…each day I murdered, and I defiled, and yet no divine punishment came.
– Gilles de Rais, Fate/Zero Episode 13
In a series full of interesting characters, I’ve become most intrigued with one of the villains of Fate/Zero, Gilles de Rais. The last episode of the season brought us deeper into his psyche, as he talked about God, punishment, and justice. The show suggests that Gilles became angry with God because for all the evil the once-famous soldier and noble did, God did not stop him.
As I wrote about earlier, the real Gilles de Rais was a notorious fiend who tortured and viciously murdered possibly hundreds of children (or did he?). Though unlike his anime counterpart, the real Gilles was sure he would be saved by a gracious God just moments before his execution (perhaps the anime suggests that he reconsidered his position about God’s grace in an afterlife?).
Nonetheless, Gilles (both the Fate/Zero version and the real one) presents a common scenario to an almost impossible extreme. Gilles’ one-time reliance on God did not match his actions. I would say we all have double selves – we are all hypocrites to some extent, whether it’s only on an occasional basis or frequently. For Christians, we may say all the correct, Christianese terminology, but our lives don’t necessarily reflect the Christian walk.
As we do things contrary to biblical teachings, we feel further and further alienated from God. I’ve seen this time and time again with friends and acquaintances at church, particularly when I attended college; and I see it in my own life, as I make small compromises here and there, making me realize that I’m a hypocrite.
Also from experience, it’s sometime big events that can be turning points in repentance, a word that’s taken a self-righteous connotation, but which simply means to turn back to God. A church retreat can be such an event…so can New Year’s, with it’s emphasis on resolutions. My resolutions this year are simple:
- Spend more time with God, and more quality time.
- Be more patient with my family.
- Focus on being a man of character.
Do you need to weed out hypocrisy in your own life? What are your resolutions, if any, for 2012?
Not having any New Year’s resolution for this year. Last year I had 3 and they were all broken after the 1st half of 2011. 😛
It’s so hard to keep even ONE resolution…
My New Years Resolution is to become a more Responsible Person. I have some more, but that’s the one I’m aiming for.
That’s a good one to make.
Was just watching this episode, skipped to it on Netflix, and then went around looking if you wrote a post on that episode and BAM, you did 🙂 Thanks for your insight Charles, very true. The more time you spend in God’s presence, He will weed out and guide you to where you have fallen short, so we can correct them and be better people. Through His mercy we find forgiveness, grace, and deliverance and peace. Loving this blog every time I read it 🙂
Thank you for the nice words, Michael, and for contributing your own wisdom to this post!
Also, I owe you an email! I’ll get to it as soon as I get a chance.