by: ISAIAH-PHILLIPS AKINTOLA
THE REALITY BEFORE ALL HUMAN SOCIETY
Man is living in one of the most vulnerable and yet exciting seasons in history. The reality of this season demands a higher level of understanding in human evolution and its development in order to navigate the season without casualty. The issues of our day calls for a well-structured manhood {character formation}; meaning, having a clear insight into how man is originally designed to live life give us the insight into the multidimensional challenges hindering society from from solving her dysfunctionalities. The future certainly depend on how we are able to accurately identify the internal disorderliness of man.
1 Cor 2:11-16
11 No one can know what anyone else is really thinking except that person alone, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And God has actually given us his Spirit (not the world’s spirit) so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 13 When we tell you this, we do not use words of human wisdom. We speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t Christians can’t understand these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means. 15 We who have the Spirit understand these things, but others can’t understand us at all. 16 How could they? For,
NLT
This scripture gives us insight into understanding the nature operating system of man. i guess those who are truly looking for solution by applying the word of God to social issues should carefully consider the Spirit and life within this word. Battling for the soul of the community and its inner Cities requires a total mobilization of all human and capital resources, coupled with precise spiritual and mental template. The future destiny of our society rests on what we’re doing right now on the issue of the crime, plaguing and weakening our societies. Sometimes when I try to consider the future and the next generation I cannot but to be apprehensive, yet the word of our Lord gives us hope. The philosophy and culture we’ve built around crime and criminals is not helping in solving this socioeconomic battle. We can’t any longer pretend as though it’s not our issue to deal with this plague. every sector of the society including the Church needs to find the lasting solution.
CRIMINALS ARE HUMANS WHO LIVE AMONGST US
Almost everyone at one point or the other has been a victim of crime or violation. Yet, this is one of the least understood areas in social science and human development because we’ve been trying to deal with the fruits instead of the root. Dealing with crime which is a manifestation of an inner dysfuctionality, without precisely dealing with criminals’ nature is a futile battle. It’s important to know that criminals are like every other human you see around daily at work or in the hall way of a movie theater. They go to shop in the same shopping malls we do our groceries. Some parents live with criminal children without being aware; some guys have criminal friends without discerning it until they’re caught.
The complexity of crime today is so high that even so-called great nations and governments today are not exempted from it because it is embedded within the very structure of the philosophy and values our humanity is built on. Crime is like {illness} disease living within human system {Body}, yet unaware of it until they start feeling sickly. It seems the very foundation of our fallen human society is built to thrive on disobedience and violation. Its starts with two kids fighting at school to prove their supremacy yet the battle is a clear reflection of an inner struggle for identity and security.
Once the human mind cannot guarantee self security or preservation, it must then react to its immediate environment in a negative way to keep other predators away. This is basically done to hide fear and insecurity. This explains why youth especially get into all kinds of dangerous adventures like taking drugs, joining gangs and alcohol indulgence to prove they’re not emotionally weak. When parents are not quick to notice their children’s loneliness stage crisis it develops into an extreme opposite of craziness they can’t handle.
THE WORST BRUTALITY
Just a few months back the whole world witnessed the war between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah Jihadist separatist in the Gaza’s strip. One could argue that Israel has the right to protect its people from the continual rocket lunches from the Palestinians side, who do not accept Israel as a state or nation. Yet the rule of engagement in the three weeks of warfare from the Israeli army completely violated the UN weapon war charter. Innocent children and civilians were killed in the bloody battle. This is a very good example of crime committed by a nation against another. What about Zimbabwe? Hundreds of its citizens have been killed over an election believed to be war by the opposition MDC party.
Instead of Mugabe relinquishing power and accepting defeat he decided to go into war with his own people. Almost a thousand died of Cholera outbreak, coupled with the complete collapsed of the economy and every aspect of the social life of the people. What do we call this social injustice? Crime! When you read of teenagers who go to school with guns to kill their fellow student and teachers, you can’t but ask yourself what is going wrong with humanity? Or hearing stories like, a three year old South African child was raped by an adult who believed he will get cured of his HIV- You can’t but wonder what in the world is happening within people’s minds to condescend to such level in committing such a horrendous and sickening crime.
