Judges Ruling Makes Her An Accomplice To Crime
What on Earth is she thinking? I am referring to Justice Michaela Murphy who seems to have lost all manner of judgment concerning 59 year old William Donald from
Donald befriended a 14 year old boy (stop me if you've heard this one) and for a span of one year, Donald introduced this child to S & M along with all that goes along with sexual abuse.
This child's life is now altered for ever. As a pastor who has dealt with many of these situations, this child will now face a lifetime of dysfunction and will in all likelihood spread the infection to others. That just tends to be how this plays out.
So what "just" sentence did William Donald receive for ruining a little child's life? Judge Murphy--appallingly--gave Donald 6 months in jail. Judge Murphy "ordered" Donald not to have contact with anyone under the age of 16. I wonder if she sounded real fierce when she said that. We all know how effective such edicts are to the pedophile…
So why such a light sentence? Apparently Donald's minister wrote on his behalf extolling what a wonderful man he was noting his generous nature and charitable work. I can't believe Murphy swallowed that one. The same thing was said of Al Capone. In his neighborhood, he was known for his generosity and charity; sweet old mass murderer that he was…
I do not exaggerate when I tell you I am nauseated even writing about this. Honestly I would love to know who the pedophile's minister is. I would give him my counsel about civil process, punishment, rehabilitation and the horror of sexual abuse that pilfers the very life out of a person.
And in so far as Murphy's sentence is a mockery of her role in society and is a heinous miscarriage of justice, she shares in this child's life-long scarring and debilitation. I seriously hope that this 14 year old visits Murphy later on in life--after his second or third divorce, or after he has HIV or after he has been caught peddling kiddy porn and thanks Murphy for the impact she had on his life. With her offensive ruling trivializing his innocence and vulnerability she showed "compassion" for the real criminal and disdain for the innocent.
posted by PB at 1:56 PM
8 Comments:
So many things running through my mind that I could say...
To be sure, stories like this are tragic, as well as tragically not uncommon, as you well know. And while I do not pretend as though you should be immune to such tragedies, that they should not affect you, yet...think of the treasure that is yours that you have not even mentioned, even hinted at!
You who have been called to be a proclaimer of the good news, where is your voice? Do you think the gospel has nothing to say to this situation? Do you think that the message of God's forgiveness of even such heinous sin would have no power?
It seems to me that if we are called to be Christians 24/7, aren't you called to be a minister of the gospel 24/7. Any atheist could have written what you just did, but you've got the greatest news the world can ever hear. Why do you not tell it? Why do you not apply it? Why does its power lie unsummoned among so many merely human sentiments. It's the gospel that is the power of God unto salvation.
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of his grace!
Yours the name that charms our fears
And bids our sorrows cease;
‘tis music in the sinner’s ears,
‘tis life and health and peace
He breaks the pow’r of cancelled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood availed for me
He speaks, and listening to his voice,
New life the dead receive,
The mournful broken hearts rejoice,
The humble poor believe
Hear him, you deaf; his praise, you dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ;
You blind, behold your Saviour come;
And leap, you lame, for joy!
My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
And spread through all the earth abroad
The honours of your name
The Lord God is deeply concerned about matters like, "truth", and "Justice." A "Christian" world view is a comprehensive way of looking at all events of life through the grid of God's heart and mind. These commentaries--these 2 minute commentaries--are commentaries on "life." I don't believe tacking on the "4 spiritual laws" at the end or inserting them somewhere in a contrived manner would really accomplish my intended purpose.
"some plant, some water, but God gives the increase." Some of these commentaries sow a seed, some water the seed already rooted, some merely prepare the soil for the seed to be sown.
As I scan the years I have been doing this, the feedback I receive from many who would not otherwise give a "religious" person or religious presentation a moment of consideration, I am encouraged and motivated to continue in the way I have.
notcon4med,
The vast majority of mordern day Pastors do not embrace the Doctine of Total Depravity. They might say they do but in actual practice obviously don't. You can see even in PB's response to your comment that experience has shown him that his methods of defending ''truth and justice'' (based on feedback from the totally depraved) has caused the non-religious person to consider his presentation/s.
