by Rodolfo N. Lentejas, Jr.

Created on: December 28, 2009

The sacred book has specifically enacted a law against death, “You shall not kill” (Deut. 5:17). But if you cast a look at what is happening in the world today, it may seem obvious that this law remains to be a memoir of a bygone era, as death in its ugly appearance is occurring almost everywhere.

The Culture of Death 

The culture of death is now a phenomenon. The meaning of war has radically changed to death rather than peace and security. That is why if there is war, there is always death. If there is a conflict, there is death. If there is power, there is death. If there is wealth, there is death. If there is a space, there is death. In every place, there is death.

Today killing is an ordinary affair. The earth is no longer the safe haven to live in where all of mans’ needs for life can be found. Instead, the earth has now become one the most dangerous neighborhoods for us to live by. Everywhere there is killing, nonstop killing. It is even more painful to realize that this nonstop killing is happening in the very place where the law against death is supposed to rule. Killing is a viral disease that swift across the universe. This is a completely human irony.

If this is so, where shall we go? If the homes, where life begins, are now abodes of death, where shall one go? Is there still a safe place left for us in this world? There is only one earth and we only have one life to live by. We can never ask for more. Where is God to protect us?

God Respects Man’s Freewill

Did God runaway to eternal wilderness after giving the law against death and left the world unattended? Did he not promise that he would always be with us to guide us to the end? Did God altogether abandon us in our helplessness? No. God never abandons us. He was and is with man in his triumphs and failures, in pain and happiness. Just as man has become helpless, God too is helpless. All he can do is cry because of man’s stubbornness of heart, disobedience, and rejection. It is true that God has the law to mitigate death from occurring everywhere, but it can never be denied that man has the full control over his freedom.

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