UNDERSTANDING MAN’S NATURE
The level of darkness within humans cannot be fully fathomed until we’re ready to allow the truth to journey deep within the recess of the human soul. The human personality and his character lie within the soul realm, which is made up of the will, intellect, and the emotion. Man is made up of three different functioning faculties, designed to work in harmony: the Spirit, soul and the Body. These three human aspects carry out definite assigned functions; the spirit is man’s source of life, while the soul is the realm of his personality {trait} peculiarities, while the Body houses these two {spirit and soul} unseen realities.
Therefore, to accurately define man, we need to understand that he is a spirit, with a soul who lives in a Body. Not to accept this concept of man’s creation is to continue to live life in the shadow of its true reality. As powerful as the philosophy and ideologies that defines the very foundation of our society today, yet we continue to discover how weak and shallow these philosophies are in addressing the core issues of human character flaws and behaviors.
WHAT ABOUT THE FOUNDATION OF MAN’S PHILOSOPHY
Human and his Social dysfunctionalities are far beyond what can be fathomed or understood in our social psychology laboratory, especially where there is no clear meaning to what life means. Human ingenuity is just too weak in addressing the complexity of man’s character formation and behavior, without the knowledge and help of the creator himself.
The reality and forms of all human abnormalities which include crime will only be dealt with when we truly start addressing the core issue of man’s internal isolation and dysfuctionality. The issue of bad parenting and wrong influence of a toxic environment most of the time creates an access path in the soul for evil to gain control over the un-regenerated heart. Man has come a long way in the pursuit of trying to discover and understand himself with very little breakthrough when it comes to understanding the mind. We might have been able to discover how the brain functions in relating to cognition and the distribution of our biological activities, yet it’s very important to know that there’s a complete difference between the brain and the human soul- the site of the mind, which ultimately defines human reality, behavior and personality traits.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE BRAIN?
The human brain represents the bridge that connects the unseen realities of the mind to the outer realm of existence. The brain plays a major role in the definition of man’s personality through its ability to define man’s genetic formation and character. One of the reasons why the brain is important is due to the fact that it houses neurons that stores past incidents and experience of man. These experiences are converted and stored into memory bank which can be recalled at any time. These realities play a key role in human outplay of character and behavior.
The foundation of our theory and ideology concerning human understanding has been the very limitation of our advancement to human science. Due to our continual refusal to acknowledge the author of life, and the principle He has set-aside not just for understanding ourselves, but himself, the creator of life. History has witnessed all forms of evolution of philosophies and ideologies that has contributed to today’s escalation violation, right from the Dark Age of human slavery down to the days of the crusaders, where people were killed in the name of religion, down to the period of Nazism and communism.
The generally accepted disbandment of slave trade and other forms of racial social injustice, has continually given humanity the quantum leap to break away from the perverted and distorted viewpoint of life and humanity; to the required position where the accurate footing for human development becomes achievable at all areas of existence.
WHAT ABOUT THE PRESSURE OF THE NEW SOCIETY?
This advent of social freedom and the early industrial revolution has continued to shift human paradigms to the right position of thinking in relating to dignity, respect and love. As simple as this may sound, we all know that man is an emotional being with feelings and desire for love, care and security. All this makes up some part of his identity. In a case where these realities are not there, or taken from him, he becomes something completely different.
The creator wired man to live life within a certain atmosphere that must continue to create and produce love, care, and respect for each other. When the perception of man became corrupt and perverted in the beginning of his creation, every form of evil became the breeding ground within the human heart. We will never be able to explain the mystery of Sin’s nature until we’re able to accurately address the issues of regeneration according to Gods concept.
Human salvation is the answer to human crime and other forms of iniquity destroying the society. Every human born into this world came with intact potential and capacity to excel and breakthrough in whatever field of interest. Though this might not be the case in most regions of the earth. The influence of social and religious culture still plays a major role in determining the factor of the destiny of the people. The colonized regions by the west and Europe are still governed by the capitalist economic culture and system of trade that only enriches the powerful few of the society.
The dynamics of human existence from place to place ultimately defines and determines the biological structure of our eventual character and behavior. Characters are formed they are not naturally born. Parents are a major determining factor of the outcome of a behavior. Who we are is not just based on our genetic formation but also on the nurturing capacity of the environment of our birth. As powerful as this theory may be, it still cannot stop those who have come in contact with the author of their life when you accept him into your heart.
Where you are or who you are at the moment means nothing compared to what you’ve been destined to be in life. The limitations that surround our birth or the present environment we’re in truly mean nothing to the divine plan and purpose of the Lord concerning a life determined to fulfill his plan here on earth. All you need is to understand and accept the concept of living the power of regeneration.