Sadly, I think we Christians of today really do not grasp the incredible truth that the ''gospel is the POWER of God unto salvation''. The methods used today in many Churches certainly bring in the numbers...
Spurgeon speaking in his day of ''spurious conversions''(the result of new methodologies to lure attendees'' wrote:
"They increase our numbers, they are added like figures on a piece of paper, but they do not add to our strength" ...
As you are Reformed in your theology you are coming from an entirely different understanding of the Holy Scriptures then this blogger and many others like him.
This too God sovereignly ordained and decreed.
All glory to HIM.
Truly, I am struggling in so many ways with your response.
I think the kindest way I can interpret it is to it is to give you the benefit of the doubt, so to speak, and think you are merely giving vent to being ticked-off at being called out on not pointing people to Christ when the door was flung wide open. This would be to assume that you really do understand what I meant, but are not willing to admit it.
The worst case scenario is that you really do think that when I said you should have applied the gospel to this story I meant to tack a “gospel presentation” onto the post. I truly hope and pray that that is not what you thought. If that is what you think applying the gospel is, may God have mercy on both you and your congregation!
Yes, I agree that, “The Lord God is deeply concerned about matters like ‘Truth’, and ‘Justice.’” But what I mean by applying the gospel to this would be to consider that the “TRUTH” is, that The Lord God poured out all His “JUSTICE” on Christ instead of on sinners – sinners that included pedophiles and corrupt judges as well as ordinary, run of the mill sinners like me and like you. Read Isaiah 53 and then tell me how you can proclaim the great justice of The Lord God apart from His great mercy shown in Christ!
I also agree that, “A "Christian" world view is a comprehensive way of looking at all events of life through the grid of God's heart and mind.” It is true that God hates what was done to that young man, but he also hates every sin. My challenge to you was that you did nothing to cause anyone to see this situation through “the grid of God’s heart and mind” than would someone like Oprah or Dr. Phil. I suspect even a God-hating atheist like Richard Dawkins would be angered by this miscarriage of justice. After all, the bible tells us that everyone possesses some degree of God’s law written on their heart – their consciences and creation itself bearing witness of Him. But what have you said that differs from what someone from a non-Christian world view – a Rabbi, a Mormon, or even a pagan – would have said?
You mention in your defense that your blog post are from 2 minute radio spots, and in that, they have their limitations. But I wonder…if you have a purpose, a goal in mind for these messages…what is it? If every word is to be carefully chosen, what is the underlying criteria for choosing what you say? In this case, I really do wonder, what purpose did you have in saying what you said? Do you think anyone would disagree with you?
Why should someone see Christ as a merciful and all-sufficient Savior because of what you said?
Yes, sin is terrible, and this type of sin is what we think of as really heinous (though these “really heinous” sins made the cross necessary just as surely as what we think of as little sins – half truths, unkind thoughts, impatience, discontent...)
And I know that you have been given the burden of seeing, vividly portrayed, just how prevalent such sin is in your corner of the world, so it is understandable that these things anger and disgust you more than most.
But if that is true, and if you want to see an end of it, what can you do? What should you do? Do you have any power to change anything?
You have been given tremendous power in the proclamation of the gospel!
It is the GOSPEL that is the POWER of God unto salvation! The GOSPEL and not the LAW! Even the “crankiest” prophet who spoke the greatest woes to God’s people, Israel, for breaking His law, also spoke of His love, mercy, and compassion, toward the repentant. I’ve followed this blog for quite a while and I’ve yet to see any “good news”.
The bible surely tells us that we are to hate sin as God does, but it also tells us that we can never destroy the power of sin through the law. In the unregenerate, law can only define, expose, and stir up sin. Yes, it is important to call sin, sin. Law is a guide to knowing and identifying sin, but it cannot destroy it’s power. Only the gospel has the power to destroy sin – all sin, any sin, little sin, big sin!
