Crime Stopper

 When a sentence against a crime isn’t carried out quickly, people are encouraged to commit crimes. – Ecclesiastes 8:11

The topic of the rising crime rate is on the news every evening. But politicians and judges continue to struggle on how to reduce crime. While I know the problem of crime has multitudes of causes; I personally believe people are no longer afraid of the judicial system. Judges and courts have been negligent to sentence repeat offenders for serious crimes. Shawn Laval Smith who had a history of mental illness and a lengthy criminal record that stretched from coast to coast, was charged with the fatal stabbing of a 24-year-old woman working in a LA furniture store. If convicted, it will be interesting to see his sentence.

People no longer respect (or fear) authority. Romans 13:1 Children are disruptive in school because authority has been removed. People no longer respect police because police have their hands tied in restraining crime. Criminals no longer fear our courts.

Of 339 inmates, roughly 10 percent of the death-row population, were under sentence of death for twenty years or more at the end of 2005 (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2005).

On October 3, 2018, seven law enforcement officers were shot, and five civilians were injured in Florence, South Carolina. Two of the officers were killed. Fredrick Hopkins was arrested and after three years is still awaiting trial. Who knows how long the trial will take? Then we will wait for the sentencing. And then we will wait years while he exhausts his appeals.

The Sixth Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees a defendant a speedy trail but what about a speedy trial for the victim's family?

THE FEAR OF GOD

If an alien from another planet (hypothetically speaking) were to visit our planet and returned to their home planet; how would they describe earth? What would capture their attention? I believe in one word they would say ANGER! Anger is manifested everywhere - home, school, on the job, toward our government, on our highways, in our stores; everywhere. 

I know anger is as old as man (Genesis 4:8) himself. Though anger has always been with us it seems to be escalating. People are killing each other over the most trivial things. The most obvious question is why. Secular psychologists suggest a variety of reasons.   

• Unstable home environment 

• Being abused 

• Poverty  

• Peer pressure 

• An absent father 

• 
  

The list goes on and on. While I do not discredit those facts, I believe there is one fact that many have not considered. The absence of a fear of God. More people are living as if there is no God, so what happens when the fear of God is missing? The fear of God is not completely understood by those outside of the church, but even some in the church. The fear of God is not a fear of being struck down by God when you sin, or of having the dread of hell hanging over your head, although that is a real fear for non-believers, but rather the fear of God is a deep, holy, reverential respect and awe for God, for God’s Word, and for obeying God’s commands. 

Believers don’t obey God out of fear, but out of love, however, fearing God is living in obedience. When sin increases, it’s because there’s no fear of God in the land, or in the people’s heart, and where there is no fear of God, there is no limit to the evil. If a people do not fear God, then anything goes.      The Apostle Paul described today in Romans 3:14-18 Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” Their feet are swift to shed blood; in paths are ruin and misery and  the way of peace they have not known. 

As a Christ-follower, I firmly believe that God's Word was given to us to show us how we should live. When we disregard and disobey there is consequences. The wisest man who ever lived, Solomon, said this. When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people's hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.  Ecclesiastes 8:11 People have spent most of their lives on death row awaiting execution. The result? No deterrence to evil.  

Now all has been heard;

    here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments,

    for this is the duty of all mankind.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Police: Friend or Foe

To be honest, I cannot get my mind around the senseless killing of our law enforcement officers. I do understand that those who committed these crimes have a totally different world view than most of the world. They have been taught from childhood to hate and distrust anything that even hints of authority.

Most people do not realize that God instituted authority for our good and those who have authority are God's "agents." Listen to Romans 13:1-5 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities,for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

Violence is not the solution to our country's problem. Protesting an injustice is not wrong but burning, looting, and killing is not justified. Human anger, you see, doesn’t produce God’s justice! James 1:20 NTE

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord... Romans 12:17-19

I realized that there are a FEW people who will misuse their authority but we cannot paint ALL police officers with the same wide brush. We need to respect those in authority and pray for them daily.