on us that the mystery of lawlessness is already at work (2 Thes.2:7). Yet the lawless one is yet to be revealed! His coming 'is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved' (2 Thes.2:9,10). The high tide of lawlessness has yet to come!

PRASHER, G. | Jul 2005
Focus