Rape and the Biblical Solution

The recent gruesome gang-rape and murder of 17-year-old Anene Booysen sent shockwaves through South Africa.

In April 2012, an ugly incident also shocked many: seven boys gang-raped a mentally handicapped girl from Soweto, filmed the attack on a cell phone, then circulated the footage via social media.

From 2010 to 2012, there were four gang rapes of girls by teen boys (that we know of from news reports); and in each of the four cases, the boys filmed the abuse and then spread the video via social media.

In Cape Town, 144 women report rape every day. While the number of reported rape incidents is shocking, under-reporting is an even bigger problem. The Medical Research Council’s (MRC) latest research reveals that only one in 25 women in Gauteng report rape.

According to a news report on www.iol.co.za , extrapolated, up to 3 600 women could be raped in the country every day.

Why do males rape?

Here are some reasons given by gender researcher Lisa Vetten, the Medical Research Council's Professor Rachel Jewkes, Sonke Gender Justice’s spokesman Mbuyiselo Botha and People Against Women Abuse counsellor Tiny Moloko. We have adapted and added to them.

Easily accessible pornography and a lust-saturated media: The legalisation of p*rn and an immoral, lust-saturated media has poured fuel on the fires of an already sexual immoral society. South Africa has become more ‘pornified’ than anyone could have predicted; kids are not only viewing porn, now they’re brazenly imitating its brutality by filming their ‘exploits’ and then spreading their videos on social media. They are imitating not only the same actions seen in p*rn, but also the same abusive, exploitive attitudes towards women. Porn is a manual for rape and child abuse.
Objectification of women in the media: The media regularly portray women as sex objects and as nymphomaniacs (always available for sex). This is especially so in hip hop music.
Entitlement : “There is a sense that men can demand sex whenever they want it.”
Endemic unemployment : Socialist government policies have caused widespread unemployment. Most rapes worldwide are perpetrated by young males aged 17 - 30. The devil finds evil work for idle hands.
Dysfunctional families: If males have experienced trauma or have themselves been abused in childhood, they are likely to hang out with anti-social peers who could encourage them to rape. According to the MRC, one in nine South African men have been involved in gang rape!
It has become socially acceptable: With so many South African males involved in gang rape, this shows it is something approved of by male peers.
Boys growing up in single parents families without healthy male role models: fathers and husbands need to imitate Christ’s example and be protectors, providers and servant leaders.
Warped ideas of masculinity: Without the role model of strong fathers and a lack of Biblical teaching on manhood, many males have come to believe that part of being a man means accepting violence and dishing it out.
Lack of legal deterrents: "I rape because I can. There is a high likelihood, I will not be arrested. If I am arrested, the detective work will be so shoddy and I will go free." Medical Research Council research shows that just 6% of reported rape cases in Gauteng are successfully prosecuted. “ When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.” Eccl 8:11

The Role of Government

The Bible is very clear that God has instituted civil government as "an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." Romans 13:4. The civil government is called to be a minister of God's justice: "to punish those who do wrong" 1 Peter 2: 14.

The primary duties and responsibilities of civil government are the protection of the law-abiding citizens and punishment of law-breaking criminals. Psalm 101 reminds us that the duty of God-honouring rulers is to destroy the wicked, to root out evil and to protect the law-abiding - all to the glory of God.

"For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong, for He is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for He does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." Romans 13:3-4

Capital Punishment

Capital punishment is God's clear command: "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." Genesis 9:6

God instituted Capital Punishment long before the enactment of the Mosaic Law. In fact, Capital punishment was declared not only for Noah's time, but "for all generations to come." Genesis 9:12

"If anyone takes a life of a human being, he must be put to death, whoever kills a man must be put to death. I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 24:17-22

As rape is a brutal and life-threatening act of violence, the death penalty is also mandated for rape: “But if a man finds a betrothed young woman in the countryside, and the man forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die.” Deuteronomy 22:25

If we are serious about dealing with rape, we will campaign to ban p*rnography and execute rapists.

What You Can Do

We need to get back to the Bible, to work for Reformation and pray for Revival in our own lives, families, communities and countries. Ensure you protect your family by blocking p*rn on cell phones and computers. Visit www.cellphonesafety.co.za for info on how to do this and download a free internet web filter from www.k9webprotection.com . Visit www.purehope.net for tips on parenting the Internet generation and for advice on age-appropriate conversations you can have with you children about issues of sexual morality.

Contact your elected representative to encourage effective eradication of all pornography and capital punishment for rapists.

“Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts…” Amos 5:15

Available from Christian Liberty Books: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or www.christianlibertybooks.co.za .

Africa Christian Action
PO Box 23632
Claremont
7735 Cape Town
South Africa
Tel: 021-689 4481
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Web: http://www.christianaction.org.za/
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