In 419 BC, at the height of Athens’ war with Sparta, one of Athens’ holdings, the island city of Mitylene, revolted. The men of Athens were so furious that Mitylene would take advantage of their war to rebel that they dispatched a sizeable fleet to kill all the males of Mitylene, and to bring all the women back as slaves.
Shortly after the fleet
departed, the men of Athens reconsidered their decision. They realized
that such a harsh reaction was typical of Sparta, not of the
freedom-loving Athenians, so they sent their swiftest rowers to
overtake the fleet, and rescind the order to slaughter all the men of
Mitylene. At the eleventh hour, on the eve of the Athenian attack, the
order to stand down was received. The show of force put down the
rebellion, and the display of mercy spared the city.
Three years later, during the winter of 416-15 BC, when the war was going badly for Athens, the city set its sights on the island of Melos. Melos had once been a colony of Sparta, but was now independent. Melos had declared itself neutral in the struggle between Athens and Sparta, and committed itself to a policy of non-aggression. The Island was, however, perfectly situated to launch strikes against nearby Sparta. So Athens sent a large fleet to Melos and demanded the surrender of the Island. The Melians responded that they would host any peaceful visit the Athenians would like to make, but they would not surrender their independence, and they would not join the war. So, the Athenians slaughtered all the men of Melos, and hauled all the women back to Athens as slaves.
It is one thing to act graciously and disinterestedly when things are going well, and quite another thing altogether when they are not. The Bible teaches that every act of naked aggression – from the murder of Abel, to the selling of Joseph, to the rape of Tamar, to the crucifixion of Jesus – is motivated by self-interest confronted with frustrated ambitions. These are not random acts, but ones calculated to hurt, to take, to destroy, and thereby, to enrich the self.
And so the Bible reminds us:
Do nothing from selfishness, or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself. Philippians 2.3
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Give preference to one another in honor. Romans 12.10Do unto others as you would have other do unto you. Matthew 7.12
Whoever wishes to be first among you must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10.44-45
God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Isaiah 57.15, James 4.6, I Peter 5.5
There are no asterisks, disclaimers, or fine print attached to the verses above, or the hundreds of others in the Bible that communicate the same theme. Bad times are no excuse for bad behavior. Bad days are no excuse for bad behavior. Bad behavior is bad despite any exigent situation we might cite in our defense. As milk and gasoline race to reach $5 a gallon, and the temperature and humidity levels race to reach 100, I know that I needed to be reminded of that. Maybe some of you did too.
Three years later, during the winter of 416-15 BC, when the war was going badly for Athens, the city set its sights on the island of Melos. Melos had once been a colony of Sparta, but was now independent. Melos had declared itself neutral in the struggle between Athens and Sparta, and committed itself to a policy of non-aggression. The Island was, however, perfectly situated to launch strikes against nearby Sparta. So Athens sent a large fleet to Melos and demanded the surrender of the Island. The Melians responded that they would host any peaceful visit the Athenians would like to make, but they would not surrender their independence, and they would not join the war. So, the Athenians slaughtered all the men of Melos, and hauled all the women back to Athens as slaves.
It is one thing to act graciously and disinterestedly when things are going well, and quite another thing altogether when they are not. The Bible teaches that every act of naked aggression – from the murder of Abel, to the selling of Joseph, to the rape of Tamar, to the crucifixion of Jesus – is motivated by self-interest confronted with frustrated ambitions. These are not random acts, but ones calculated to hurt, to take, to destroy, and thereby, to enrich the self.
And so the Bible reminds us:
Do nothing from selfishness, or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself. Philippians 2.3
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Give preference to one another in honor. Romans 12.10Do unto others as you would have other do unto you. Matthew 7.12
Whoever wishes to be first among you must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10.44-45
God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Isaiah 57.15, James 4.6, I Peter 5.5
There are no asterisks, disclaimers, or fine print attached to the verses above, or the hundreds of others in the Bible that communicate the same theme. Bad times are no excuse for bad behavior. Bad days are no excuse for bad behavior. Bad behavior is bad despite any exigent situation we might cite in our defense. As milk and gasoline race to reach $5 a gallon, and the temperature and humidity levels race to reach 100, I know that I needed to be reminded of that. Maybe some of you did too.
