Are we not imitators?
Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 03:06PM Well, the outcome of the Casey Anthony trial is "not guilty."
So there it is. Like it or not, that's what it is. I'll be honest, I've followed this trial for a grand total of about 15 minutes. I didn't even know about it before I moved down to Oxford last month. And from what everyone tells me, she practically admitted to the crime that she is charged with.
But her jury of peers found her not guilty.
I don't know about yours, but my Facebook has absolutely exploded since the verdict was announced. And the vast majority of people are angry--very angry! I've seen everything from "...she should've gotten the chair..." to "...very sad for her daughter who will never have justice..." And I suppose they are all in their right to be upset. I imagine if I had followed the trial a little closer, I would be more upset myself.
All that said, I have to say that I'm surprised at the amount of vitriol I have seen from my fellow Christian believers. I have even seen some go so far as to say that if Ms. Anthony walked into our church on Sunday, that she would receive a bitter welcome, if not an outright demand to leave the premesis. And, again, if I had been closer to this trial, I imagine my objective attitude would be skewed. But I am blown away by the amount of judgement I have seen by those claiming to be Christ-like.
While thinking about this, I was reminded that, around 10 years ago, while Youth Pastoring in another part of Florida, I had a church board member outright tell me that if a homosexual walked in the door, he would get in his face and make him leave the church. Even then, barely out of school myself, I was upset at the attitudes of my fellow Christians.
May I just remind my brothers and sisters in Christ that He died for everyone--not just the innocent. It would be easy to quote the "Judge not lest ye be judged" or "Vengence is mine says the Lord" Bible verses, but even those are damning to the person those Scriptures were written for. How about we remember that Christ died so that "whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." THAT'S NOT JUST YOU AND ME, PEOPLE! THAT'S EVERYONE!! There is no exception. Salvation by Grace through Faith is for everyone--especially the guilty!
So, to all the believers out there: calm yourselves. It's all in God's hands anyway. Perhaps the judicial system failed in this instance, or perhaps it didn't. No one escapes God's judgement. But, don't forget about grace. Every sinner is welcomed at Christ's table after repentance, regardless of sin.
And to those that go to my church, let me tell you this: you had better not let me catch you giving the third degree to a sinner walking in the doors of our sanctuary.


