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OLD TESTAMENT ARTICLE
Shall Hear and Fear!
With organizations clamoring for the ethical treatment of animals and in a society wherein the squashing of a bug, to some at least, is deemed cruel and inhumane are we really surprised to learn that to many the administering of capital punishment is an act of sheer barbarism? Now in the space devoted to this article it would be impossible for me to cover every facet of this topic, however, I would like to call your attention to two scriptures from our reading this week, Deuteronomy 19:20-21 and 21:21.
The first scripture deals with a man who falsely accuses his brother. Upon a thorough examination of the case by the judges and when it is determined that one has falsely accused the other, than that one shall receive the punishment he sought for his brother. The effect of this type of an arrangement? "The rest will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such an evil thing among you." In other words, if a man sought to get his brother punished he would think twice about it knowing if he was found out, HE would receive the punishment instead of his brother. It would be a deterrent to such unrighteousness.
The second scripture deals with a stubborn and rebellious son. When a child refuses to listen to his parents even after being chastised by them than the parents were to take him to the elders and describe what type of child he was and the elders would stone him with stones. To death? ". . . shall stone him to death." "That seems pretty harsh!" you say? What was the effect of this? ". . . all Israel will hear of it and fear." Parents would think twice about how to raise their children so as to avoid this tragedy and children would think twice about rebelling against their parents knowing the next step would be a stoning. Again, it would be a deterrent to such rebellious behavior.
I would think one would see the wisdom in the above instructions. Is it more humane to let unrighteousness and rebellion go unchecked and unpunished? Is society as a whole better by tolerating such outrageous behavior? Or is it more humane to punish the criminal thereby dissuading others from following in his footsteps? Wouldn't society be MORE humane than less when it sought to discourage such behavior by having to set an example from a few who were determined to live in such an inhumane fashion?
I'm saddened when men determine to live in an unrighteous and rebellious way and thereby bring harm to others and bring upon themselves the death penalty. However, Moses warned, "you shall not show pity" to the one who is guilty and thereby fail to punish him. He must be punished so others will hear and fear. A society which acts according to these principles will not be one of barbarism but on the contrary one of true humanitarianism.
NEW TESTAMENT ARTICLE
"Who ya gonna call?"
You may recognize the title of our article from a popular movie some years ago, "Ghostbusters." Trouble with ghosts? Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters! They were the premiere handlers of the para-normal. In our text for this article, we learn who it was that Jesus came to call.
Jesus came with a message of hope which offered a new beginning for all those who would accept it. But, who would accept it? Who was Jesus going to call? Well, a tax collector, of course. A tax collector? Even in our society a "tax collector" would hardly win any popularity contests, though they are not as despised as they were in the first century. When a Jew entered into this type of profession he was immediately regarded as an outcast, disqualified as a judge or witness in court, was excommunicated from the synagogue and the disgrace of his office extended even to his family. This was the profession which Levi had chosen and this was exactly the type of person Jesus would call. The brevity of Levi's calling is compelling. Jesus said, "Follow Me!" and Levi "got up and followed Him." In that instant Levi turned his back on his old life and sought a new one with Jesus.
Levi seems so elated with his choice and his new found happiness he invites all the outcasts he knows to a banquet with Jesus and the Pharisees are outraged! How could Jesus mingle with those who refuse to hold to their strict religious traditions. The Pharisees would never dream of mingling with such outcasts lest they become ceremonially unclean. When the Pharisees ask Jesus' disciples about his despicable behavior Jesus over hears them and with biting irony says, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." The Pharisees didn't need Jesus for they had their own righteousness (Luke 18:9-14), and thus they rejected Him. But the outcasts, who knew they were sick and mired in sin, flocked to Jesus who gave them hope.
It is precisely at that moment wherein we think we have attained righteousness that our need for Jesus no longer exists. Be careful of the attitude you take in reference to your standing before God lest you find yourself not needing a saviour.