Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Wednesday July 2, 2008

One of my little hobbies is to take a statistic and put a human face on it if possible. I admit it is hard to do this with Baptist stats.

I read just the other day that after 30 years of compiling stats, and spending in the trillions, that social researchers have concluded that crime, contrary to the opinion of many, is not attributable to poverty, environmental factors, a crooked justice system or even the taboo, racism. Several studies have concluded the commission of a crime or crimes is really about wrong moral decisions. Whoda thunk it? And this from non-bibliocentric researchers.

Charles Colson quotes psychologists, Stanton Samenow and Samuel Yochelson in their book, "Criminal Personality" who write:

"Crime in every case was the product of deliberation."

The first biblically recorded crime, the murder of Abel by Cain was most certainly the product of deliberation.

Again, non-bibliocentric authors James Q. Wilson and Richard Herrnstein in their huge tome, "Crime and Human Nature" state:

"Crime is caused by a lack of moral teaching during the morally formative years."

This stat should not surprise any who are at all familiar with life. The scripture is replete with admonitions that in the strongest language possible put the teaching of moral responsibility squarely on the shoulders of fathers. Yet in many homes the father is absent, physically, financially or morally.

Samenow and Yochelson concluded that the cure is for the criminal to experience a "conversion to a whole new lifestyle."

Whoda thunk it?

My fellow nutcase Bible thumpers and I have been shouting this truth from the housetops for over 2,000 years!! Of course our message is centered in the Bible and therefore not admissible as evidence. There is no question that "conversion to a whole new lifestyle" will help a person to remain out of jail. When the solution stops at this point you have accomplished several good things. The person will earn an honest living, will be a stabilizing force for his/her family and will most likely be healthier. As a Christian this is NOT the ultimate goal. A Christian wants all of the above but in addition a person who is at peace inwardly because that person is at peace with God through Jesus Christ.

Tomorrow I will talk a little about the influence of sub-culture on crime.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2008 Use with credit.

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