Wednesday May 23, 2012

Count the number of dvds, TV shows, songs and magazine  articles that you have viewed or used in the last week that devalue life. What can you do about this?

Read Deuteronomy 19:11-13

 

In the US, there are 45 murders each and every single day.  Isn’t that just amazing? Many of these murders occur in states where the death penalty is enforced. It would appear, at least statistically, that even the presence of the death penalty is not a deterrent. Why is this? It’s possible that human dignity has sunk so low that some people don’t care whether they live or die. It’s also possible that the long terms spent on death row seem a better option than the poverty and injustice of life on the streets or in the ghettos.

 

When God instituted the death penalty for wilful and deliberate murder it was meant to act as a deterrent. Anyone who took an innocent life was to be

executed without pity. Of course, due process was necessary to ensure that innocent people were not executed. But there was to be no lengthy stay on death row. There was to be no cushy time being kept by the state. It was to be dealt with quickly.

 

Again, it’s unfortunate that we have become so immune to death and murder. The crime scene investigation shows have all increased the intensity and shock value of their murder scenes. Computer games have increased their graphics and realism. Wars have been televised in graphic detail into our homes around the clock as a battle rages. All this has resulted in a ‘Ho-hum’ attitude to life and dying. People don’t really care when someone dies, unless it’s someone close. We don’t value human life and don’t see the need to protect it. We have become casual in our regard for life, even our own life.

 

Added to this, many various sectors of society have promoted the bad boy image to super hero status. Children and teens are growing up desperately wanting to commit crimes, to do injustice, to do time and hence, to gain a reputation for themselves. It’s become “cool” and “trendy” to commit crime. Worse crimes have increased status.  Some gangs even have murder or attempted murder as their entry requirement.

 

One has to wonder where this trend will stop. One has to wonder what level of debasement and depravity humanity has to reach before we cry out ‘Enough!’.

 

Prayer:

¥ There are many prison chaplaincy ministries in Australia. Pray that God would use each one to bring many inmates to the Lord in repentance and faith. Pray that these organisations would have the resources to continue ministering and serving inmates.

¥ Pray for the families of inmates. It’s tough for the parent and children to continue onwards. They need our prayers and support. Please uphold them in prayer.