It is also often noted that those who experienced violence and brutality in their own childhood are most likely to repeat that sort of behaviour in their own lives. Abused people often end up abusing others.
We are all shaped and formed by the events we have been through - for good or ill. And so Rick Warren has come up with this slogan 'Hurt People hurt people'.
This observation would easily lead us to hopeless despair, because it suggests that the cycles of pain and destruction can never be broken. It presents a situation in which we are trapped, imprisoned by our past, and unable to break free.
But the story of the Bible repeatedly shows how God sets people free from the prisons of their own past.
The cheating and scheming Jacob is changed by the God who reveals himself, and who is forever known as the God of Jacob. The slaves in Egypt are set free and become the people of Israel (=Jacob!)
St. Paul loved to tell his own transformation, from hateful persecutor, into faithful missionary. 'And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison. The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the Christians from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished.' (Acts 22.4-5)
He used to hurt people, by his actions and attitudes, but he became a transformed agent of the love and mercy of God. 'For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard.' (Acts 22.15)
When we have encountered the love and mercy of God, as revealed to us in Jesus, we can be changed by that love to become the people we were made to be.
This gives me hope every day, as I meet broken people who are presently set on a course of repeating cycles of destruction and dysfunction. Jesus can set people free, to becomes his agents of mercy and blessing.
Best wishes,
Richard
No comments:
Post a Comment