A Second Chance!
Over this past week there have been two criminal cases that have got peoples blood boiling. No not Obama’s health care plan, but two very different situations that have got people debating whether justice and forgiveness should be shown.
Last night Michael Vick signed a two year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Two years ago not many people had a kind word to say about the one time highest paid football player following a conviction of hosting and being involved in dog fighting and animal cruelty. Vick served his time in prison and is now back in the business that made him millions.
This past week reports have come out that Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrah has terminal cancer and is poised to be released from his life sentence in prison. Al Megrah was the man found guilty of the Lockerbie bombing in December 1988 when 270 people died when Pan-Am flight 103 exploded in mid-air flying over the small Scottish town.
One man has served his sentence, one man on the verge of death. In most cases the general public would forgive and forget. However, not so with these two. Vick has the public split on whether to forgive him and not many outside the nation of Libya feel much compassion for Al Megrah.
This leads me to ask the question, should we forgive these men for their wrongs or are we justified in condemning them to a life of judgment?
Most of us were quick to cast judgment on both these men (and quite rightly so) as they had broken civil laws. We agreed with their punishments as directed by the law of the land. However, most of us can cast judgment because we have not broken any serious civil laws. However, even though we haven’t broken civil laws, we have broken many spiritual laws, or laws of heaven. God has set a standard that everyone of us has broken. The difference between the laws of the land and the laws of heaven is in the punishment. Our laws give different punishments depending on the crime. In the law of heaven there is only one kind of punishment for all laws that are broken, that is death!
The crazy thing is though I don’t see myself as a criminal (because I haven’t committed any earthly crimes), I am a criminal in heavens eyes! I have broken the laws of heaven and not on one occasion. In fact in heavens eyes I am a repeat offender. I deserve death! However, Christ took the punishment for me. He forgave me, he had compassion on me and he released me from my sentence. Therefore, if Alex Penduck, a repeat offender can be given another chance by the God of this universe, then maybe, just maybe I should start to think about giving others a second chance!
Just me thinking out loud! Let me know your thoughts? Should Vick and Al Megrah be given a second chance?
Given a 2nd chance to what…back to society? Forgiven? Forgiven…of course because that’s what the bible says we must do. A chance back in society…Vick yes!! The other dude, no. One was responsible for killing 270 people and destroyed countless other lives by his actions. Vick killed dogs, and I have a puppy and I love my puppy but this is like comparing apples to oranges.
I think Al Megrah should have been given the death penalty to start with, since I think that should be the punishment for murder. As for Vick, although I don’t agree with what he did, I think pet lovers are going a little far with their criticism. I would love to see these same people protest abortions, violence against a HUMAN LIFE, with the same tenacity as they used toward Vick. Even though I think he should be allowed to play again, I’ve gotta admit that I’m glad he wasn’t picked up by my Ravens! But that’s mostly because I just love Joe Flacco!
I think you guys are spot on if I were to give my opinion! Vick served his sentence, Al Megrah hasn’t. Once more there isn’t anyone volunteering to serve his sentence for him so he can go to be with his family. Unfortunately Al Megrah is in Scotland and there is no death penalty in Scotland.
It’s amazing how in the case of Al Megrah society appears to show compassion because of cancer. Even though he killed 270 people, on some level people want the end of his life to be different because of his illness. Pretty interesting compassion (if I understand this story exactly)!
Having lived in a state with frequent use of the death penalty, I find it hard to call Scottland’s views unfortunate. While I can’t speak to this man’s case, I find that the death penalty breaks communities apart irreparably. In my home church, Helen’s son was on death row. Her son was one of many black, young men who are disproportionately represented on death row. Helen’s granddaughter described to me how his sentence to death row caused the family to crumble. Infighting occurred as one family member blamed another for hiring poor legal defense that resulted in what they believed was an unjust death sentence. Another member of the family went bankrupt attempting to raise enough money to hire adequate defense for her brother–this family worked jobs that paid barely more than minimum wage. The granddaughter also described how the grandmother went “mad” coping with this sentence. My mother was the only one in the church who drove this woman monthly to the prison where the death row inmates are housed. The ending of life–whether by crime or by government sanction–tears families and communities apart irreparably.
