Crime Doesn’t Pay

Notice: google is changing the blogger formatting soon. There might be a disruption in my weekly blog as I try to navigate the more cumbersome formatting and adjust my settings. If I can not adjust them easily I may have to change the blog company from google to something else. I hope that won't be necessary as that would mean a change of address and disruption to what I do. I will keep you posted. This will occur at the end of September or beginning of October. My blog layout may seem off in the meantime as google changes things which are beyond my control. Be patient and hang in there while I try to learn the system.

How does anyone get to the point where they are committing crime and hurting friends and family with their behavior? Does it happen all at once or is a slow process? This week, I pondered these questions based on my thoughts about news reports, a book that I am reading and, a television series that I just watched. The book is entitled, "The Rose Man of Sing Sing (A true tale of life, murder, and redemption in the age of yellow journalism)" by James McGrath Morris. It is the perfect book for a Westchester Christian Housewife to read since it tells a story that starts and ends in New York. It starts in upstate New York and ends in a famous prison right here in Westchester County, New York. 

Add to that book, an award-winning television series about a daring escape from Dannemora prison and you can see why I am caught in the philosophical contemplation of criminal activity. Oh, and the woman convicted of aiding and abetting in that prison break just got out of another Westchester prison over in the village of Bedford. Evil men understand not judgement, but they that seek the Lord understand all things.-Proverbs 28:5

Of course, these reflections fit seamlessly into the current lawless environment that we find ourselves in. Did you hear about that college student arrested in New York City for looting and rioting? The one whose father is a professor of psychiatry at Colombia University and whose mother is an architect. Apparently, she is quoting Stalin and talking about throwing rocks off buildings. She grew up with all the advantages that money could buy. Not so for Charles Chapin, the central character of James McGrath Morris' book. His father was a n'er do well who abandoned his family and forced Charles to enter the work force at a young age. Nor, was it true for the two male inmates or the woman, Joyce Mitchell who were involved in the prison escape re-enacted in the television series.* 

So, we have men and women from all walks of life reaching the same decision and choosing to go against the laws of God and man. In all three cases many things had to happen and come together to explain all of their desperate actions. I believe perpetrating a crime very seldom happens without a number of things going wrong in a persons life. At any moment we must choose to pay attention to what is going on around us and use all opportunities to speak godly truths into peoples lives, before terrible things occur. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned:if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.-Ezekiel 33:6

After any major crime many people seem surprised and even incredulous that they could have known someone who committed a heinous act. "I can't believe he did that, he was such a nice neighbor," or "this is not like her, she must have just snapped." While we are all sinners, nevertheless most people don't kill their wives as Charles Chapin did, or smuggle in chisels and hacksaws to help killers escape from prison as Joyce Mitchell did. I have driven by Dannemora Prison a number of times. It looks scary and impenetrable. What was this prison seamstress thinking? Even those of us who felt passionate about a cause enough to attend a rally or protest would not want to break windows, loot and steal that which is not ours. Let alone decide to drop rocks from buildings to fight off the police and seriously hurt someone. 

In the three stories above we find seemingly ordinary people. Charles Chapin was a city newspaper editor, Joyce Mitchell was a seamstress who worked in factories and then as an instructor at a maximum security prison. Finally, we have a twenty-first century New York City Upper East Side student. These individuals represent a snapshot or a cross-section of society. So, how did they all end up going afoul of the law? For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.-Romans 3:23

You can't read very far in the Bible before you read ripped from the headline stories of crime. As soon as man is created, crime happens. In fact, the Bible never lets up in its' scathing coverage of real crime stories from the beginning of the book until the end. What is the Bible trying to tell us about crime? The Bible definition of crime focuses on transgressions against God, others and ourselves. There are so many words used in the Bible to describe crime. Spoiler alert: it is pretty clear why we need a Savior! 

Here are some of the words used to indicate crime in the Bible: judgment, verdict, heinous crime, guilt, case, cause, fault, charge, iniquity, injury and of course sin. There are many more descriptive terms concerning breaching the law.....I feel another blog post coming on! In my Christian journey, it took me a long time to connect what I was seeing in the world around me, and reconcile that with what I was learning in the Bible. 

