LAWLESSNESS

"Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers" - 1 Timothy 1:9

Recently, I posed this question at a Bible study class at church:  What would happen if we had no laws in America?  The purpose of the question was to cause everyone to recognize that evil truly resides in the hearts of men.  Often it is said, "I believe that, overall, people are good."  I disagree with this assessment.  The nature of man is evil to the core.  Many reject the doctrine of total depravity these days, but if laws were removed from our nation, we'd quickly learn how evil people are.

This past week has been a difficult week in our nation.  The country's focus has been diverted to a town in Missouri, where a grand jury refused to indict a police officer that killed a man of a different race during an altercation.  The subsequent rioting and destruction has sickened many, including myself. 

Before the grand jury's decision was made public, I only sought for justice.  I don't know enough about the case to pass judgment on the jury's decision.  Despite the strong feelings expressed, including many who are rioting, I feel that most citizens know very little about the facts.  Whether justice was truly performed or not, I don't know --- but God knows.

I do wish to address the lawless acts that resulted from the jury's decision.  I understand that many were disappointed or even angry, yet this does not excuse the violent reactions that occurred.  It does, however, reveal a pertinent fact.  Sin is still the main problem in America.

Regardless of whether the jury's decision was just or not, we do know that the violent act that initiated such a public outcry was laced with sin.  Either the policeman or Michael Brown, or both, committed grave sins that fateful night.  Now, a community lies in ruins as some citizens decided to express their feelings in sinful ways. 

The bottom line is that God will have the final say on all these issues.  His decision will trump any grand jury.  Although many will be angered at His final decision, they will not be able to overturn His verdict.  Furthermore, His verdict, though unpopular with many, will be just. 

During Old Testament times, a moral law was given to keep people from becoming rebellious.  In his New Testament epistle to the believers at Rome, Paul wrote, "... the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers."   The law was given because of the lawless, the disobedient, the ungodly, for sinners and for murders.  Our nation has laws, largely based upon the Judeo-Christian law.  Our laws are intended to prevent such riots that we saw this week.  Although many are suspicious about police officers (and admittedly, there are a few bad police officers), we need to demonstrate respect for authority and obedience to the law.

The real problem in America is not racial discrimination or police brutality.  Instead, the real problem is sin.  While there needs to be racial harmony and integrity among law enforcement officers, these cannot be achieved through violence or political speeches.  Instead, at the core of the matter is the wicked heart of mankind.  It is sin that leads men to hate others of a different skin color.  It is sin that causes men to abuse power and hurt others.  It is sin that causes people to commit violent acts of arson and robbery. 

The cure for sin is the blood of Jesus.  The arrest, trial and execution of Jesus were a miscarriage of justice, brought on by the abuse of power by the religious and political leaders of His day.  He suffered physical and emotional abuse.  In fact, from the days of Abraham until now, there has been an attempt at ethnic cleansing of the Jews by the devil.  Keep in mind, there was an attempt to exterminate Jewish boys when Jesus was born.  Yet the birth, life and death of Jesus had a purpose.  Jesus came to die for our sins.  Although most people refuse to acknowledge that they are sinners, the need is still great and deadly.  God knows that the unregenerate heart of man is deceitful and wicked.  The events of this past week show how deceitful and wicked the heart of mankind really is.

God is the only One who can change a person's heart.  God can remove hatred, violence, revenge, and abuse from the heart of a person.  Through the blood of Jesus, sins can be cleansed and covered.  By the power of the Holy Spirit, the heart of a person can be transformed. 

I have no hope in a political solution for American's woes.  Instead, we need a spiritual awakening in America.  We need souls awakened to the reality of sin, the coming judgment and the need for repentance.  Only God can awaken a sinner and redeem him from a life of deceit and destruction.

Will you join me in praying for a spiritual awakening that will transform our nation?