Another friend also had a cousin on death row who was killed by the state of Missouri in 2005, I believe. This cousin requested that my friend be his chaplain in the final hours leading up to his death. She described hour-by-hour the events leading up to his execution and after his execution. Sadly, my friend reported that she watched the interviews with the victim’s family after the execution and their lack of peace was palpable because their anger was not resolved, but rather stirred up, by retribution.
The law “an-eye-for-an-eye” in the Old Testament was not intended for retribution–in fact, retribution is not the intent of this OT law. In a Mesopotamian society where stealing could be punished by the severing of a hand (disproportionate punishment with regards to the crime committed), this law actually encouraged restraint. One was only able to take one eye for one eye. Retribution does not bring healing for the victim’s family or the perpretrator’s family and the biblical law understood this. However, the law recognizes that crimes cannot go unpunished lest injustice of another form run rampant in a community. So what are we as Christians to do? Definitive answers are elusive.
I watched a movie last year that was profound–as we forgive (http://www.asweforgivemovie.com)-regarding how to treat murderers of the Rawandan genocide who returned to the villages in which they had murdered brothers, mothers, and fathers. One cannot live as if the crimes have not occurred–one cannot merely lock hands, singing kumbaya and release all prisoners. Yet unforgiveness is cancerous. This movie captured this inexplicable tension that only the gospel can somehow shine light onto. This movie captured the sheer impossibility of forgiveness and yet the sheer miraculous nature of forgiveness when it truly occurs.
So do we forgive the terrorist? The gospel says yes. Does forgiveness entail releasing the terrorist? Not necessarily. Does the gospel call us to seek retribution? No. When I hear conservative talk show hosts spouting “Christian” support for the death penalty upon the grounds of retribution, my heart hurts for the marring of the gospel. May our hearts not grow embittered toward our fellow humans who are capable of monstrosity and beauty alike.
Anywho, I look forward to worshiping with you and your lovely wife at church on Sunday. I was already looking forward to seeing the Nolans & the Prices yesterday! It is nice to have a church family, again, after wandering about for a few months!
—Laura
Alex,
I’m going to give this a whirl in my new dad sleep deprived state. Should we forgive? Yes! Should we pray for our enemies? Yes! How many of you prayed for those before you cast judgment on them? How about after? People need Christ. We should pray that they find Him regardless of their offences to society. As far as second chances go..well that is a horse of a different color. A second chance is given when the offender has found trust from the one offended. In the case of Vick, he did serve his time as the law requires and as for the NFL Commissioner Goodell has said, “At that point in time, I will want to meet with Michael, I will want to meet with his people, I will want to meet with other professionals to understand: Does he understand the mistakes he made, and is he genuine and have remorse for those actions, and is he prepared to handle himself differently going forward? That will ultimately be my decision.” He also said “NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has paid a significant price for doing an “egregious thing” and will have to show genuine remorse and that the experience has changed him in order to have a chance at resuming his career in the league. In the case of Vick, if he recognizes the wrongs of his actions and is repentant of them give him a second chance. When we repent God gives us a second chance so why not give Vick a second chance.
As far as I can tell Al Megrah did not admit guilt much less show genuine remorse. To let a guilty person out of jail prior to their sentence being up, who is unrepentant, because they are sick, is to leave a complete lack of justice in the mouths of all those who crave it. The bible clearly gives government the right to enforce the law. I would say no to a second chance based on the lack of repentance. Why would you let a convicted bomber who is about die out of jail? What kind of deterrent would he have should he decide to engage in similar activity again? Unfortunately our actions have consequences that sometimes lead us to lose the privileged positions we once had.
Two things.. One, I forgot to close quote after…esuming his career in the league.” Two, I would gladly comment on the 1018 pages of the vague and ambiguous so called health care bill which end goal is a single payer system.
Love the comments guys! I really didn’t think they would release the bomber but they did! Chuck and Laura you guys should have your own blogs!! Your thoughts are way more intelligent than mine! lol
Josh I’m glad I found your blog, some good stuff on there!