SCRIPTURE: “Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead, expose them (Ephesians 5:11 (HCSB)
QUOTE: “Violence against judges and threats of violence against judges is on the rise and it is no laughing matter. When leaders attempt to rationalize this violence, it only makes the problem worse.” —-John Conyers
NOTE:
We must avoid our human tendency to turn criminals into victims. Some people in Paul’s day thought that God’s law brought judgment. However, Paul pointed out that the problem is not the law itself, but sin. The law merely specifies what is right and what is wrong, but sin in peoples’ hearts leads them to do what is wrong (Romans 7:7-8). Similarly, criminals do not like government laws, but people who do good do not need to fear these laws or those who enforce them. Thus Paul wrote, so then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority?
Do what is good, and you will have its approval. (Romans 13:2-3). Today, if someone who has clearly committed a crime is caught and punished, we must resist the temptation to blame the government, the police, or God. We must not defend criminals by portraying them as victims. When we are falsely accused or abused, we should pray for justice, but our goal should always be to uphold God’s righteousness. Through various political systems in the world, God has given government leaders the responsibility to enforce justice (Romans 13:4).
ILLUSTRATION:
Thousands in Israel blamed Moses and Aaron for God’s judgment on those men and their families who conspired against the Lord Himself (Numbers 16: 1-50). Since Korah, Dathan, and Abiram had clearly violated the law of God and deserved the judgment they received, the people in essence were angry at Moses and Aaron for enforcing the law, and they were sympathizing with the criminals by making them victims rather than perpetrators.
REFLECTION:
What are some specific attitudes and actions in our own culture that illustrate more concern for the perpetrators of evil than for the victims?
TWO YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1Chr 29, Psalm 51