Unprovoked Murder

Lester Sumrall reveals why humans murder one another in Unprovoked Murder

Book Reviewer: David Oletu

Book title: Unprovoked Murder

Author: Dr. Lester Sumrall

ISBN: 0-89274-202-X

Page Count: 200

Publisher: Harrison House, Inc.

Year: 1981

Reviewer: David Oletu

Unprovoked Murder

According to Sumrall, unprovoked murder is a heinous crime in which a person kills another for no apparent reason. How appalling!

Sumrall uncovers that this brutal act of destruction involves the innocent lives of women, children, and the elderly. For centuries upon centuries, it has been on the rise, existing everywhere and within us.

The urgent need to keep passing on morality and good values from one generation to the next “screams” in this book. This book proves itself timely because we cannot continue to watch helplessly while people destroy one another.

The book 13 chapters provide a thorough and insightful analysis of the challenging subject of why people murder one another.

The author laments the high and persistent prevalence of unprovoked murder in America in Chapter 1. Although he agrees that the issue exists in many nations, he cites America as a case study. He presents data indicating that over 20,000 individuals are killed in America each year.

He goes on to say that half of all murder victims are shot to death and that men and women who have been turned away from American prison rehabilitation programs typically carry out many of these killings.

According to Sumrall, despite numerous efforts to rehabilitate criminals, upon their release, they frequently resort back to crime and, frequently, lead even worse lives.

The nation trembles under the burden of this menace. Sumrall says that we have a problem and a ton of unanswered questions. In the book’s remaining chapters, he tackles a few of those issues.

In Chapter 2, Sumrall examines 10 real murder cases in America to show the absurdism behind many crime cases that exist in our world today. He shares the cases of John Wayne Gacy, who murdered 33 young men and boys; Peter Sutcliffe, who murdered 13 women; and more disturbing cases.

According to Sumrall, they have no reason to kill, except that something within them gives them a strange compulsion to hurt and destroy others. Sumrall’s account of the 10 cases further reveals that some are demon-possessed, some are under the influence of drugs and heavy drinking, some can’t control their anger, some are possessed with a spirit of hate and revenge that is beyond human imagination, etc.

The funny part is that many of those criminals have nothing to lose and are ready to face whatever judgment is given to them, even if it’s the death penalty. They have zero feelings of remorse.

Isn’t that alarming?

In Chapter 3, Sumrall answers the question, ‘Why do humans murder humans?’

In response to the question posed, he first referenced the biblical story of Cain, who killed his brother Abel. He also acknowledges that murder is not a recent issue—rather, it has existed for a very long time—but warns that it is an issue that is rapidly expanding and needs to be addressed.

Sumrall goes on to point out the various things that motivate humans to murder humans and, more significantly, identifies that the problem begins at home. He shows us how and gives strong admonitions in this chapter.

In Chapter 4, Sumrall answers the question, ‘Is unprovoked murder insanity?’

He tells us how some sane criminals are labelled as ‘insane’ when they commit a cruel act and are released, only to be taken into custody again after repeating that same crime. This lingering issue brought about the question of whether unprovoked murder is insanity and if it is honest to term a person insane to relieve him of the responsibility of killing a fellow human being when, in fact, that person can carry on all the normal natural functions of society.

Sumrall gives logical answers to the questions by stating that unprovoked murder is not a product of insanity but can be a result of three elements: anger, jealousy, and demonic activity. In this chapter, he demonstrates how.

In Chapter 5, Sumrall answers the question of whether a human can be possessed by a satanic entity or not.

He acknowledges that understanding the way a human is designed is a prerequisite for providing a meaningful response to the question. He teaches us that a person is made up of three parts: a spirit, a soul, and a body.

He does, however, direct more of our attention toward the soul and goes on to say that there are three components to the soul: the will, the emotions, and the mind. These components will either be the cardinal strengths or the weaknesses of our entire being. According to Sumrall, the devil will seize control of the three components of the human soul if they are not surrendered to God. In this chapter, he provides a detailed explanation with relevant points.

Often, whenever we commit a crime, we blame the devil, claiming that the devil made us do it. Could such a claim be true or false? Do we keep blaming the devil for our irrational behaviours? Sumrall addresses this issue in Chapter 6. He states that even if some criminals may be demon-possessed, demon possession does not fully take over a person’s decision-making process and that every human being possesses a free moral agency and a free will capability that neither the devil nor God will dominate.

Sumrall reminds us that we are responsible for every one of our actions. He further admonishes that we should no longer allow ourselves and those around us to blame our actions on the devil. Simply put, there is no excuse or moral justification for our gruesome acts.

