By S.B. Williams
The fact that violence continues to raise its ugly head in learning institutions should tell us clearly that the root causes have remained intact. Efforts have been made by the Ministry of Education and other organizations to preach the message of peace and non-violence. Yet all these messages have fallen on deaf ears. It is like trying to destroy a tree by destroying the trunk and the branches only leaving the roots untouched. It will just be a matter of time for the tree to grow again. This is what has happened to all the efforts to preach the message of peace and non-violence.
The Cain Spirit
According to the Bible Cain and Abel were blood brothers who decided to offer burnt offering of appreciation to God. Abel’s sacrifice was accepted by God and Cain’s sacrifice was rejected. Cain murdered his brother out of hatred. The Cain spirit is one that leads people to harm or even kill others who genuinely win a contest. They ignore the rules and try to destroy the one who wins the contest or competition. The winners should not even rejoice. They are ready to lash at them with venom.
But sometimes the winners also provoke the losers in such a way that the Cain spirit is activated and gets out of control.
Where do we draw the line between students’ violence and political violence? To me both come from the same source? Misguided politicians fuel political violence as if their opponents have no right to parliament or the Councils. With such bad examples what do we expect from the student who should look upon their parents and elders as role models?
In football, like any other game or race, there are set rules that govern the game. The Referee is the only one to decide whether there is an infringement on the rules or not, but his decisions are sometimes challenged.
Why we should not be surprised
Prophecy is prophecy, no matter where it comes from. There is a prophecy from the Bible which is being unfolded or fulfilled right before our eyes.
2 Timothy 3:1-2 “This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful unholy…”
The good news is that this does not apply to all men but some people. This is why we have armed robbers but not all men are armed robbers; corrupt people but not all men are corrupt; murderers but not all men are murderers; rapists but not all men commit rape. But these can contaminate and destabilize a nation.
We know that many students are non-violent by nature but are often dragged into violence because of fear or adolescent pressure.
Role of the home
Whatever way we look at it, the type of home often determines the behavior of children when they are in public places.
The unruly home
There are homes in which the parents don’t correct their children because they themselves fight each other and we use indecent language on daily basis. The children copy their parents’ behavior and practice it in public.
Derogatory remarks by parents
Some parents make derogatory and disrespectful remarks against School and other administrative authorities. This provides a platform for student riots and violence since the parents themselves don’t respect authority.
Ungodly Homes
Some parents neither pray nor encourage their children to pray. If they pray at all it is during Christmas, Ramadan or other special occasions. They never teach the fear of God and so the children misbehave with impunity.
Child Rights and Responsibilities
The stress on child rights seems to have a negative effect on the behaviour of children. They readily accept the Convention on Child Rights and responsibilities but ignore their responsibilities.
They behave as if there is no limit to their rights and challenge parents, teachers and public authorities like the Police.
The Spiritual Dimension
What many people fail to realize is that violence has a spiritual dimension which supersedes the physical.
The devil (Satan) and his agents use this state of mind to oppress man, retain him in bondage and even kill him. It is a fact that there is more in the invisible realm than the physical.
The mind of man belongs to the spiritual and invisible realm and this is where the Devil operates.
But there is a Supreme Controller and Creator (God) of the spiritual. Whenever problems are presented to the Almighty God in sincere prayers by nations or groups, the devil is forced to lose his hold and run away.
The children are held in bondage by the devil’s control of their minds. The nation needs to undertake serious prayers and fasting on behalf of the children.
Thank God for the Ministry of Pastor Manbu where prayers are ceaselessly offered for the nation. The body of Christ is right now on twenty one days prayers and fasting including all night prayers.
The professors and intellectual elites will frown at any suggestion for national prayers and fasting and dismiss it by a wave of the hand.
Rhetoric has failed. Psychological methods have failed. Other methods have failed. This is because the problem of violence is more of a spiritual situation than a physical one.
Note that I am not writing on a religious or doctrinal platform but on a platform of the unlimited power of God to deliver.
We have to commit the children to God as a nation because we have his promises.
God’s faithful promise
Let us look at God’s promise in Isaiah 49:24-25 (KJV). “Shall the prey be taken from the mighty or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the Lord: Even the captives of the Mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.”
This is a glorious promise from our Creator who is all powerful. He is only waiting for us to humble ourselves and commits the children into His care. This is God’s principle: we have to ask and it shall be given unto us.
Individualism is indeed controversial but we have to meet at a point to present the matter before God. What is the Interreligious Council doing in this matter?