BUILDING ON A WEAK FOUNDATION
All the social gains in human developmental breakthroughs are almost being eclipsed by the present uncontrolled immoral character behaviors, because they’ve been built on ignorance and false value standards. The spirit of greed and the get rich quick syndrome has captured and enslaved the modern human mind to do things that are unfathomable to his fellow humans. Our communities today are being invaded by an upgraded demonic systematic activity, interfaced with destructive traditional values mandated to destroy the sound moral values of home and family building.
Genesis 4:3-9
And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto Jehovah.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the first lings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And Jehovah had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
6 And Jehovah said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shall it not be lifted up? And if thou doest not well, sin coucheth at the door: and unto thee shall be its desire, but do thou rule over it.
8 And Cain told Abel his brother. And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
9 And Jehovah said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother’s keeper?
The battle against crime is as old as the creation of man. When Cain decided to kill his brother due to the rejection of his offering, while that of his brother was accepted by God, Cain allowed himself to be the gateway of ushering hatred and the spirit of violation into human behavior and culture of existence. From that point on, man grew to hate not just his family or neighbor but also himself to point of suicide. These are all part of the result of disobeying the voice of the Lord in the garden, for the Lord had said to Adam “the day you eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall die“. Death is a present reality working in the lives of mortal men!
The upward movement of iniquity and moral decadence amongst earth dwellers continue to grow until the Lord put an end to the first generation of humans that lived on the earth except for Noah who found favor in the sight of God because of his righteousness . Far beyond the peripheries of what we defined to be crime today, we have to trace the history back to the beginning in order to find the lasting solution to dysfunctional human behavior which most of the time leads to crime.
CRIME, A REALITY BEYOND HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY
There is no doubt that the gain and advance made in the field of clinical psychology and sociology has helped a great deal to shed light on the concept of human character and attitude, in regards to development and social coherence. Yet there are still countless challenges and setbacks that far reach what meets the eyes in these professions. With the increase in fiscal spending on security and crime prevention, our communities are still insecure. Why? Crime is far becoming more of a culture and philosophy of existence to most people, especially amongst the very poor and the disadvantaged of the society, since they regard crime as a signal or wake up call to social inequality, marginalization and injustice.
To have this view is to be myopic in ones understanding. One can never use one-act of crime to correct another. This is absolutely impossible! Where there is no proper education and understanding of one’s internal configuration as human, this could lead to not understanding how to view, relate or respond to uncontrolled issues both within and around our place of existence. The lives we choose to live most of the time will be the extension of other people’s indirect character behavior. In order other, behaviors are formed by the predominant character traits round our birth.
A GODLESS VALUE SYSTEM PRODUCES A DYSFUNCTIONAL SOCIETY
Tracing the birth of human society is of great importance in solving the problem of violation and crime in society. Not understanding your core purpose and the whole essence of existence could cause a sense of dissolution and fear in a person, which could lead to rejection and rejection often, leads to self-protection and aggression which eventually blurs the right perception to relationship in most cases.
It is these dysfunctionalities already built on the fallen human nature that causes or should I say leads to crime. Crime is first a dysfuctionality of human {mental} personality. Most sane looking people around us might just be insane in their {coherent} thought structure. Unfortunately most humans first relate to what they see before they notice people’s unbalanced behaviors. The fact that our sensitivity ability is deadened puts us more in a vulnerable position. Most crime related issues could have been avoided if people were just a little sensitive to their instincts or intuition.
The problem of identity crisis in the society today has reached a point where we need a desperate but yet coherent and strategic approach in dealing with them. As long as the world continues to endorse and promote the philosophy of God’s exclusion from her affairs, I’m afraid; we will continue to witness a continual degradation and total collapse of all form of human existence and its institution.
The formation and restoration of our society can only be carried out successfully through the author of life Himself. Please don’t get me wrong, when I talk about the involvement of the creator in the dysfunctionalities of man, I am not relating to religion or mere Church attendance, rather I am relating to a connection of relationship with the author of life who through Him imbibed nature grants the right insight and capacity to identify and deal with the unseen inner crises we’re daily faced with.
