11.14.2008

The Powerlessness Of The Law (Rom 8.3)

This poster has been popping up all over Manhattan as part of a campaign to "raise awareness" about domestic violence.

It represents the fundamental disconnect between what we ought to do and what we actually do, between our conscience and out conduct, between the Law and our lives.

If only creating goodness was as simple as providing the right "instructions"! Of course, St. Paul knows better, as does every mom who has ever tried to get her kids to eat their vegetables or finish their homework.

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6 Comments:

Blogger R-J Heijmen said...

Look at this kid. His shirt should read, "Love me, love me, love me!"

Jaime (R-J's wife)

November 14, 2008 at 9:09 AM  
Blogger Caroline Henley said...

word.

November 14, 2008 at 3:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How original. Heaven forbid we should actually teach youth to respect women.

November 18, 2008 at 1:02 PM  
Blogger R-J Heijmen said...

Anonymous -

I had anticipated that criticism. I'm sorry if I was insensitive, which was not my intention.

Of course it is my sincere hope that all children would learn to respect all people, regardless of gender, race, religion, etc, as Jesus did.

My critique was just that people don't do good things simply because they're told to and, in fact, "being told to" may be counter-productive, hence children who hate homework and refuse to eat vegetables.

To me, the poster represented a misunderstanding of human nature. The motivation behind the poster is to be commended, as is every hope that people would be better than they are, but St. Paul's insight (as well as Jesus') was that people become better by being loved, not by being instructed.

If children were loved, domestic violence wouldn't be such a big problem.

What do you think?

November 18, 2008 at 2:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

train up your children seems to come into play here..

November 20, 2008 at 10:09 AM  
Blogger Christopher said...

I have to agree with anonymous here.

November 20, 2008 at 12:38 PM  

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