The ordinary meaning of “violence” is the use of physical force under the influence of uncontrolled sinful passion, against persons or property. The earth was filled with violence in Noah’s day and the Bible reveals that it had its roots in the hearts of men for “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually”. And again, “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence”. (Genesis, Chapter 6). For this cause God determined to send the flood to remove men from the earth, except Noah and his family. Then, for instance, in the days of Ezekiel the prophet, the land of Judah was filled with violence. The Lord spoke to the prophet regarding this manifestation of the wickedness of men thus: “… Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger…” (Ezekiel, Chap. 8, v. 17). It is obvious from these references that violence is a heinous sin in the sight of God and calls for the manifestation of His holy anger. It is a sin which frequently leads to involvement in the serious injury of persons, the destruction of property and murder.
In the New Testament this evil is seen in the conduct of the Jews with regard to the stoning of Stephen to death. His truthful charges against them so affected them that they were cut to the heart and gnashed on him with their teeth and ran upon him and cast him out of the city and stoned him. This was a clear outburst of wicked violence against the man of God. This was not a case of stoning according to the law of Moses for some outstanding sin; although they employed stoning, thinking they were punishing an evil doer in their ignorance and pride. They were filled with a murderous spirit. And again this evil broke out at Thessalonica when Paul was there, as we read: “The Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason . . .” (Acts, Chap. 17, v. 5). Here you have a fair description of certain features of even some present-day cases of mob violence: viz., an evil spirit, men of no character, uproar occasioned deliberately and attacks upon those who have given no offence.
This dangerous line of wicked conduct has undoubtedly plagued nations and communities down through the ages. And now in this advanced age of ours, in certain positive respects and in many areas of the world, this evil of violence is repeatedly raising its ugly head. Some may argue that there has been provocation offered to certain people to have recourse to violence, as in the case of the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King, the late leader of American negroes, who himself urged non-violence in seeking privileges. And in Western Germany a man shot a German student who was a leader of a certain group. As a reaction thousands of students demonstrated and rioted in many of the chief cities of Western Germany. And recently during one weekend, there were fifty cases of serious assault, principally by stabbing in the City of Glasgow. These did not occur during mob violence, but were isolated cases. And murder has occurred again and again in the Glasgow area and elsewhere in recent times. And also in London, during demonstrations and processions of an anti-war nature, police officers were assaulted in performance of their duty in seeking to keep public order. And, incidentally, some who engage in these demonstrations are involved with the evil intention of causing rioting and trouble.
Again, vandalism against property is rife, and this unwanton destruction of property is just another phase of present day violence. Recently the Post Office authorities of the City of Aberdeen reported that fifteen telephone kiosks had been badly damaged by vandalism during one single weekend. This is wicked and malicious work undertaken with a satanic delight in destruction for its own sake. Then violence today is a prominent means by which robbery of large sums of money is accomplished by gangs of wicked and violent men. Their violence is not the urge of the moment, but pre-meditated and planned involving serious bodily injury and even death for those who dare to stand in their way. Plausible explanations for violent conduct will not bear consideration in this context.
Some who make a study of and specialise in the examination of what is called “social behaviour,” endeavour to discover and explain the causes or influences producing such as violence. To enter upon such a study apart from the light and guidance of the Word of God, is indeed to a great extent, a vain task. Although, undoubtedly there are contributory influences in certain cases; yet as blasphemy, and murder are sins, so violence as such, is sin also according to the Word of God. It proceeds from the depraved and evil heart of man, as we find in the record of the violence of men before the Flood. The Word of God declares that there are those who love violence for its own sake and for what they may accomplish by it, as we read in Psalm XI, verse 5, “The Lord trieth the righteous; but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.”
The prevalence of this line of wicked conduct is a somewhat new evidence of the very low state of morality in our own nation. Divine restraint is being withheld from many in judgment and this may well be linked up with other sins which have provoked God to anger. And how true the Word of God is when revealing what the natural man is capable of, viz., “… living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another!” Here you have an answer to many acts of violence.
The remedy for this and every other symptom of a backsliding day, is the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preached in its fullness with the power of the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. David prayed: “It is time for thee Lord to work, for men have made void thy law.” And if the Lord will not come to work in His sovereign mercy, through the Gospel, in the hearts of men in our nation; then He will come to work in His wrath manifestly in specific judgments. The Lord’s people are surely called to pray in the terms of the prophet: “In wrath remember mercy.”