Some partially coherent ramblings by m i c k m o o n e y
The Inventiveness of evil I’m sure you have seen, heard or read of the recent accidents in Spain and Italy; train and bus respectively. I watched with shock as the train came speeding to a bend and left the tracks killing 79 people. The bus crash in which 38 people lost their lives, appeared to have had no initial cause. The driver of the train was said to have been arrested and questioned. The driver of the bus died in the accident. As it turned out, in the train crash in Spain, the driver was allegedly on his mobile phone talking to the ticket inspector, at the time of the crash. In the bus crash in Italy, the driver appears to have lost control after a possible tyre puncture and was believed to be travelling at speed. However, as I pondered the developments in each case, a peculiar thought crossed my mind. ‘What if this had been new mode of terror attack?’ Remembering that suicide bombings of many varieties are perpetrated against innocent people are all too common place, this, however would to my mind, constitute a new variation on the theme of ‘the suicide terrorist attacks’. What I am going to say next is in the context of acts of terrorism, which terrorism, is, in my view, an expression of evil. While we [do not like to] would not ordinarily associate inventiveness with evil, mankind has utilised his skills and talents, his shrewdness and intelligence, for both good and evil. Now we don’t like to thinking of good things being used for evil purposes, the fact remains, evil doing often requires a great deal of skill and inventiveness. Here’s where it gets tricky; it is not the inventiveness itself that is evil, but the use to which it is put. It is not to be applauded nor borrowed. It is not to be admired (however tempting that might be), but rather, condemned. I remember when President Bill Clinton was in office and was brought before a senate committee to answer for his alleged affair with Monica Lewinsky, many secretly admired his manoeuvring abilities. His gifted mind and political prowess was often applauded. Yet at the same time, few believed he was innocent and many felt he should have been impeached! So when considering these things, we are sometimes left with a sour after-taste. On the one hand, we recognise how inventive evil-doers can be, but on the other hand we are repulsed at their task. I’m not suggesting that there is a dilemma here for followers of Christ. But we do recognise our moral and immoral duality, and how we skilfully apply the same talents to both! I was reminded of the apostle Paul’s grand work on the spiritual and moral devolution of mankind in the opening chapters of his letter to the church at Rome. In chapter 1 verses 29 - 31, Paul writes thus:
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They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 29
Also, in the book of the prophet Jeremiah, God, when accusing His own people Israel, describes their skilfulness in their idolatry and unfaithfulness to Him: ‘…my people have forgotten me, days without number. skilled you are at pursuing love!’ Chapter 2 verses 32b - 33
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How
And there are many more examples of this. Do you remember the parable of the shrewd manager? Read it again in Luke 16. We know that Jesus is saying to us, use your skills, abilities, and especially your brains, for the extension of The Kingdom of God, because when you do, you will bring Glory to God the Father by living out my teachings. 16