The required dynamics of relating to the resource needed for these social issues are presently being released to those who are ready and willing to pay the price of relating with their heavenly Father. The reward of fellowshipping with God and his called ones grants us unlimited resources and capacity to make our world a better place to live in. God is not in the business of merely populating a local denomination, rather his desire and commission to those he called and sent is to go into the world system and be a light in their darkness, an answer in their unending questions and a salt that season.
DEALING WITH A FRAGILE SOCIETY
Our society has never been more fragile than this present time. The issues that tend to break us seem to be stronger than issues that binds us. From family values to business standards and ethics have all been threatened on a daily basis. It appears that present darkness seems to be prevailing over the light, but we know that is impossible. The mega structures and institutions we have built all across the society, are built on very weak and imbalance human philosophy. It is true that when the right pressure and crisis are set in motion over what we think we know, everything that defines our life both external and internal, weak values gives way to this higher pressure.
The issues facing our society today are based on the condition of wrong and weak values and standards. Until we start addressing these unseen realities of humanity we are bound to get disappointed. Dealing with crime in relating to societal development, requires understanding that goes beyond the corridors of political affiliation and cultural beliefs. The present time dysfunctionalities demand a new and a better condition of understanding humanity. A nature of beings not controlled by the earthly vagaries. A life natured by God himself, the creator of all things! All kinds of theory and philosophies have emerged trying to make sense of what crime is. Some of the theories might sound reasonable but do not justify the act of committing crime against society.
CRIME MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE
Others regard crime as an act of protecting their minority state, beliefs and values over the generally accepted standards. Others see crime as a pure act of revenge. One of the greatest challenges society is faced with in dealing with criminals, is to understand how they think and view their world. The complexity of crime requires a keen and a broader understanding of what life is and means. Our inner deformities and dysfuctionality can be hardly identified by the act we carry out on a daily basis, since humans have the capacity to pretend to be what they’re not. The fallen human nature has learned to disguise his true nature and character even from the most intimate person. Most of what we do or represent in our daily life are completely different from who we truly are on the inside. The condition of the person on the inside ultimately determines who we are and what we shall become. This becomes even more difficult when we live in a society that promotes a life of cosmetics. Everything just looks nice even if it smells and rots on the inside. The wrong values that are continually promoted by the world of media and fashion have not made things easy for society, especially the youth.
PROMOTING VIOLENCE AS ACT OF ENTERTAINMENT
A society that promotes violence and abuse as part of her custom, tradition or act of entertainment is definitely a good breeding ground for development of criminal mentality whether we accept it or not. 70% of consumer’s products worldwide today are sold through the promotion of violence, sex and abuse of human values. The forces of public opinion has continually weakened the internal unseen values, yet is powerful enough to regulate wrong behavioral tendencies. Where do we draw the line on sound ethical standards in the society?
We can’t continue to blur the dividing line between the truth and lies and aspect to accurately deal with the issues of crime and violence in the society. Most of the teenagers today have been introduced to violence since the age of two, just when they were bought the first toy gun. Most of the video games today are designed to be violent and crime related or else they will not sale on the market. This indoctrination of virtual evil one day will lead to a real-time event. The mind is a powerful place you don’t want to play around with. The mind is like the camera that takes pictures, whatever image you expose it to, it will take. When children are exposed to violence and abusive language at an early age, what do we expect to come out of them?
The scripture says the seed you sow, you will reap. When parents and guidance abdicate their position and responsibility to the world of uncensored media, what do we expect? Please don’t get me wrong, the media has helped a great deal to develop and educate society on various issues plaguing the world, but then, we also know that the media is a powerful platform for expression anything. The media has been used for propaganda and in most cases they are highly effective. regulating or censoring what come on the TV stations has alway being an issue of human right. The enemy in must cases has also used the issue of freedom of speech and viewing to destroy innocent lives. Media has forever change the moral value of society. Identity crisis and peer pressure is a major problem amongst the children and youths today and the media as both positively and negatively affect this area of the society.
The 17-year-old boy in Johannesburg, who went on a killing spree with a samurai sword, obviously did not wake up one morning and then decided to start killing his own school mates. This boy has been under some kind of influence that brought him to that point of concluding to kill without thinking of the consequence. how did the boy came to this position of thought to the point of taking such weapon to school without the notice of his parent, school security or teachers? these are all point {gains} of negligence from the entire community this boy belong to.
Parents and teachers will have to rise up to build and educate themselves concerning the various societal challenges seeking the attention or sometime the control of the children. we can’t continue to excuse ourselves from the order of our responsibility. Our first priority as parents is to see to the well-being and security of the children the Lord committed into our hands.
