The Alabama Church Burnings and Hate Crimes
"Federal and state authorities have not commented on a possible motive, beyond evidence that an apparent prank spun out of control. Defense attorneys have not commented either, but say the fires were not crimes of hate." (foxnews.com)
Russell DeBusk, Benjamin Moseley, and Matthew Cloyd committed at least nine very hateful crimes. As a joke, so they say, they torched the places where hundreds of people were baptized and married; the places where hundreds of babies were dedicated by faithful parents to the Lord; the places counted as special houses of worship by hundreds of people. It is hateful to destroy the property of others, especially if it is the place where they come to meet with God.
But of course, these three jokesters will not be accussed of hating anybody. Hey, these were just churches. That's all. Just because you burn a church doesn't mean you hate church people. Right?
According to an article in Wikipedia on Hate Crimes, if these three were charged with hate crimes, they would receive harsher penalities. But we all know that will not happen.
Why not?
1) Because Christians do not (or at least know that we should not) value a building over human beings. Churches were burned, but the Church was not.
2) Because Christians do not (or at least know that we should not) raise a public fuss when we are offended. Our Lord Jesus Christ was brutally beatened, spurned, and crucified, willingly excepting His suffering for the ultimate good. Since we know our lives are not bound up with the trappings of this world, no use screaming for our rights.
3) Because Christians are more apt (or at least know that we should be more apt) to forgive people when they wrong us. These three young men need the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not our sinful human anger chiding them for a terrible decision.
Yes, what they did was hateful, even if it was a joke, but there is no use in returning hate for hate. May the lack of harsher penalities these young men face (since what they did is not considered a hate crime) point them to the grace of Jesus Christ who made a way for all people to be delivered from their crimes against God.
Romans 5:1, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Russell DeBusk, Benjamin Moseley, and Matthew Cloyd committed at least nine very hateful crimes. As a joke, so they say, they torched the places where hundreds of people were baptized and married; the places where hundreds of babies were dedicated by faithful parents to the Lord; the places counted as special houses of worship by hundreds of people. It is hateful to destroy the property of others, especially if it is the place where they come to meet with God.
But of course, these three jokesters will not be accussed of hating anybody. Hey, these were just churches. That's all. Just because you burn a church doesn't mean you hate church people. Right?
According to an article in Wikipedia on Hate Crimes, if these three were charged with hate crimes, they would receive harsher penalities. But we all know that will not happen.
Why not?
1) Because Christians do not (or at least know that we should not) value a building over human beings. Churches were burned, but the Church was not.
2) Because Christians do not (or at least know that we should not) raise a public fuss when we are offended. Our Lord Jesus Christ was brutally beatened, spurned, and crucified, willingly excepting His suffering for the ultimate good. Since we know our lives are not bound up with the trappings of this world, no use screaming for our rights.
3) Because Christians are more apt (or at least know that we should be more apt) to forgive people when they wrong us. These three young men need the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not our sinful human anger chiding them for a terrible decision.
Yes, what they did was hateful, even if it was a joke, but there is no use in returning hate for hate. May the lack of harsher penalities these young men face (since what they did is not considered a hate crime) point them to the grace of Jesus Christ who made a way for all people to be delivered from their crimes against God.
Romans 5:1, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
2 Comments:
Though I don't philosophically believe in hate crimes this is a great point you make, Jason.
I believe this was an intentional hate crime.First,because they chose church buildings.The reason why the news has stated,was because one they were not just African American congregations.I live in Tyler,Texas,and there have been two churches in a local city where "pranksters" burned them.They were not considered hate crimes either.How sad.The reason it should be called a hate crime is that they specifically chose churches to burn,oh "but only as a joke".Well,if you target a specific person,group,or even a type of building,it should be treated as a hate crime,and it is with murder.The reasoning on this by the news is absurd.These kids chose to burn churches for a reason,that is because they don't like Christians.That constitutes a "hate crime"to me.What do you all think?
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