The saying “horro vacui” (Latin) has been attributed to Aristotle, the Greek philosopher of the 4th century BC. Roughly translated “horror vacui” means “fear of a vacuum”. However, Aristotle recast the meaning, thus: “Nature abhors a vacuum”, by which he meant that basically any empty space will soon be filled by something. In the natural world empty spaces are not tolerated – nature will always seek to fill a void, or unattended place, or space with something. Over the centuries the saying developed to describe various other “empty spaces” or “vacuums” that would, inevitably, be filled by something, or someone. Which was Aristotle’s warning. Any void, left vacant, or unattended, for too long, will be filled.
In physics, this concept relates to the idea that when a pressure difference exists, surrounding material will rush in to fill the void, (which is how a vacuum cleaner works). This saying is rarely heard these days, but there is no shortage of applications.
In the absence of strong moral leadership and laws, the vacuum thereby created will be filled with rebellion, immorality, lawlessness and, eventually, anarchy. When any government fails to act decisively and righteously in matters of moral, social and public importance thereby appearing to ignore or tolerate unacceptable behaviour, this creates a vacuum of indifference that wants to be filled with something else. I am convinced that this is precisely what has driven the rise in anti-Semitism in just 15 months in this country. As I have said before, calling out unacceptable behaviour, such as anti-Semitism, racism and hate speech, is a far, far cry from uncompromisingly stamping it out. Words are not enough to counter the creation of social-cultural vacuums – the indifference continues to grow.
A vacuum began to form at both state and federal levels on the anti-Semitism issue within days of the unprovoked, murderous attack on Israel in October, 2023. Its genesis was on the steps of the Sydney Opera House. It was met with government indifference at best, reluctance to act at worst. Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators screamed all kinds of anti-Jewish hatred - without a single arrest. This vacuum has continued to suck into itself an increasing intensity of evil. Blatant anti-Semitism is embedded.
This week, at the 80th commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland, the president of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald Lauder, said that what happened in Israel on October 7, 2023, and at Auschwitz had a common thread. The age-old hatred of Jews. He particularly compared the historic parallels of what happened in 1939 to what is beginning to occur in our present time. He said, “the extermination of the Jews in World War II was a step-by-step process aided by those who hated Jews, but advanced by the indifference of people who thought they were not affected by anti-Semitism because they were not Jewish.’’ Mr Lauder declared: “a wall of silence led to Auschwitz”. In other words, a vacuum of indifference. And it slowly filled until it controlled government policy and culture permitting unspeakable horrors.
Nature abhors a vacuum.
In the same vein, evil loves a vacuum, too.
The greatest challenge for Christians in their discipleship walk is indifference. It is indifference that creates the vacuum. To continue to be filled with the nature of Christ that invades those places in us that would otherwise leave a vacuum that would invite evil, requires us to be vigilant and proactive – never indifferent. Never! The apostle Paul powerfully illustrates this when he laments the lack of progress of the Galatian church who had strayed into the falsehood promulgated by Judaisers. Having started their Christian journey as “born agains” learning to walk in the spirit (small “s”) false teachers had derailed them. The apostle was not happy.
Galatians 4:19-20 (NLT)
“Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labour pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives. 20 I wish I were with you right now so I could change my tone. ...”
Note that comment – “fully developed in your lives”. It’s important. I see that phrase and imagine to myself that if the nature and life of Christ is to be fully developed, or fully formed, in me, there must be no vacuum, or indifference, remaining that wants to suck into itself any evil – or, less and less so. Yes, I know, none of us have the nature and life of Christ fully formed in us just yet. But this is our goal. This is why we persevere in our faith walk dealing with the lusts of the flesh. The flesh life, the soul life, is like a vacuum that if left unaddressed, or unattended, will yield to sinful desires. It is inevitable – and this is precisely why we have been born again. The regenerated spirit of the born-again person becomes the active dwelling place of God’s Spirit with the clear intention that the increase of the Christ nature is meant to now fill us and invade those places in us previously governed by sin and corruption. Until Christ is fully formed in us. But for this to happen, the sins of the soul and flesh must be crucified – they cannot be rehabilitated. This means no indifference on our part. No vacuums. The crucified flesh creates expansion space, so to speak, for the nature of Christ to expand into, and fill. And so we come back to the point. Nature abhors a vacuum. The sinful nature is just like that and it demands to be filled with what it wants. Sin loves a vacuum. Evil relies on indifference.
Vacuums, as Aristotle saw them, are unattended, vacant places that will inevitably be filled with something. From the informed Christian perspective, the born-again person gets to choose what resides in those places – and this requires disciplined proactivity that ruthlessly confronts indifference. It doesn’t happen by itself. The devil is incredibly proactive at seeking to fill places within in us that are empty and unattended. Jesus made this point.
Matthew 12:43-45 (NIV)
"When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."
There is it is. Unoccupied places in us, or unattended spaces – vacuums of indifference. The apostle Paul teaches the remedy, and it requires our proactive focus.
Ephesians 5:17-18 (NIV)
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, …”
Paul hints here, too, that sometimes we are vaguely aware of vacuums within us and that we, often unconsciously, seek to fill them. He advises awareness of this and to be proactive in being filled in all those spaces by the power and presence of Holy Spirit.
Sin loves a vacuum.
Think on these things.
Ps Milton
[Sources: Wikipedia; Quora; Latin Language Stock Exchange; The Australian, (newspaper) Jan. 28th, 2025]