I think I was a victim of worldly thinking. I did not originate from a family of centered Christians. Luckily, for us who are lost and orphaned, our Father in Heaven reaches down and connects with His creation. He directs and guides us through His book the Bible. But, for a long-time I struggled to understand how Moses who received the commandments on Mount Sinai could have killed a man. How King David,"a man after God's own heart" could have had an affair, and arranged for that woman’s husband's murder to cover up his deeds. 

What I have learned is that crime is a part of human nature. Moses and King David are no different from Charles Chapin, the prisoners at that upstate jail or that Upper East Side college student. The Bible goes into great details regarding our many crimes and transgressions. Crime is wrong before God and there will be an eternal consequence. We as humans fail when we think that crime is the answer but we are no different from the men and women of old who went down this same road. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.- Genesis 6:5

The Bible prepares us for real life. It tells us that crime will be with us until the end of this age and God’s return. It tells us that we should avoid it and to follow God instead. It tells us the difference between right and wrong and tells us that we should go to God and say we are sorry for the misdeeds that we have done so that we can be washed clean from the wrong. In short, the Bible teaches us that Crime Doesn’t Pay. We should heed that advice. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.-Proverbs 28: 13

* alert: the television series "Escape from Dannemora" showed simulated sex scenes that allegedly took place between the prison seamstress and her inmates. I chose to avert my eyes during those scenes because there was some important messages about our lives and our world. However, approach with caution if these scenes would cause you to struggle with sin. 

FYI: It cost the tax payers of New York State 23 million dollars for the manhunt and recapturing of these escaped prisoners. Money that we could use now as the state copes with Covid-19. 

To Proselytize or Not?

The State of Affairs
(Jude 1:18- How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.)
Hi everyone. It's been a tragic couple of weeks. I have struggled with all the depressing news. Starting with Hurricane Laura whose massive destructive force touched down in the southern United States along the gulf coast. At least half a million people had to evacuate their homes. Thank God too, because that decision helped to save their lives. But, how can I begin to discuss the extreme damage that this storm has delivered. Power can not be restored to the area for at least several weeks. Rebuilding the area will be a huge undertaking which will disrupt people's lives and business activities.The aftermath of this storm will surely be felt for a long time to come, financially, spiritually and otherwise.

Then I must note that violent activity is continuing around the United States and many part of the world, seemingly at an unstoppable pace. Mass protests occurred in various European capitals concerning the overreaching and apparently non-debatable governmental policies concerning COVID-19. I saw many videos of peaceable protestors being arrested and fined for simply not wearing a mask. Has life continuing on this planet come down to if we wear masks or not? Study the evidence. It looked more like the Iranian moral police harassing people for not wearing proper Islamic garb.

However, the violent events happeneing in the United States are the worst, and unprecedented in the history of this country. Notably, there was an attempt to disrupt the legitimate political process of the republican national convention when the President of the United States was giving his acceptance speech for the party's nomination. Outside the White House drums and bullhorns tried to drown out the President, or should I say drown out liberty. After the convention, just like I would expect from cowards videos emerged of BLM militants hitting and knocking old men to the ground and doing it from behind (just like someone who fights dirty will do). Check out the videos and you will always see attacks from behind. This is a huge departure from the United States historical code of ethics. It does however resemble the actions at the beginnings of every major totalitarian regime takeover.

I listened to videos with all matter of profanities and threats to kill people uttered. A mob surrounded United States senator Rand Paul and his wife. Had it not been for the bravery of four police officers, Rand Paul and his wife might be hospitalized or even dead. This after a crazed liberal neighbor attacked him and caused him to loose a piece of his lung. I hear totalitarianism calling, will the United States open the door? Ding dong.
(1 Timothy 1:9- We realize that the law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers.)

I see videos of intimidating confrontations occurring in restaurants, supermarkets and on roadways. Not for nothing, as we say in New York, haven't you noticed how many of the victims are senior citizens? We all know the story of the seventy-something year old retired police officer who was murdered as he tried to protect his friends business in Minneapolis. Another elder protecting his pizza parlor was brutalized. This bespeaks depravity of the highest realm. As does hurting children, another vulnerable population that have been victimized during this new civil war. What does this tell you about the spiritual health of the United States? We may or may not feel safe from these occurrences but, I think that we are at a juncture as Christians. What do we think about it and what are we going to do about it?

