Stylos

“…so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar (stylos) and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).

An occasional commentary by Pastor Jeff Riddle, Jefferson Park Baptist Church

The Abuse of Prisoners

May 2004

Over the last several weeks our nation has been shocked by the release of pictures documenting abuse of Iraqi prisoners. The pictures are disturbing. We have assumed that our nation holds the moral high ground and that our soldiers would not be guilty of committing the kinds of atrocities perpetrated by the dictator we came to oust. Now it seems that some of our fellow citizens have committed the kinds of crimes we abhor. As I write this article, news is breaking of the brutal murder by beheading of a young American as an act of retaliation. Much as we would like to ignore it, people in the Muslim world see the war in Iraq not as a battle between nations but between religions (Islam vs. Christianity). How could those who come from a nation largely shaped by a Christian worldview act in this way?

Three Lessons

Here are at least three theological lessons that this recent episode teaches us:

1. Human depravity.

The recent abuse of prisoners illustrates the reality of human depravity. The Bible is clear about this. We are deeply stained with sin. In Genesis 6:5 we read of the days of Noah: “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” David laments, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:1). The prophet Jeremiah writes: “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). In Romans 3:10, Paul offers this evaluation of human sinfulness: “There is none righteous, no, not one.” He continues in v. 23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

The sad fact is that our own hearts and those of our countrymen are as sick and depraved as those of the fanatical Muslims who guided their planes into the twin towers on September 11th. We are sinners in desperate need of salvation. Apart from God’s law and his grace, we are prone to act in brutish ways.

2. Our need for moral order.

The situation also illustrates our basic need for moral order. Scripture tells us that God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). In the Old Testament we read of God giving the law to his people, including the Ten Commandments. In Galatians 3:24 Paul describes the law as our “tutor” until the time when we were brought to Christ to be justified by faith. As believers, we live under “the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). The Ten Commandments tell us that it is wrong to kill: “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). Jesus goes a step further and demands that his followers not even become excessively angry (Matthew 5:22). Paul also tells us God establishes civil authority in order to restrain evil (see Romans 13:1-7).

The recent abuse of prisoners reminds us that men need a word from beyond them in order to know how to live. One of the accused abusers is reported to have said that no one ever gave him a copy of the Geneva Conventions. He did not need a man-made document but the Word of God to tell him that it is wrong to shamefully abuse and mistreat a fellow man stamped with God’s image, even if that man is a sworn enemy.

3. The importance of integrity.

We cannot claim the moral high ground unless we act with moral integrity. Oddly enough, it likely speaks well of our nation that there has been such domestic and international outrage expressed at these incidents of abuse. There is not a single nation in the world shaped by the worldview of the religion of Islam where respect for basic human freedoms is consistently upheld. There is no personal, social, religious or political freedom in Islamic nations. Why then their outrage? The world has come to expect more from America. Why? Because our nation, though far from being a “Christian nation,” has been influenced from its beginning by Biblical and Christian ideas. The outrage of the world is akin to the shock expressed by worldlings when a high-profile minister experiences a public moral failing. Oddly enough, the exposure of hypocrisy is an underlying expression of admiration. They know that someone is living by a code of conduct that requires higher expectations than are expected of most. The world is shocked, because it expects more of us. As Americans we are upset, because we expect more from our countrymen and more from ourselves.

Biblical Backgrounds

The Preacher said that, “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). There is little in contemporary human experience that does not have some precedent in Scripture. Alas, the abuse of prisoners is nothing new. Two Biblical stories come to mind.

First, in 2 Samuel 10 (see also 1 Chronicles 19) we are told of a time when King David sent a group of men to express condolences to Hanun, the king of Ammon, at the death of his father. Hanun’s advisors, however, told him these men were spies. So, he seized them, “shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments, cut off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away” (v. 4). For Jewish men this was an extreme act of humiliation. They were “greatly ashamed” (v. 5), so David said to them, “Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return” (v. 5). In retaliation, David sent out Joab and his army of mighty men to attack the Ammonites. Of note is Joab’s encouragement to his men on the eve of battle: “Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight” (v. 12). The Ammonites and their Syrian allies were then soundly defeated by Israel. The point of the story seems to be that foolish actions to shame others will be met with punishment and defeat.

Second, in 2 Chronicles 28 we are told of a time when Ahaziah, King of Judah, was defeated by the king of Israel and his ally the king of Syria. Many of the mighty men of Judah were summarily executed after being taken captive. In addition, the children of Israel “carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters; and they also took away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria” (v. 8). Their plan was to make these captives their slaves. All was going well with their plan until a prophet named Obed arose to prick their consciences with the word of the Lord. He castigated them for taking the lives of the captives “in a rage that reaches up to heaven” (v. 9). He continued: “And now you propose to force the children of Judah and Jerusalem to be your male and female slaves; but are you not also guilty before the LORD your God?” (v. 10).

What is most amazing about this story is the fact that the Israelites were convicted by Obed’s inspired words. They were moved to make amends for their wrongs: “Then the men who were designated by name rose up and took the captives, and from the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them, dressed them and gave them sandals, gave them food and drink, and anointed them; and they let all the feeble ones ride on donkeys. So they brought them to their brethren at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria” (v. 15). Many believe that Jesus had this story in mind when he told the parable of the Good Samaritan (see Luke 10:34).

Conclusion

The test of our nation’s character is whether or not it will continue to be shaped by Biblical values. No, we are not a “Christian nation.” In fact, in many ways we are quickly becoming like the post-Christian Western Europeans with their vast and largely empty cathedrals. Our national conscience, however, is still shaped by Biblical values. Those values tell us that it is wrong to abuse captives. Never underestimate the impact of little churches like ours dotting the landscape of this nation where the Bible is being preached and taught and minds and hearts are being touched by God’s word. To see men abused, even men who are our enemies, fills us with deep disappointment. It also fills us with resolve to live by a standard higher than sinful man’s.

Jeffrey T. Riddle
Pastor, Jefferson Park Baptist Church

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