So rioters took to the street and went on a rampage after the verdict in Ferguson last night. Shots being fired, looting, burning down buildings and destroying a police car were the order of the tumultuous night.
I’ve had more than a little experience with the judicial system and can tell you first hand that getting a grand jury indictment is about as easy as a beautiful woman in an itsy bitsy yellow polka dot bikini to get every male on a crowded beach to look her way. If an indictment is not rendered the evidence has to be overwhelming that the person did not commit a crime; otherwise they will indict in a New York minute.
As an FYI in a grand jury hearing the defendant cannot even have his or her attorney present, nor can they produce a single shred of evidence to refute what amounts to a one-sided view of the evidence presented in the case by the prosecutor.
I have no doubt that the grand jury members were fully aware of what the implications of rendering their decision not to prosecute the police officer would have on their small community, but nonetheless they had the courage to follow the law. I applaud them for not bending to the pressure of knowing that if the crowd did not get the verdict for which they were looking that violence would erupt.
Following the rule of law is often difficult but is the right thing to do. Lawlessness reduces us to the law of the jungle whereby only those who are strongest, (and have the most firepower) survive.
The tragedy in this case is that the young man who died had so little regard for the law. The entire nation watched the video of him stealing cigars at a convenience store and then bullying the storeowner just prior to encountering the police officer.
Imagine where he might be right now had he been active in following Jesus Christ and doing the work of the Lord and attending church every Sunday.
There was a time when I had utter contempt, hatred, and disdain for all authority. Candidly I’ve robbed stores, fought with police officers, cursed them, kicked them, and spit upon them. And I have the scars and broken ribs to commemorate their reaction when they took me to jail and beat the crap out of me. Had they felt their lives were in danger they would have shot me dead in the street. And they would have been well advised to do so, because I would have shot them.
So why was I always on the wrong side of the law? I blamed God, I blamed my father for physically and mentally abusing me; I blamed my mother for not loving me, and my brother for being loved. I blamed attending 19 different schools as a youngster and never having a stable home. I blamed teachers, preachers, you name it. In the end I came to the realization that the blame needed to be laid directly on ME and my wicked, wicked, ways and rebellious attitude towards the laws of almighty God and society. I was a lawless sinner and my situation was of my own making.
There are consequences for sin and but for the grace of God I would have been shot dead in the street. No one would have rioted, looted, or burned down a city because I happened to be white. They would have said that another sinner paid the heavy price for leading the life of a thug and buried me in a pauper’s grave in a wooden pine box.
One big problem in this country is that no one wants to hold anyone accountable for their actions. They blame it on everything but the perpetrator. We need to teach our children that there are consequences for sin. When we break the law we will be held accountable by society and almighty God.
Matt. 12:36
But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.
November 25, 2014 – Click here to listen