STOCKHOLM SYNDROME AND KIDNAPPING

A Stockholm Syndrome refers to victims becoming bonded to and even feeling compassion for and loyalty to their captors. The term came from a 1973 bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden, in which two thieves held four bank employees hostage at gunpoint for six days inside a bank vault.

   The amazing thing was, when the drama ended and the victims released "they hugged and kissed their captors, declaring their loyalty even as the kidnappers were carted off to jail" (A Brief History of Stockholm Syndrome, Time, Aug.2009) 

   Strange but is it unusual? In broader sense No. This kind of attitude happen to almost everyone, at least once in their lifetime, or even for the rest of their lives.  The feeling of affection to someone controlling us in spite of the bad intent (even under pressure or being afflicted with pain) are common in us. 

   The victim looking at the person as the one holding our survival and life itself. Thus, the victim align himself or herself with the captor out of personal survival. We had heard stories of wives being beaten by their husband or verbally abused but we rarely saw cases of a battered wife wanting the relationship to end. Most of us at certain point had succumbed to this disorder without questioning why. Some people would even stand to defend their kidnappers. 

   The Bible tell us that, Our whole world has been held captive for several thousand of years in the hands of the evil one. In 1 John 5:19 (NIV) this is how it was written "We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one."

THE WHOLE WORLD UNDER THE EVIL ONE

   The kidnappers are fallen angels (Lead by Satan) and the hostages are the human being trap in the world. We have to realized this important fact to understand the message of Jesus death. The blood of Jesus become ransom for our freedom. Matthew 20:28 " just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

   When  you say ransom there is a kidnapper asking for it. So in what way the whole world is being kidnapped? In thoughts, philosophy, ideology, worldliness and even in faith.

So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. -- Galatians 4:3

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.-- Colossian 2:8

   Satan Had corrupted the worldview and had made the thinking of most men in sync with his. We know he is a liar and deciever that is why Paul wrote of the need for people to learn God's truth so "they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will" (2 Tim. 2:26). Contrary to what Jesus said in Matthew 6:10 "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" what Paul reminding us here is the former attitude we had doing the will of the devil.

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak -- 1 Cor. 8:9

Further on WORLDVIEW

   Our life experiences with our Parents, Siblings, educations, media, jobs, spouses are among the tools that helped carved our "accumulated" worldviews. People don't usually questioned their personal views and when these views are challenged, they are even willing to hurt others to defend it. As we see on the global politics where Regional conflict arises because of differences in views. To challenge one's core value is like threatening one's life.

   Believe it or not, as the Bible clearly reveals that the predominat world view and even faith supposedly for The Eternal God is under the dictum of Satan.

Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. -- John 12:31

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. -- Ephesians 2:3

   If God then is the ruler of the world there wouldn't be rampant crimes, corruptions, poverty, and inequality. It is very clear that the whole world is under "Stockholm Syndrome" influenced by the deceiver a.k.a. Satan. This fallen angel since its first human victim Adam and Eve, still enjoys the affection of  the poor victim's offspring.

   The unseen kidnapper had darkened the hearts of mankind:

For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. -- Matthew 13:15

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