Thought for the Day, 8 November 2004

Elaine Storkey

There is nothing more telling than language for conveying differences of outlook and perception. That is very evident right now in Iraq. Even amongst the key players words tell their own story. One of the marine Commanders outside Falluja describes the assault about to take place on that city as an 'epic battle', whilst the Prime Minister of Iraq, declares a 60 day 'state of emergency.' The UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan refers to an attack on Falluja as 'an escalation in violence which could disrupt Iraq's political transition'. whilst Lt Colonel Brandl commanding one the battalions of the American marines talks about it as uncovering the hidden face of the enemy. His words are graphic. He says, 'The enemy has a face. He is called Satan. He lives in Falluja and we're going to destroy him.'

Less vivid language shows similar differences in outlook. Insurgents are terrorists seen from one side, or nationals defending Iraq against the invading forces from the other. Killing is murder when it comes from one side, or legitimate military activity when done by the other. And the Lt Colonel is not the only one to identify Satan or to locate his address. The United States itself has been called the Great Satan by Islamic militants. And the attacks on American targets are part of their attempt at Satan's destruction.

So why does language offer so many perceptions of reality, especially the shape and meaning of evil? One of the obvious answers is that we are all partisan. Each of uses language to depict our own point of view. We notice most fully the evil done to us or to our group, whilst rephrasing the evil we do to others with the language of justification and exoneration. And when this becomes habitual and uncritical, partisanship can move into self-deception. We can come to believe, at both personal and national levels, that we own the language of evil, that we decide on its use, and it is one from which we are excluded.

That is why we need a biblical perspective on the issue. For biblical language speaks about the scale of human self-deception and the incredible ability any one of us has for getting things wrong. What's more, the New Testament writers do not leap to find Satan in other people, but challenge each of us to identify the evil in ourselves. There is no group, political, religious or racial which lies outside the charge of sin or the need for repentance. And St Paul invites us to abandon our words of self-justification, for instead every mouth will be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.