Slow to Speak

This week, I was going to discuss the error of liberation theology, but there are yet more stories about police officers killing young, black men. We are hearing of Daunte Wright, of Minnesota, Adam Toledo of Chicago, and, most recently, Peyton Ham of Leonardtown, Maryland. These events are deeply concerning to us, as Christians. Every single life is precious because all humans are image-bearers. They are also concerning because violence and murder are grievous sins. In Genesis 9:6, God declared that any man who took the life of another man is liable to a penalty of death. The taking of any human life is, therefore, especially heinous in God’s eyes.

As we watch these events unfold, and the aftermath thereof, it is important to reserve judgment. Not only is it a Christian virtue to abhor murder and violence, but it is also virtuous not to be rash in judgment. Much of the judicial law of Old Covenant Israel was concerned with just judgment. This flows from the very character and nature of God himself. Moses declared in Deuteronomy 32:4, “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” The ESV phrase “without iniquity,” could also be translated, “without prejudice.” God is not biased. This is repeated by Paul in Romans, “There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil…For God shows no partiality” (Romans 2:9, 11). He does not hold rich men to a different standard than poor men, neither does he hold black men to a different standard than white men. Remember, he only created one race!

As you seek to be like God in all your ways, therefore, you also, must not be hasty in judgment. I find myself applying this principle frequently in my own home. One child will bring an accusation against another. Should I discipline the other child based solely on that accusation? Certainly not. It is my job as a father, and the chief judge in my home, to try the case and determine guilt or innocence. Guess what! Most of the time, both children are at fault!

It is sinful either to be biased toward young, black men or police officers. Perhaps the killing was self-defense and justified. Perhaps it was murder and worthy of capital punishment itself. As we navigate these tumultuous times, your Christian testimony will shine brightly as you both denounce criminality, wherever it exists, and uphold the biblical principle of just judgment!