The Thin Differentiating Line

I watched a movie entitled "Wolfman" last week. It was about this guy named Lawrence Talbot who, in the movie, was at a gypsy camp, investigating the murder of his brother. It was that night that he was bitten by the werewolf. The gypsies tried to treat his wound. One of the onlooking gypsy told the gypsy treating him named Maleva that he is cursed and bears the mark of the beast and urges Maleva to kill Lawrence. Maleva questions "shall I kill a man and sin?" (Not exact words). The gypsy replied that he is no longer a man but a beast. Maleva then asks "when does one end and the other begin?" In another sense, when does his humanity end and his beast begins? I sort of understand where she is coming from. If Maleva had killed Lawrence, it cannot be denied that Lawrence was still a human being. Only during the full moon does he transform to a werewolf but after that, goes back to being human. By killing him, is she killing a human or killing a beast?

In a sense, this applies to many areas of life. I observed that there are many matters of life that either cannot be clearly differentiated between right and wrong, or only a thin line separates the two. For instance, for someone who is a vegetable, is pulling the plug something right, relieving the person of suffering, or is it wrong? This is an example of something that is so hard to place the differentiating line. Another example that shows only a fine line is the line between 'like' and 'lust'. Often, it is only a very fine line. Sometimes, unknowingly, liking may turn into lust. It is not like a great explosion will happen but it is very subtle.

I guess that is why Peter writes in 1 Peter 5:8 to be "Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour."

I, too, struggle from keeping in the line and not crossing lines. There are many, many things that only have a thin differentiating line. I think everyone suffers the struggle of trying not to cross the line. Even Paul himself was struggling as what we know through one of his letters. Truly, as Peter said, God has to strengthen us. Not by might and my own ability but I recognize that I need God to save and aid me, strengthening me.

Posted in: philosophy