Additionally, Sumrall identifies the three probable factors that cause unprovoked murder in chapters 7, 8 and 9. Chapter 7 delves into hostility, chapter 8 explores cultism and Chapter 9 deals with sex.

In Chapter 7, Sumrall discusses hostility and references 1st John 3:15, which states, “You know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”

He uses the above scriptural verse to explain that people who abhor hate in their hearts have no place in heaven. He points out that hatred is an evil thing that will eventually lead to demon possession. He claims that hate can surpass human reasoning and ultimately cause a person to kill, and he cautions that if a child does not learn to control his temper and patterns of negative thinking, he will, with time, learn to hate and even murder.

Conclusively on Hostility, Sumrall shares 4 things that he tags as ‘Ingredients’ that are lacking in a person who hates and goes on to advocate that Hostility must be stopped.

Furthermore, Sumrall references 1st Timothy 4:1, which states that “the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of the devils,” when discussing cultism in Chapter 8 as a major factor that leads to unprovoked murder.

Sumrall shows how real the above scriptural verse is in our world today: how people have truly departed from the faith and have taken something else in its place, which Sumrall describes as cultism and spiritism. He reveals that the devil desires and demands human blood, and he (the devil) uses humans as his instrument to kill and destroy. Sumrall clarifies that when a person becomes a destroyer of humanity, he is obeying the dictates of the devil.

As a way out, Sumrall states that the church has the responsibility of tackling the menace surrounding occultism.

In Chapter 9, Sumrall looks at sex as another prominent factor that causes unprovoked murder, similar to how he does with hostility and occultism.

He reveals that sex maniacs find sexual gratification by inflicting pain upon other human beings. They hit each other with chains, ropes, and other instruments of torture while engaged in sex.

Sumrall claims that the devil is the originator of the abnormality that is practiced in sexual activities. He characterizes these kinds of aberrant sexual behaviours as being initiated by the devil, who is seeking to destroy the positive intent behind the divinely bestowed human sex drive.

Sumrall asserts that since the sexual desire in humans is so strong, Satan can easily pervert it into a tool of destruction. Sumrall conclusively suggests the things we can do to, in turn, destroy Satan’s destructive agenda towards sex.

In Chapter 10, Sumrall discusses how prophecy is linked to the reason why we have many cases of unprovoked murder today.

Sumrall disagrees with the widely held perspective that states that when ignorance and poverty are taken care of, there will be no more crime. He posits that though a man is tremendously accelerated in his mental knowledge, he is not always made better morally. Sumrall further uncovers that the many rising cases of unprovoked murder in the world today are a part of man’s destiny, as revealed in the biblical prophecy that states that in the last days, preceding the great tribulation and at the same time of the rapture of the saints, murder will be at a greater degree of prevalence than it has ever been in the history of the world.

Sumrall takes our minds back to many scriptural verses that prophesied the doom we see in our world today and also admonishes us that rather than allowing those prophecies to put fear in our hearts, they should stir our hearts to get right with God (Isaiah 55:6).

In Chapter 11, Sumrall answers the question, “Is capital punishment murder?”

Sumrall reminds us in this chapter that there is a price to pay when one person takes the life of another person. He explains that capital punishment was established by God to protect the innocent and to maintain a correct society. Using relevant biblical texts, Sumrall goes on to prove how capital punishment has been divinely established by God and states that when it is not enforced by the civil government, all innocent individuals in society will live in fear and threat.

Although, in the preceding chapters, Sumrall said that there is a price to pay for every crime we commit, in chapter 12, he assures that there is hope for a person who is criminally possessed or once commits murder. He clarifies that God will save anyone who will turn to Him, no matter how deep into sin they may have gone. Sumrall gives further assurance that murder is not a sin that is beyond salvation and that there is no person beyond God’s redemptive hand. How then can one receive God’s redemptive hand? You will learn more in this chapter.

Finally, in Chapter 13, Sumrall shares his real-life encounter with demon-possessed people and how he delivered them in the name of Jesus.

He shares his encounter with Cornelio, who has an unusual habit of disappearing into thin air. He talks about two more encounters he had: one with the witch doctor who practices witchcraft, and another with Clarita Villanueva, who was bitten by a demon.

He shares the stories with us to show that some problems we face are not scientific but spiritual and can only be cured through the power of God in the name of Jesus Christ.

I will drop my pen here, leaving you with a brief charge on the subject of Love, which I held strongly to while reading this book.

If you love God and your fellow humans, you will know God’s love in its fullness. Love does not destroy; it does not kill. Love has a deep respect for itself and others.

Do unto yourself, what you would love others to do to you.

Love knows that human life is very precious. God has placed so much value on human life, and we must learn to do the same by avoiding harming one another, as Sumrall’s Unprovoked Murder aptly teaches.