Not to Judge

In John 7, we find that Jesus was lecturing in the Temple about accurate judgment; we find that He said:
24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."
25 Now some of them from Jerusalem said, "Is this not He whom they seek to kill?
26 But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ?
27 However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from."
28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, "You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.

No, there were many who did not acknowledge who Jesus was - same as today.  But, He chided those whom He taught as really knowing who He was, but denying Him.  Jesus warned the religious leaders of the day not to develop opinions based on appearance, but to be methodical and accurate in the formation of their thoughts about certain matters.  If we are really seekers of truth, then we need to slow down, not jump to conclusions, and develop opinions before we have the necessary facts to do so.  If we don't do this, we lessen our credibility as Christ's representatives.

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God has not called us to be judge and jury in so many instances, for He is the One True Judge, yet because we have read something online or bought into a media narrative, we can believe that we have the right to jump to conclusions. Jesus warned against irrational judgment in Matthew 7:
1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.
2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?
5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Hearts are heavy today in light of the most recent mass shooting that occurred at a store in Boulder, CO, where at least 10 people, including a police officer whose actions have been characterized as heroic, have lost their lives.  The shooter has been taken into custody.

This comes as many are still reeling from the string of murders in the Atlanta area at the hands of a 21-year-old who allegedly killed 8 people at multiple spas in the region.  There are dueling narratives regarding the motive behind what really happened - there are those who distinctly believe that the young man, filled with hatred for Asians, went on a shooting spree and targeted people who were of Asian descent, predominantly women. Variations of this narrative also include directing blame at the evangelical church he attended for fomenting his hatred for other races. 

But, another narrative, which law enforcement had initially confirmed, was that the shooter was struggling with a sex addiction and viewed the women he attacked as perpetrators for his temptation.  Variations of this narrative also include directing blame at the evangelical church he attended for fomenting his hatred for women.  It also includes the accusation that so-called "purity culture," which is somehow connected to maintaining sexual purity outside of marriage and fidelity in marriage, was to blame - funny, I always believed that to be a highly Scriptural teaching.

These variations have the common component - the church, Crabapple First Baptist Church north of Atlanta, bears responsibility for the actions of this troubled young man, who at one time had been active in the congregation.  The church issued a statement last Friday that, according to Religion News Service, said, referring to the suspect, "that Robert Aaron Long’s family have been members for 'many years,' and Long professed his faith in Jesus when he joined the congregation.  The church also, on its website yesterday, said that church had instituted church discipline and the young man was no longer a member.

The statement said: “Aaron’s actions are antithetical to everything that we believe and teach as a church...In the strongest possible terms, we condemn the actions of Aaron Long as well as his stated reasons for carrying out this wicked plan. The shootings were a total repudiation of our faith and practice, and such actions are completely unacceptable and contrary to the gospel.”

The church's statement also pointed to where the responsibility lies: "No blame can be placed upon the victims,” adding, “He alone is responsible for his evil actions and desires. The women he solicited for sexual acts are not responsible for his perverse sexual desires nor do they bear any blame in these murders. These actions are the result of a sinful heart and depraved mind for which Aaron is completely responsible.”  The article also notes:

The church said it is cooperating with law enforcement and added: “We pray for both earthly justice and divine justice.”

And, in a response seemingly directed at those characterizing the acts of violence to be hate crimes against Asian-Americans, the church stated, “Finally, we deeply regret the fear and pain Asian-Americans are experiencing as a result of Aaron’s inexcusable actions..." The church also said:

“We repudiate any and all forms of misogyny and racism. We categorically reject the idea that violence is appropriate, regardless of one’s issues or motivations. Murder, especially, is a heinous evil and grievous sin. We also explicitly denounce any and all forms of hatred or violence against Asians or Asian-Americans.”

The insatiable media has continued to hammer the church.  Terry Mattingly of GetReligion.org seems to be crying foul, writing:

It is completely valid for journalists to dig into websites, documents and sermon files linked to this congregation. The question, however, is whether to goal of this research is to yield specific information about the issues that appear to be involved in this tragedy — such as ideas and materials that may have shaped Long’s beliefs on racial prejudice against Asian Americans and his brokenness, in terms of his struggles with sexual sins.

Are there printed materials linked to this congregation — and even movements associated with it — that address these topics? Are there sermons or lesson materials that appear to support a heretical stance that women are somehow to blame for this man’s sexual sins (as opposed to his own weaknesses and choices) and that he needed to use violence to eliminate these temptations?

He also takes issue with the Washington Post erroneously connecting the dots between a sermon delivered by the church's pastor to the acts of violence.  Mattingly writes:

It’s appropriate that the story notes: “It is not uncommon for pastors to preach on the apocalypse, and it’s unclear whether Long heard the pastor’s teachings Sunday.”

But it’s “unclear” that Long has cut his ties to this church and the faith that he claimed in the past? At this point, what evidence exists that any of those faith ties still bind in the case of this troubled and, from the church’s point of view, sin-sick individual?

I would also like to join others in asking why this sermon about the Second Coming is relevant to news coverage of Long and his alleged deeds?

Mattingly goes on to quote writer Rod Dreher at The American Conservative:

The story goes on to talk about how the murders might be connected to conservative Southern Baptist theology. There are something like 16 million Southern Baptists in America. About half of them are men. Eight million men have been exposed to some degree to conservative Southern Baptist teachings. … Does it even occur to these journalists and commentators that the problem here is not necessarily Southern Baptist theology, but a depraved young man? Of course not! Anything to destroy one’s culture war enemies.

How often we as a society have been duped over the past few years by narratives that media outlets and opinion journalists craft and then attempt to find so-called "evidence" to support their contention. It's called jumping to conclusions, and it is not healthy for people with a desire to know and respond to the truth.  In our own lives, we have to careful not to make these judgments, perhaps even repeat them, and respond inappropriately.  We should have compassion for all involved with the Atlanta and Boulder shootings - the victims of the crime, their families, and even the person who commits these heinous acts, and we can do so while still wanting to see justice served. 

Stories have their antagonists, but speculation on what motivated these individuals and who may have contributed to their acts can be counterproductive.  Why, a post on social media featured a picture of the Crabapple Church and the descriptor that this is where Mr. Long was "radicalized."  Another post took pastors and church leaders to task for what they were teaching on sexuality, jumping to the conclusion that there may be teaching that was considered to be "wrong" involved.  These came from professing Christians - does this contribute to a spirit of Christian harmony, believing the best of every person, or does it bear the fruit of division?  We tend to stand in place of the Holy Spirit and judge the thoughts and intents of the heart, yet the Bible teaches us that God is able to do this - are we trying to stand in the place of God?  We have to repent of judgmental attitudes and resist our own personal temptations to indict people in our own minds.