Personal empowerment and skill development must be prioritized if this battle must be won. What is clearly seen and defined to be crime, to others, is not because it is believed that their tradition accepts such, while others claim they’ve been commissioned or mandated by their traditional rulers or ancestors to carry out such crime. The increase of religious crusading has also continued to contribute to the complexity of human behavior. Many have claimed to be commissioned to kill in the name of God.
CRIME IN THE NAME OF RELIGION OR CULTURE
Man has never been more confused than this present time where anything can be done in the name of God. True religion ought to promote love, peace, harmony, forgiveness and caring for your neighbor. Unfortunately today, most of our religious centers have become a place of promoting wrong values amongst the faithful. The power of what is said {preached} continually forms a layer of belief system in people’s perception until they start unconsciously acting out what they’ve been hearing. An abuse or miss use of the scripture is an unpardonable sin in the sight of God.
Clergies and spiritual leaders have a major role to play in dealing with crime because they are the custodians of society. The influence given to them to reach the community can be used to change and transform their various communities if they accurately channel this influence in the right direction. The collective effort of all social contributors, from the corridors of policy makers to the set of business entrepreneurs, down to the pulpits of clergy leaders, regardless of the religion, requires an agreement in dealing with this pandemic disease destroying the destinies of innocent people all across the globe.
The world today needs a new breed of visionary leaders, mentors and initiators with well balanced capacity to precisely understand the negative impact of crime on investment and the future of the society. To chart a new path of sustainable development, we have to muscle a new mentality of winning the battle of wrong behavioral values, starting from the family units to the marketplace.
The irregularities of view in regard to general human behavior have continually made it more difficult to identify and sincerely tackle the root cause of crime in the society today. To accurately deal with crime, it must be viewed from both the spiritual, mental and physical point. When these holistic views are integrated within the culture of our perception, there is no doubt concerning the impact that will be achieved in the long run. To build lasting and sustainable future for our communities, there is a need to first develop leaders from the community level responsible with the task of integrating the community.
This requires a long-term visionary objective, which requires huge investment in the area of education in crime prevention, rather than crime fighting as the case is in most societies today. Crime has become a path of the human society that is continually costing government and the tax payer huge sums of money annually. A productive society is one that is less in criminal mentality. It is highly important to see crime as an issue of the mind before it becomes a violent act. It is of uttermost importance that crime should first be viewed as a product of the inner deformity of a person’s perception of self, family, community and the society at large.
DEFINING CRIME
As difficult as it could be to understand the reason{s} why people do what they do, when we start to take keen interest in people around us, we will start seeing all the clues and evidence of irregularity of the behavioral pattern of people. Yet this theory of observation does not adequately give us the comprehensive root cause of criminality. Human beings are so complex in behavior to the point that they can easily hide or adapt to any acceptable behavioral character around them until someone notices an inconsistency. Like I said earlier, crime must be viewed as the deformity of man’s tripartite nature. Crime is related to the fallen human nature that his natural inclination is self-centered and abusive. This act of carnal human nature plays itself out based on the state or condition of birth.
The complexity and definition of crime can be zeroed down to one statement: the lack of the illuminating and penetrating light of God’s divine direction, within the human soul to build accurate perception of life’s existence within the core moral value system of the child, that is still vulnerable to what he or she hears and sees. It is the primary duty of parents to build solid educational moral values and foundations that creates the right complex and platform for the child to know and clearly understand the principles of right and wrong within a society that advocates a theory of no absolute right or wrong doing. The evolution of modern culture says if it feels right on the inside do it. Such philosophy is toxic and destructive to human nature.
DEALING WITH THE ISSUE OF FEELING GOOD
We understand that not everything that feels right brings right result at the end and not everything that seems or feels wrong now ultimately brings wrong result. Therefore, the child must be taught the principles and responsibility for each choice made as he or she grows up. We clearly understand that people and the environment create very powerful influencing tools that affect and shape not just the upbringing of a child but the very destiny of such a pupil and ultimately the environment within which they develop.
We cannot separate development and productivity from the environment or community of existence because life is interwoven and interconnected such that one aspect depends on the other for survival. Therefore, to talk about development and productivity from any sector without first considering the nature, conditions and lifestyles of people living within such environments is nothing less than presumptuous.
