Basket of Figs
Published 2001-10
Bud Powell
Trinity Covenant RCUS, Colorado Springs
The Right Use of Justice
Faces of Real Evil
“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit
such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in
them that do them.”–Romans
1:32
“Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man,
but for the lawless and disobedient” 1 Timothy 1:9
Only
those who have received grace have been set free from the law and its
wrath. Those in bondage to sin are under
the law and its wrath, and it is the duty of the state to put down evil-doers
and provide safety for those who do well
[I Pet. 2:14]. Where grace is,
there is repentance, humility, and love.
Over these the law has no power.
But
where grace is absent, and especially where even the common grace of human
compassion and decency is abandoned, then the state must bring the full rigors
of the law. This is true of both the
criminal within the state and those criminal states without. The punishment, of course, should fit the
crime and we must not strain at gnats and swallow camels. One of America’s finest hours was the victory
over the criminal Axis Powers in World War II.
The powerful states of Germany, Italy, and Japan were under the control
of a truly evil spirit, not just your generic over-the-counter evil.
Every bit as heroic, however, was the victory of the
United States over the equally evil power of communism that had overtaken the
former Soviet Union. These were also
violent men who had suppressed human affection and common decency. Although under terrible peril within and without,
America was victorious.
America now faces another great peril, the peril of
fanatic Islamic fundamentalism. It is
right that America rise again to this challenge. We have much repentance to do in order to
fulfill the mission. Violent men do not
hesitate to target innocent blood, which the Lord will not pardon [II Kings
24:4]. Our hands are not free from
innocent blood, and we must renew our repentance and faith.
Abraham Lincoln was aware of the abhorrence that God
had for the shedding of innocent blood and felt that the horrors of the Civil
War might have very well been because of the injustice of slavery, and stated
it plainly in the Second Inaugural Address:
Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this
mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it
continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty
years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn
with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three
thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord
are true and righteous altogether."
This may very well have been the real strength of
Lincoln’s moral force. He saw that there
was more to human life than wealth, contentment, and ease. Perhaps we will have to go through the fires
until we can confess with Lincoln, “The judgments of the Lord are true and
righteous altogether.”
It may very well be that we face the greatest test in
our history. The Founding Fathers could
not have possibly imagined the destructive force of modern weapons, but their
children have grown up under their shadow.
The forces of despotism and slavery have always hated America, and do so
today. Even many within our midst hate
our heritage and institutions, but that has always been the case, too.
Let
those who know their God press on. The
days that come will not be days for summer soldiers and the sunshine
patriots. But the soul of America will
be purified and strengthened. Our public
debate may once again include great themes of truth and justice and not the
silly things that have recently occupied our minds.
