Orthodox Christian Ethics and Brutal Violence (ጭካኔ የተሞላበት ጥቃት)

Orthodox Christian Ethics unequivocally condemns all forms of violence (ጥቃት), particularly those that harm the most vulnerable members of society, such as children. The teachings of the Church emphasize love and compassion urging believers to lead lives that reflect the example of Jesus Christ. Acts of brutal violence, such as child rape and murder, are considered grave sins, violating both the moral law and the natural order of creation. Humanity, created in the image of God, is called to a higher standard of behavior, one that reflects God's love and holiness.

The Bible strongly condemns violence and advocates the sanctity of life.

Genesis 1:27 declares that humans are created in the image of God: "እግዚአብሔርም ሰውን በመልኩ ፈጠረ፤ በእግዚአብሔር መልክ ፈጠረው፤ ወንድና ሴት አድርጎ ፈጠራቸው።" This foundational belief in the divine image underscores the inherent dignity of every human being.

The commandment "አትግደል" (Exodus 20:13) clearly prohibits murder, emphasizing the sanctity of life.

In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus deepens the understanding of this commandment: ""ለቀደሙት፦ አትግደል እንደ ተባለ ሰምታችኋል፤ የገደለም ሁሉ ፍርድ ይገባዋል።እኔ ግን እላችኋለሁ፥ በወንድሙ ላይ የሚቆጣ ሁሉ ፍርድ ይገባዋል፤ ወንድሙንም ጨርቃም የሚለው ሁሉ የሸንጎ ፍርድ ይገባዋል፤ ደንቆሮ የሚለውም ሁሉ የገሃነመ እሳት ፍርድ ይገባዋል።" This teaches that not only murder but also the anger and hate that lead to it are sinful.

Matthew 18:6 strongly warns against harming children: "በእኔም ከሚያምኑ ከነዚህ ከታናናሾቹ አንዱን የሚያሰናክል ሁሉ፥ የወፍጮ ድንጋይ በአንገቱ ታስሮ ወደ ጥልቅ ባሕር መስጠም ይሻለው ነበር።" This verse highlights the severity of leading a child into harm, equating it to a grave offense before God.

Romans 13:9-10: "አታመንዝር፥ አትግደል፥ አትስረቅ፥ በውሸት አትመስክር፥ አትመኝ የሚለው ከሌላይቱ ትእዛዝ ሁሉ ጋር በዚህ፦ ባልንጀራህን እንደ ነፍስህ ውደድ በሚለው ቃል ተጠቅልሎአል። ፍቅር ለባልንጀራው ክፉ አያደርግም፤ ስለዚህ ፍቅር የሕግ ፍጻሜ ነው።" This verse teaches that love fulfills the law and does no harm.

1 John 3:15: "ወንድሙን የሚጠላ ሁሉ ነፍሰ ገዳይ ነው፥ ነፍሰ ገዳይም የሆነ ሁሉ የዘላለም ሕይወት በእርሱ እንዳይኖር ታውቃላችሁ"  This verse equates hatred (ጥላቻ) with murder.

The Church Fathers repeated and expanded upon these biblical teachings, emphasizing the gravity of violence and the need for love and compassion.

St. John Chrysostom states "What is more terrible than the murder of a child? It is the murder of the image of God." Chrysostom also taught the importance of protecting the innocent (ንጹሐን) and opposing all forms of violence.

St. Augustine taught that "There is no sin more grievous than that which marks the soul with the blood of innocence," viewing such acts as direct damage to the peace and order intended by God.

In summary, Orthodox Christian Ethics, rooted in the teachings of Christ and the Church Fathers, view brutal violence as a manifestation of sin and the influence of evil. Such acts are a profound distortion of human nature, which is created in the image of God. The Church calls on the faithful for repentance, transformation, and a commitment to living in accordance with God’s commandments, reflecting His love and holiness in all aspects of life.