Life is generally designed to progress and develop towards a better and a productive future when the principles and values that govern the social systems of that environment and institutions are built on a broad-based foundation of integrity, hope and sound ethical policies at all levels. When these processes and protocols of shared human values become crystal clear to managers of both private and governmental institution I strongly believe we will see a far-reaching positive shift in social inequality.
Every sane human dreams or imagines some arrival into their unique utopia, irrespective of the state, conditions, culture or religious persuasions. People want a better life and future both for themselves and their families. The whole concept of man’s biological and psychological systems of operation fights any state or condition that takes them off the power and freedom of self actualization; even if it means killing to regain such a freedom, man will do it.
Time setbacks are of no importance to a determined heart that wants to see freedom at all cost. Yet the achievement of freedom itself without purpose and understanding could be the most catastrophic event to an individual, a group of people or a nation. This has been proven through most revolutions that have taken place in most part of the world. This survival instinct does not necessarily represent an accurate equivalent to lasting freedom. The beauty and complexity of being human is reflected in the innate ability to dream and envision a better future. Unfortunately, the methods of achieving such a dream are so unethically.
UNDERSTANDING CRIME
Once these molds and principles are violated, dysfunctionalities and judgment become the obvious manifested result. The socio-economic unrest the world is presently plunged into will continue to escalate until leaders and government managers start to pay close attention to the fundamental issues which includes among others, uncontrolled gratification, wrong social moral models, the lack of ethics and adherence to standards in the various systems that define government institutions.
The values and principles that define our social policies and nation as a whole should be built on the foundation of pure moral equity, or else we find ourselves as a nation of people investing hugely on powerful mega structure and institutions that lacks leadership capacity. Dysfunctional humans put in place of leadership at any level sends a signal of weakness and looseness to the society. When crime and violation are not seen or dealt with as a case of dysfunctional, it can then not be effectively handled or dealt with from a broader scope.
Crime is a problem of the total collapse of man’s humanity and dignity. And it cannot be effectively handled by mere policy or legislation without accurately understanding its emotional origin. Most crimes have their root from the collapse of all forms of moral values. Parents who were raised by a dysfunctional family in most cases also produce dysfunctional children, which invariably produces a dysfunctional community and the circle continues.
Man seeks a future that promises prosperity, security and sustainable success and productivity at all levels of his societal expression without having or building the ethical foundations that makes this process a reality. Once there is a defect or interruption from the status-quo, the natural inclination is to rebel against the current status which is viewed as hostile to ones social standing. This inclination to survive could either lead a person to develop an inner capacity and resolution to acquire the necessary tools and working skills necessary to breakthrough barriers and boundaries that generally limits people from achieving in life, or experience the other extreme side of the pendulum.
A person’s inability to achieve or become ‘that next success story on the block’ could cause a great behavioral imbalance when it’s not properly identified and dealt with on time. We understand that behaviors are made up of both the external influences {pressure} and the dysfunctional states of mind. The complexity of the cause of crime I strongly believe cannot fully be comprehended by our humanistic or idealistic philosophies. When there is a continual neglect of the laws that build and guide humans to properly grow and function in life, we are bound to suffer the consequence in the overall productivity of the immediate community and larger society.
CORRECTING PAST HISTORY
Crime is not isolated from ones’ wrong paradigm of reasoning. “As man think in his heart so he is” In other words, People’s perceptions and definitions of failure or success lays a very strong footing and values to their view of life and the general society. The idea of building a better nation starts with identifying and dealing with the cause of marginalization and all forms of social injustice. I have heard it being said several times that the past history of South Africa with regards to apartheid has built within the social psyche of the people, a culture of violence in terms of dealing and responding to issues.
This is clearly seen in the rate of domestic crimes committed on a daily basis in this nation. I reckon this is why a lot of social psychological training and development need to be intensified not just at schools but also in the highly impoverished marginalized communities because these are the areas where people are more prone to committing violence and crime.
Crime and violence are all chains of reactive events caused by a completely wrong value standard both from the home front and the mass media. The rate at which our teenagers and youth today are pressured to owning material things without the foundation or knowledge of working to earn their money are unprecedented. Unfortunately most of our so-called charismatic Pentecostal churches are not helping at all in this matter due to their over emphasis on messages of prosperity and materialism.
There is nothing wrong about owning things as long as the purpose is clear and the values and standard of one’s life is not driven or motivated by them. Life should not be driven by owning mere material things without knowing the very essence of existence. The more deficient our mentorship and leadership both as the government and other stakeholders like the Church; the more we see unprecedented devastation of moral and ethical standards in the society.