Then there is the bombshell revelations about Jerry and Becki Falwell Jr's sexual debauchery. Jerry and Becki Falwell let down their family, friends and the entire Christian community. They had the privilege and responsibility of being at the helm of a Christian university. Their political activities even put them into the position of being the face of Christianity to many atheists. What did they do with that? What are we doing with our platform?

I have been asked by many disillusioned friends what I think that the Christian community know about this scandal and when? Did they purposely close their eyes to these goings-on because Jerry Falwell Jr succeeded in making Liberty University a billion dollar baby? Some Christians would resent these questions. I do not. It is important for me as a believer to stand up for what is right and in the midst of doing that there is always opportunity to point people to Jesus and to salvation. Not a phony-baloney faith full of platitudes and enabling protocol. Jesus was not one to enable or cover-up wrong-doing and neither should we. Do you as a Christian believe that being a believer means that if you saw evidence of Jerry Falwell's malfeasance that you should not judge hence let's drop it or, do you think merely talking about this represents gossip? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, than how can we ever determine if a problem exists or nip a problem in the bud? How can we pray effectively? Plus, remember telling the truth doesn't equal judging someone.

Spiritual Answers
(1 John 4:1)- Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.)
One thing that really stung me the past couple of weeks was the awareness that everywhere that I went in Westchester, there were people publically practicing yoga. The lawn of the venerable and historic Lyndhurst Manor is a gathering place. The beach by Rye playland is doing it too. In all the most beautiful waterfront parks in Westchester County they are doing yoga. These are spiritual answers that people are choosing as they face anxiety and depression. Even BLM represents spiritual answers to what people consider uncertainty in their lives. (Matthew 6:33- but seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.)

What if we Christians had as large a presence as antifa or BLM in our cities? What would bringing the light of Jesus into those situations mean? What if every Christian wore a face mask or a tee shirt with a bible verse on it? What if instead of seeing yoga disciples at the beaches, and on the great lawns around Westchester County, New York we saw Christians praising, baptizing or teaching the Bible? What about in your community? I started to wonder where did I see a visible presence of Christians engaged in the front lines of the battles that we are now facing?

I don't mean to say there is no presence, because I know that Christians are working in food pantries, and helping to console Hurricane Laura victims right at this very moment and doing countless other acts of service. But, have we largely acquiesced to the belief that we should do many of these acts of service without acknowledging our faith in Jesus Christ, without praying or showing any public demonstration of our faith and Savior?

To Proslytize or Not?
(1 Corinthians 1:17- For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.)
I received a flyer on my front porch asking me to join Black Lives Matters. It had all the earmarkings of a spiritual solution to all the problems of mankind. It's answers suggested that if I did not join them that I am essentially damned to hell. The local ads for meditation suggest similar redemption if I just follow the way of their practice. My question to you is: Has the Christian community been majorly sidelined? Have we forgotten our first love Jesus and our desire to bring others to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ? Have you lost your fervor? Are you afraid?

This week I had several discussions with Christians who had either lost their fervor, or were afraid. One such couple were hold up in their mansion and living in fear of catching Covid. Their money afforded them the ability to live completely isolated from society while they pay others to do their errands. What of the risk they might be adding to others lives? No mention of that.

As I caught up with them I found them hunkered down until, as they explained to me, the virus reaches some acceptable level and a vaccine is in place. I am sorry to say this Christian woman is struggling with panic attacks. She can not handle any of this. She is watching church live-streamed into her home even as 80 year old people are sitting in the church pews. She is effectively sidelined as is my friend Harris.* Harris has had a number of health challenges this past year and has grown despondent. He used to teach bible studies from his home and at church. Even as I tried to encourage him, I noticed he has no desire to even open up his bible.

Life gets very real sometimes. Has there ever been a guarantee of things going our way? Yet, we are entreated by our Heavenly Father to run this race that we call life and to live for Him. We have to line up our lives with the message of the gospel and help others to have their own blessed assurance. We need to make sure that everything that we do is in Jesus' name. We have to be very vocal about it before we loose our ability to enjoy our freedom of faith or our relevancy.
(2 Timothy 4:5- But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy Ministry.)