Darkness Cannot Drive Out Darkness
Recently, three people were murdered just a short walk from Colchester town centre. Today someone came to Open Door barely recognisable because of the injuries sustained to his face in an attack he did not remember. A few weeks ago someone showed me their wounds from an attack with a "zombie" sword. Knife crime really is on the increase as our newspapers regularly tell us. What are we to make of it? How can we respond?
Whether or not we come into contact with the results of knife crime we have to acknowledge that it is real, it is happening in our town and it is leading to fear, hate, anger and rivalries. Martin Luther King famously fought against injustice with non-violence and he wrote, “through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
King knows that violence begins in our hearts. It is not the knives who are injuring and killing people it is the people who are wielding them in anger and fear. It is easy to point the finger at those “other people” who would stab someone when we would never do that, but we have the same problem in our own hearts. I might inflict wounds with a social media post, a piece of gossip that I pass along or my anger at those with different views on Brexit to me!
Jesus gives us a very different way to live, he tells us: “But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well… ‘You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”
The climax of the story of the Bible is actually a violent one. Jesus was whipped, mocked and tortured to death. He endured the worst we could throw at him and he turned the other cheek. Jesus endured that pain and humiliation not only to show how much he loved us but to achieve our forgiveness. His violent death was a sacrifice, he was a substitute, he was our saviour. He provides a way out of our violent habits and brings healing to our violent hearts.