Most of the time the government or the business community speak of leadership and mentorship, they tend to limit it to business or workplace productivity, whilst we forget that the foundation and capacity of any form of production starts with the state of the heart and the family. Until we learn to stop dealing with issues on the surface and start thinking of truth based productive values, which is definitely the quality of relationships, that ought to underpin the structures of our homes then we have missed and will continue to miss the mark.
ALARMING STATISTICS
According to government official statistics report for 2008, it is said that about 50 people are murdered on a daily basis in South Africa. I find this report quite alarming when one considers both the emotional effect and the socio-economic loss; one cannot help but to wonder if indeed there is going to be a lasting solution from the government and the rest of the stakeholders. The impact of such findings on the general populace most of the time instills a sense of fear and uncertainty in the psyche of the people. We are gradually becoming a society of people who do not understand the worth and value of life. No amount spent on preventing crime can ever be equated to the value of one soul lost as a result of crime. As long as investors keep hearing such alarming news, it will definitely cause them to think twice before coming to invest. This in the long run obviously reduces the investment and productive capacity of the nation.
CORRECTING PERCEPTIONS
The attitude and view imbibed on any issue in life will always determine the final outcome. Our inability to see and prefer the right human and capital resources in fighting this social nemesis, has greatly contributed to the escalation of this evil, plaguing and crippling the nation of South Africa. The development and growth of any society begins with the ability to identify and deal with the cause of crime from its root.
Development in any form is a direct product of awareness, and awareness comes through acquired knowledge and knowledge comes via sound education. When we don’t invest in community education the larger society eventually pays for their ignorance. Education at all levels contributes drastically to the reduction or even the eradication of crime. It all depends on the context of education we are looking at. It is a known fact that crime thrives mostly amongst the very poor communities. Today poverty itself has become a social crime that if not properly addressed in sincerity, will cripple and completely paralyze every aspect of our social system. Government and all the stakeholders at all spheres need to prioritize crime as the number one killer in the society.
When we consider the amount of money spent yearly on fighting crime rather than preventing crime one will immediately see a major gap in understanding the very nature and philosophy that defines and drives our leadership molds and value systems on the issue of crime. We cannot properly address the issue of crime without understanding the footing and foundation of the type of leadership philosophy we subscribe to. A nation is as developed as the concept and values of its corporate leaders. The managers of the nation both from the political and economic standpoint need to go beyond mere politics and policies and begin to take drastic proactive measures.
Crime is an inherent deformity that requires all levels of capacities to eradicate. When theoretical and political appointees occupy the place for true proactive and visionary leadership, what we get is social rest. Crime and the dysfunctional community unfortunately are basically associated almost to everything imaginable. The environment of birth plays a major role in forming accurate behavioral development or complete social-emotional dysfunctionalities. From the way we think, perceive, judge, and express our feelings and opinions on issues contrary to our own ideologies are centered destructive tendencies that are inbuilt.
The general challenge of the fall of humanity and its approach to managing this deformity has continually eroded our focus and capacity for sustainable development and productivity. As man continues to lose his humanity and sense of peace and social stability, we need to understand how to reinvent our core strategies and values in such a way that will not only drastically reduce crime, but bring sustainable mental development to all and sundry.
Nations and governmental institutions all across the globe today spend about 60 to 75% of their annual budget on controlling or preventing crime, either on a local level or on an international scale. The more millions we spend on security measures, the more unsafe and insecure the world becomes. Most of the time when government addresses crime, they tend to look at it from preventive aspects; meaning, they handle crime from a point where there will not be collapse of political socio-economic gain.
Obviously, this falsehood or lip service to fight crime basically leaves us with a time bomb that can explode anytime. The reality of crime from the root cause is far beyond what can be defined or explained through our psychological theories. As much as we have had great major breakthroughs from this aspect, we need to take a look at the human nature from this spiritual-mental point. I believe that the root cause of all human dysfunctionalities and collapse of values can directly be linked to man’s un-wiliness to be {regenerated} born again. The manifestation of family break downs and the lack of power to take charge as leaders in our various homes are all fruits of the collapse of our humanity. When we look at the various types of crime manifesting on a daily basis one cannot but ponder on the degree of darkness covering the soul just like the bible already predicted.
