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Executing A Sentence Against An Evil Work
Many of us were horrified to learn of a recent tragic accident that
happened locally. Paige Grable, a senior at Providence High School in
Clarkesville, Indiana, was driving her Jeep along St. Mary’s road in
Floyd County when, after swerving off the road, overcorrected and struck
a car being driven by a 16 year old fellow student, John Gatz. Gatz was
pronounced dead on the scene, while a passenger in his car was taken to
a Louisville hospital and treated for minor injuries. “According to a
police report, Grable had a blood-alcohol level of .16 percent -- twice
the legal limit -- when tested after the accident. She was arrested on
preliminary charges of driving while intoxicated resulting in death and
serious injury...” (The Courier Journal, October 17, 2006).
Why does the problem of drunk driving persist in our land? There are a
number of factors. For one, people do not want to open their eyes to see
an alcoholic beverage for what it truly is -- a drug that alters one’s
mental and motor skills and which loosens inhibitions (Proverbs
23:29-35).
But a big reason as to why this scourge persists is because our judicial
system treats drunk drivers the way it treats most other criminals --
with ‘kid gloves.’ A night in the jail, a small fine, and a promise of
attending some classes and doing some community work is all that is
necessary today for a convicted drunk driver to get back behind the
wheel of his car. Only after his third offense might he be labeled a
‘felon’ and experience a few more consequences.
The problem of drunk driving is but one illustration of an overall
problem in our country, that of our courts taking criminal behavior too
lightly. Somehow in that last forty years we have gotten away from a
mindset that understands punishment to be a deterrent to bad behavior.
Convicted murderers are seen back on the streets after ten years.
Rapists are paroled after five. Those who have been convicted of
sexually preying on children are released early for ‘good behavior.’ And
then we are “shocked” (?) to hear that many of these have victimized
someone else?! We throw up our hands in despair and cry out, “What can
we do about this?” as if we are doing our best. How twisted we have
become in our thinking!
The Bible says, “Because the sentence against an evil work is not
executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set
on them to do evil” (Ecclesiastes 8:11). It really is that simple,
folks. Give the 1st offense drunk driver a mandatory prison sentence
(say, of one year or more), and we can without hesitancy guarantee a
society that deals with fewer DUIs.
Complacency by a judicial system breeds wickedness. Conversely, a
population that is served by a system that adequately punishes the
criminal will “hear and fear” (Deut. 13:11; 17:13; 19:20).
Punishment for bad behavior serves as a disincentive to subsequent bad
behavior. (And of course, we need to be teaching that first in our homes
and schools, not just in the courtroom.)
May God bless our political leaders with wisdom, and open their eyes to
see that they are “God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him
who practices evil” (Romans 13:4).
--Mike Noble
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