Thou Shall Not Kill!

Rev. L. Simon Raomai *

Bereaved mothers speaking to media on the arrival on UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women in April 2013
Pix - Deepak Oinam

Thou shall not kill is the 6th Commandment out of the 10 Commandments was given by God to His people through His servant Moses. This Commandment is one of the most important and strongest commandments of God in the Holy Bible. The reason why God gave this particular commandment was that He was so grieved when his children who were created in his own image and for his own purpose, were committing the sin of killing.

The command against murder is terse and undone. While scholars continue to search out the exact intent of the term murder rasah in Hebrew, the main point is clear: Human life belongs to God and must be respected because God is the creator and life sustainer of all humans. No one has the right to take another's life. God is the only authority over our lives no matter how good or small, rich or poor and weak or strong we are.

The Bible says how can you, who cannot make even a single hair, take life. Genesis 9:6 (Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man). suggests that biblical faith has drawn an uncompromising live against the taking of another life, period. Human life is intrinsically of value and may not be ultimately violated.

This is the moral precept included in all codes, and placed by all in a prominent position. Our first duty towards our neighbor is to respect his life. When Cain slew Abel, he could scarcely have known what he was doing; yet a terrible punishment was awarded him for his transgression and thus became the first ever murderer in the history of humankind (Gen. 4:11-14). Therefore, God has offered and sacreficed His only begotten Son Jesus Christ on the Crosss of Calvay by shedding His precious blood once and for all for the remission of the sins of the whole world. We don't need to shed any blood by killing our own brothers and sisters of the same soil. Shed no more blood because it is life we cannot make even a drop of it.

The Israelites were told that to take life is a crime. God forbids it. Because human life is sacred. Man is not to shed the blood of his fellowmen. If he does, of his hand will the life taken surely be required. The prohibition of the commandment 'thou shall not kill' further asserts that human life is valuable to God, and under God's productive custody (v13). No doubt distinctions and differentiations are to be made in enacting this command. This most obvious of these now before us concern capital punishment, war, euthanasia, and abortion.

The interpretive community is of no single states a non-negotiable principle and nothing more. That, however, is a great deal in a society like ours and in a state like Manipur where life is cheap, where technology is impersonal, where economic greed is unbridled, where bombs and guns are smart, and where ideology is powerful.

Our daily papers are filled with the news of bombing, death, extortion, rape, kidnapping children for recruitment of child soldiers etc. One way or the other way and yet there are many more which are not reported to the media. The killing has become a daily phenomenon. The murder makes the newspapers, radio and television news indicates or signifies a breakdown of the human morality and infrastructure, which legitimates brutality.

The murder behind the headlines i.e., the killings that happens almost everyday, destruction diminishes human life among those not powerful enough to defend themselves. The killing which is the nightmare of the weak and innocent people has become a culture or fashion of the bloody barbaric people. For them killing a human being is as easy as killing a chicken for a meal.

It seems that the mindset of our people that no news of killing is not good news. And it is sad, that killing has become perhaps the most interesting or exciting news in our context. We have not heard the news of saving a life from the jaw of death except being saved by the medical doctors in the hospitals.

The dead of our dear citizens are the dramas of the others. Ones mirth is another's misery. If human life is precious, what public policies are required in order to stop and protect it? The old-fashioned responses of employment, housing and health care are not remote from this command.

Calvin counts on the positive application of this command, "that we should not only live at peace with men … but should also aid, as far as we can, the miserable who are unjustly oppressed, and should endeavor to resist the wicked, lest they should injure men."

Our beautiful land, a little paradise in the corner of this earth has become a battle field, and a killing ground. Many people have been mercilessly killed out of hatred, greed and due to momentous relapse of moral. Who will compensate life and pay the price of precious blood.

The writer appeals to all right thinking citizens of the state, to ponder deeply and rationally why the so called Sanaleibak-Manipur, our land of Jewels turns out to be a Sina-Leibak? Why our ever green scenic beautiful land be stained with blood. Why our valley of Lilly be made a bloody Valley? Why our rivers and streams, the source of life be made flown with blood?

Let us arise from our deep slumber and shout in one accord the slogan, "Enough is enough!" "Quit killing" and "stop shedding precious blood!" "Don't make Manipur a graveyard or Golgotha, the land of Skulls". I want to reiterate that we live but once. Everyone is unique and special in the eyes of God. Life at best is very brief. Life is short, death is sure. Don't make life shorter by the silly act of killing.

The death of God's children are so precious in His sight. So, don't kill before one dies. Our hands are not to rise against innocent people but they are meant to help the helpless, to heal the sick and to serve the people. Let us join our hands and eradicate all kinds of evils elements from the soil of our State. Let us stop killing and start healing our land.

Remember all the victims of the murderers also have their own mothers who gave birth and raised them up with love and tender care with great hope in them as the mother of the murderers do. The good and bad, the healers and killers as well, are fruits of the mothers' wombs, rewards to the fathers, and a heritage from the Lord. All the victims of the murderers also their dear and near ones as we do.

May the good Lord Jesus Christ comfort, console and mend their broken hearts.