Most people can find things wrong with humanity, with societal norms, and with the morals that are meant to establish peace and harmony. In an unjust society, there can be no peace. The Latin phrase “Esne Complicatus?” is translated as “Are you complicit?” This is the question that every person should ask themselves. It is not the chaos, the bad behavior, or the untruthful presentation of facts by others that should be our first concern. As a believer in God and a follower of Christ Jesus, the question we must first ask is: How are we involved? It is a reasonable question because God’s Word gives us guidance in this area.
One place we can find this guidance is in the form of a story called “The Sin of Eli’s Sons” (1 Samuel 2-4). Eli was a high priest in Israel, and his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, also served as priests.
(1 Samuel 2:29)1NIV New International Version Translations – “Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?”
Hophni and Phinehas were accused of taking advantage of their position as priests by demanding more than their rightful share of the sacrifices brought by the people. They would take portions of the meat offered for sacrifices before it was properly consecrated, violating the prescribed procedures for the handling of sacred offerings. The writings in 1 Samuel also imply that Hophni and Phinehas engaged in sexual misconduct with the women who served at the entrance of the Tabernacle tent. Their behavior was not only a violation of the moral code but also a desecration of the sacred space. Eli’s sons were not showing proper respect for the offerings made to the Lord. They treated the sacrifices and the Lord’s house with contempt, further demonstrating their lack of reverence. However, Eli’s sons are not the lesson in this story. Sinful people have always existed. They exist today, and God punishes them in His time and choosing. Our lesson applies to Eli, their father.
Eli knew about their wrongdoing but failed to restrain them. As a result, both Eli and his sons faced severe consequences. Eli said, “Tu es complicis.” Eli was complicit. Because of their immoral actions and disobedience, a prophecy was given by a man of God against Eli’s house. The prophecy foretold that the priesthood would be taken away from Eli’s descendants. His sons, Hophni and Phinehas, would both die on the same day (1 Samuel 2:27–36). This prophecy eventually came true in the later chapters of 1 Samuel. The Ark of the Covenant, housed in the Tabernacle tent, would also be captured by the Philistines as further punishment.
Our belief in God and Christ Jesus does not make us less susceptible to believing everything we are told to believe. History tells us that believers typically desire to be obedient to authority. While this helps create order in society, we can find ourselves complicit with others in doing what is wrong in God’s eyes. This desire to be obedient can be nothing more than misguided loyalty if we are obedient to what is sinful! We only need to remember the holocaust of World War II or the annihilation of 12 million indigenous people in America’s history to understand how slippery the slope can be into sin. As Christians, we are expected to know better. Even our New Testament gives us examples of “Tu es complicis.“
(Matthew 26:14-16, 47-50) – “Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?’ So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: ‘The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.’ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed him.’ Jesus replied, ‘Do what you came for, friend.’ Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.”
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples, betrayed him to the religious authorities for thirty pieces of silver. Judas’ actions were a form of complicity in the plot against Jesus. This betrayal led to Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion.
(Matthew 27:15-26) – “Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time, they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, ‘Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him. While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: ‘Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.’ But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. ‘Which of the two do you want me to release to you?’ asked the governor. ‘Barabbas,’ they answered. ‘What shall I do, then, with Jesus, who is called the Messiah?’ Pilate asked. They all answered, ’Crucify him!’ ‘Why? What crime has he committed?’ asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, ‘Crucify him!’ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said. ‘It is your responsibility!’ All the people answered, ‘His blood is on us and our children!’ Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified.’”
In the trial of Jesus, Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, knew that Jesus was innocent but succumbed to pressure from the crowd and handed him over to be crucified. Pilate’s complicity in the unjust execution of Jesus is documented in the Gospels. While history is devoid of facts about the consequences of Pontius Pilate’s complicity, his quick omission from history suggests that the consequences were harsh.
Our modern legal systems take their direction from biblical laws and recognize the concept of complicity in crimes. People who aid, or abet, in a criminal act may be held criminally liable, along with those who participate in a crime. The legal treatment of complicity typically includes principles such as:
Designating the person who directly commits a crime as the principal offender. Accomplices are individuals who assist, encourage, or participate in the commission of a crime but do not specifically commit the criminal act. In these latter roles, we have the complicity of:
- Aiding and abetting: Assisting or encouraging the commission of a crime.
- Accessory Before the Fact: Helping or encouragement before the crime occurs.
- Accessory After the Fact: Assisting or harboring a criminal after the crime has been committed.
Accomplices (complicity) may be held criminally liable to the same extent as the principal offender, especially in the eyes of God. And how can we be complicit? By running interference, deflecting criticism, and/or recruiting victims. There is also complacency when we are unwilling to report or take action to stop what we know is wrong. For example, complacency is prevalent in human trafficking, drug addiction, and antisemitism. If we allow unethical or harmful actions, there will be a general erosion of what is good about a society. Expect to see a steady but slow decline in moral principles. Expect to see social inequalities reinforced because of discrimination. When individuals or groups benefit from or remain passive in the face of discriminatory practices, people become desensitized to unethical actions. It does not take long until they fail to condemn them, accepting them as the norm. Complicity erodes trust within a society. When individuals feel that others are complicit in wrongdoing, then trust in institutions, organizations, and even interpersonal relationships is diminished.
Addressing complicity requires a culture of accountability, ethical responsibility, and justice. But on whose terms? Encouraging open dialogue, promoting empathy, and empowering individuals to challenge unethical practices are crucial steps toward mitigating the societal issues associated with complicity. Our baseline, however, cannot be the ever-changing sands of society itself. Only God’s Truth can prevail because only our God is destined to prevail. God’s Truth does not change. (See Lostpine’s Study: Amos the Prophet for Adults)
We conclude this study with a few more Bible Verses on Complicity: (Proverbs 29:24; Romans 1:32; Ephesians 5:11)
Contemplations
- What do you think are the most pressing issues in our society today where complicity may be a problem?
- Ideas to Explore: Corruption and Unethical Behavior, Government (politicians and/or the bureaucracy), antisemitism, global War, education, environment, etc. Please add your own.
- Should people be held accountable for their actions when they support movements like open borders, sanctuary cities, defunding law enforcement, legalizing drugs, antisemitism, etc.?
- Ideas to Explore: What should we do to understand the cause and effect of our actions and decisions? If we support social justice, such as no cash bail, and a criminal continues to commit crimes, are we just as guilty if a repeat offender harms someone?
- Jesus on the Cross removed all past, present, and future sins; does that mean complicity is no longer a concern?
- Ideas to Explore: Where does repentance fit in? Where does forgiveness fit in? How would you define repentance?
- Should parents be held accountable for their children’s actions because of “complicity?”
- Ideas to Explore: What did Eli do to draw God’s ire?
- 1NIV New International Version Translations