CRIME AS A GLOBAL PROBLEM
The concept of the culture and ideology of crime has witnessed a drastic shift from what our myopic perception formerly defined it to be. Today, crime has become a major global problem that is costing billions of dollars to fight and prevent on a national scale. It is highly important to know and accurately understand that crime in general is a distortion of the correct perception of life’s value and mold of existence.
In other words, when there is a distortion of the true ethical standard and molds of human existence within his social psyche, violation and abuse becomes the template of response. The dysfunctionalities in society today are as a result of reduction or lowering of the standard and moral ethics that ought to govern and guide our cultural and traditional pattern of reasoning. I reside in a community known as Ennerdale, on the southern side of Johannesburg.
This community for over three decades now has been besieged by all forms of criminal activity from murder, to car hijacking and other forms of domestic violation. Crime has literally crippled and ripped this community of the basic infrastructure any human or society needs for development and transformation. When you speak and listen to individuals living in this community, about the plight of the people, one can hear a sense of frustration in their mentality, yet nothing major has been done from a corporate position to fight and stop this menace that has continually hindered the advancement of the community. When people are mentally crippled, there is no form of infrastructure or development that can changed their view to accurate humanity than mental transformation. I do not think the government fully understands the rate of dysfunctionalities people are battling with. All the aggressions and criminal activities we see on a daily basis are all reflections of the cry for help.
THE CALL FOR TRUE LEADERS
There is no other time in history that needs proactive leaders from the home front to religious leaders in dealing with this destructive social mentality known as crime. Outside dealing with the root cause of crime we need to also look at the ripple effect of crime in community development. Crime affects gender equality. It’s almost impossible for an unemployed male to respect an employed female. To an extent this is one of the causes of child and women abuse in South Africa. The rate of unemployment of men in South Africa is one of the things that first caught my attention. During the period I was following up the process of my work permit at the home affairs, I had to wake up as early as 5am to escape the early hour traffic.
To my amazement I noticed that 70% of the work force are women and it seems most of them are employed by financial institutions. Whatever the cause of this social unskilled labour force it needs to be addressed by the government and other stakeholders if we want to witness some kind of change in the crime rate. I run a mission outfit basically for leadership and community transformation. The few years I have spent within the walls of this neighborhood has greatly opened my eyes to the plight of the marginalized South Africans. As much as we cannot totally blame the woes of the people on the past history of apartheid, yet it contributes a great deal to the mindset and perception of the people in general.
The concept of social justice needs to be addressed from the point of building capacity for self-respect and civil lifestyle. A great deal of work needs to be performed within the social psyche when one thinks of the wrong belief system that has been formed over the years of limitation and victimization. We need to rebuild the social psyche of this great nation for the right transformation and restoration to take effect from the government level to the most impoverished community. The level we invest in dealing with crime from the grassroots’ is the degree we prosper and develop as a nation.
GETTING THE CHURCH AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED
Its time government collaborates with true responsible and accountable church leaders and other stakeholders within the community in dealing with the issue of crime and other domestic violations. As a leader within the Body of Christ I sometimes believe that many of us have lost touch with the reality of our assignment and commission. When there is a minor emphasis on the major issues destroying the humanity of our society from the custodian of lasting value, then something is definitely wrong with the message we’re preaching. I still believe that the church carries major power to influence transformation from the marginalized community to the corridor of government institutions.
We need to demystify the issue of crime as some form of challenge that can’t be stopped. Crime is committed by criminals who live or reside within our communities. When people come together to fight any form of problem they seldom lose because of the power of unity. Communities need to unite in fighting this ungodliness that is depriving the development and transformation of the neighborhood. The church is a very good tool in fighting crime and all other social violation if ministers of the gospel change the emphasis of their messages from materialism based, to social issues that’s damaging the lives of people.
The core ministry of the Church and its leadership is to bring accurate reformation to ungodly social value systems that have become toxic to many lives and homes. It’s my belief that when leaders start to position themselves in the place of becoming true mentors to their communities by investing time to build and develop accurate moral value standard, people will generally respond to such change in time. Balance must be brought to the over ambitious mentality of our youth.
Training centers needs to be all across the community and schools to solely address this dysfunctional mentality. When leaders corporately engage the forces behind crime from the homes and families, I know that we will surely have victory because the most negative person bows to the power of consistent love and care. It takes time to make the required impact while we have the opportunity. Crime can be overcome if we believe!
