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Point of Reference
by Fred Price
As the embarrassment of Abu Ghraib continues to unfold, many are left wondering – how could well-trained American soldiers engage in such activity and why would they stoop to behavior that mirrors what they were sent to Iraq to stop? We have convinced ourselves that as a civilized people – a "Christian nation" – we are somehow morally superior and incapable of such activity. If we truly believed and practiced our so-called national faith, that might be true; but evidence is mounting to disprove that theory. Admittedly not everyone claims a Christian heritage anymore but the morals we are attempting to uphold in a world seemingly gone mad are still rooted in the Christian precepts of our forefathers.
Paul dealt with this same attitude in his day, asking: "If you know (God's) will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish… because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth… do you not teach yourself?" His point being that they were doing the very things they presumed to tell others not to do; lamenting that God is discredited and his name blasphemed among unbelievers as a result of contradictory behavior. Romans 2:18-24
The conditions in Iraq – during any war – are at times deplorable with the enemy often hard to identify, his tactics at times barbaric. Regardless of the claim that Islam is a peaceful religion, those the world faces in battle today have a completely different understanding of the teachings of their faith, militantly expressing their ideals. Our young people are stalked, bombed, slain and sometimes mutilated; disillusioned, the desire for retribution and revenge is kindled. From such conditions come the temptation to act and react like the people and ideas we are attempting to overcome.
Many have written trying to explain the actions of Abu Ghraib, attributing this unseemly behavior to the cultural perversion within our own society; the frat-house attitudes toward outlandish sexual behavior, the glorification of rowdy drunkenness, the macho demeanor of those quick to take offense that demands respect while giving little in return. While these are contributing factors in this fiasco, I believe the real problem arises from an overflow of sinfulness we all fall prey to if not recognized and guarded against at all times. (Romans 3:23; Hebrews 1:10) Left to our own devices, we fail – sometimes miserably. Paul identified this tendency as a result of our being weak in our natural selves (Rom. 6:19), all of us possessing or being possessed by a sin nature – or an inclination to sin. (Romans 8:4-8)
Jesus said that a good man will practice goodness as a result of what is stored in his heart, conversely an evil man will exhibit evil because of the evil stored in his. (Matthew 12:34,35) Proverbs gives us a key to identifying good and evil, enabling us to make right choices, "To fear the Lord is to hate evil;…" Proverbs 8:13 (see also Psalms 111:10) Fearing the consequences of disobeying God or more importantly, fearing disappointing a God whose, "…eyes are too pure to look on evil; (who) cannot tolerate evil." Habakkuk 1:13 - a God who none-the-less did everything within his power to see us saved, loved and provided for.
His word explains that, "A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct,…" Proverbs 10:23, while, "He who seeks good finds goodwill,…" Proverbs 11:27 It further instructs us, "…to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil." Romans 16:19 Once we have acquired that discernment we are expected to be actively involved in doing what is right (James 1:22), while avoiding, "…every kind of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:22 – see also Romans 12:9)
A common theme throughout scripture is that God hates, "…pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech." Proverbs 8:13b, "…those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter." 5:20 – promising to, "…punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins… (putting) an end to the arrogance of the haughty and (humbling) the pride of the ruthless." 13:11 This applies to us all! For we are all susceptible to the temptation to strike back – to manipulate conditions and people to our own advantage; we all have the capacity to be as evil as anyone else who has ignored the pain of others, discounted their needs, took what they wanted regardless of the consequences, done what they pleased in spite of the circumstances. But for the grace of God we could all be robbers, rapists, brawlers or murderers. Each of us would be lost in our transgressions and sin, in which we used to be and still are tempted to live, "… gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts." Ephesians 2:1-3 Yet, as a result of God's grace, "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature." Galatians 5:24; it's actions being obvious (Galatians 5:19,20); the fruit of God's spirit in our lives equally so. (Galatians 5:22,23)
Let's not deceive ourselves, what was done at Abu Ghraib prison was on a certain level understandable, but undeniably wrong, deserving denouncement and discipline. But every one of us is capable of the same, necessitating an attitude of diligent vigilance against the temptation to explain away our behavior and excuse the sin that so easily entagles us. (Hebrews 12:1)
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Fred Price - married (50 years), father of two grown children, grandfather of six.
Fred retired earlier this year after 42 years as a factory worker. He has always had a heart for young people and the challenges they face today. Over the years Fred has taught Discipleship Groups for High School and college students.
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