Stockholm Syndrome

"Stockholm Syndrome." I've heard this term twice recently. Once as the title of Derek Webb's newest album, and also on the show NCIS.

It is defined as follows: Stockholm syndrome is a psychological response sometimes seen in an abducted hostage, in which the hostage shows signs of loyalty to the hostage-taker, regardless of the danger (or at least risk) in which they have been placed. The syndrome is named after the Norrmalmstorg robbery of Kreditbanken at Norrmalmstorg, Stockholm, Sweden, in which the bank robbers held bank employees hostage from August 23 to August 28 in 1973. In this case, the victims became emotionally attached to their victimizers, and even defended their captors after they were freed from their six-day ordeal. The term Stockholm Syndrome was coined by the criminologist and psychiatrist Nils Bejerot, who assisted the police during the robbery, and referred to the syndrome in a news broadcast

In one of the first episode's of NCIS season two, there is a victim who has developed Stockholm Syndrome. The victim was a female naval officer, kidnapped, and chained to a wall, dressed in a Wedding dress. She has no contact with the outside world at all. The only thing she can do is walk around her small room, which has been made to look like a room from the 50's. Her captor has also planted a pamphlet from the 50's called "The Good Wives Club." This is all she knows. Her world, which was once filled with opportunity and adventure, excitement, the light of day, has been drastically reduced to a single room. Although she isn't in a cell, her dwelling has literally become a prison.

At the end of the episode, Tony (NCIS special agent) finds this poor young woman, tells her that they found her captor, and that she would soon be free. Her rescue is imminent! However, as Tony turned his back to her to make a phone call, she picked up a lamp, and hit him over the head with it, causing him to fall on the floor. She then pulled out a gun, pointed it at Tony, and through confused tears exclaimed, "We were going to get married!"

Stockholm Syndrome.

As I watched the scene, I couldn't help but think of our lives in this world. When we continue in a life of sin, we have become victims of Stockholm Syndrome. So much of the time, we are tricked by Satan to believing a lie, to live our lives in sin, greed, immorality. We end up living in and participating in a life that is inhumane. It has become our reality and somehow we are okay with it. We don't realize we are chained to a wall in an underground dungeon, waiting around to marry a creep.

My hope and prayer is that we would realize the freedom that Jesus brings. As people once captives, may we realize our freedom in Christ. He has come into our prison, and broken that chain from our wrist. We don't have to be captives anymore, yet so much of the time we go back to what is familiar; some place where we feel like we know someone (even if that someone is a sick abductor like satan that is abusing us.) Don't go back to an old life and let Stockholm Syndrome define you. Fight against the devil and his schemes so he will flee from you. Listen to Jesus, and live the life to which he has called you. He has your best in mind, even when it looks like the ways of the enemy are more attractive. Trust Him, and resist the Stockholm Syndrome!