In the hymn, Rock of Ages, John Newton tells us that Christ’s life, death, and ressurection for us – the gospel – is the “double cure” for sin, in that it cleanses me of both sin’s guilt and power. But how will sinners hear that God’s grace is greater than all their sin when you only define, expose, and stir up sin through the law, but withhold the cure?
I would be wary of measuring the “success” of your methods by feedback from readers, because all you are really telling them is what they already know, and want to hear. Ironic as it might initially seem, natural man has a built-in affinity for law. We all want a “to do list” for pleasing God. Even the regenerate, often default to this as well. As I mentioned above, knowledge of God and His law are written on our hearts. When you only speak of law, all you do is tell sinners how to improve themselves; and natural man loves self-improvement projects! With the “tool” of Law, they can dig in and get to work on their “to do and not to do list” for being better (either for God or themselves). They don’t need Jesus for that. However, the gospel is something that is completely foreign and unexpected to us, and that is why it must be announced to us – good news proclaimed. It’s not a tool we use to improve what we already are, but it is something that causes us to die, so that God can completely remake us!
Finally, I need to ask: How would a different ruling change the future for this young man? You know as well as I do that his story is not unusual. Whether the abuser gets time in jail or not, life goes on. Sin has consequences. Abused people abuse people. We live in a fallen world. Apart from any personal, emotional reaction, that is the world we live in. We know it and the bible clearly teaches it.
So, what’s the solution?
Blog rants about how sinful the world is?
Who doesn’t know that?
Tell us something we don’t know.
We know the bad news. It’s in our face and all around us every day!
Do you have any “good news” for us?
Did Jesus died for sinners – even those who sexually abuse children?
If He did, won’t you please tell us!
I wonder…
What is your hope for this abuser?
Are you more eager to see this man receive a stiff prison sentence, or the gospel of grace that is greater than all his sin?
If it’s the former, I hope you will repent. If it’s the latter, why don’t you show that you are different because of the gospel, and say so? That’s something no one would ever hear on tv talk shows!
So finally…
All this, rather than tacking on “the 4 spiritual laws”, is what I mean by applying the gospel to this situation.
Though you claim to have "A Christian world view [that] is a comprehensive way of looking at all events of life through the grid of God's heart and mind”… With all due respect, I think you are only looking through one of the lenses.
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Correction: It was Augustus Toplady who wrote Rock of Ages, not John Newton.
Also, I can't help but think this needs to be added: I just found a link to this sermon transcript while perusing a favorite website. It is a longish read, but well worth the time. It says the same thing I just said and much more. If you don't want to confuse moralism with the gospel, click and read!
Ok, I guess I'm still not fully awake! Here you go:
http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/80-257.htm
Yes, very clear teaching by Pastor MacArthur (''The deadly dangers of moralism''). Thank you for posting the link. I have so much to learn and struggle daily...a wretched man I am.
As Thomas Watson wrote in 1660:
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall
see God." Matthew 5:8
External morality is not heart-purity. A person
may be clothed with great moral virtues, such as
justice, charity, prudence, and temperance—and yet go to hell.
We must not rest in mere outward morality. A swine may be washed—yet be a swine still. Morality does but wash a man—grace changes him. Morality may shine in the eyes of the world—but it differs as much
from purity, as a pebble differs from a diamon
Morality is but strewing flowers on a dead corpse!
A man who is but highly moral—is but a tame devil.
How many have made 'morality' their Savior! Morality will damn—as well as vice! A boat may be sunk with gold—as well as with dung.
The moral person, though he will not commit gross
sins—yet he is not sensible of heart sins. He is not
troubled for unbelief, hardness of heart, vanity of thoughts. He abhors gross-sins, not gospel-sins.
The snake has a fine appearance—but has a deadly sting! Just so, the moral man is fair to look on—but
has a secret antipathy against the holy ways of God.
Morality is not to be rested in. The heart must be pure.
God would have Aaron wash the inner parts of the
sacrifice (Leviticus 9:14). Morality does but wash the
outside; the inside must be washed.''
"Blessed are the
pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8
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