Who is right? Only One
After watching the Senate Judiciary committee proceedings, I worry and pray for my three grandchildren. Two grandsons and one granddaughter will enter adolescence in an increasingly corrupt society.
Victims of sexual abuse, assault, and violence have been forced to relive their painful stories. Who will listen? Presumption of innocence until a full investigation and trial has been denied.
There is a silver lining: those who have been sexually assaulted are starting to find their voices, and to speak out, and to vote.
The reputations of both a judicial nominee and a sexual assault victim have been publicly questioned — and who is right?
Republicans were condemned for being tone deaf, and lacking compassion for sexual abuse victims. Democrats were charged with smearing a man’s life and work.
Both the nominee and the accuser were used and abused by politicians on the Left and the Right for political goals. This judiciary nomination process has lacked mercy and justice.
Each party blamed the other party’s actions, motives, and goals — to justify their own party’s actions. And yet both parties have delayed confirming judicial appointees (Garland, Kavanaugh) until after national elections.
A national commentator exasperated, “Dissolve the Senate.” Our nation is in conflict and anguish. But non-partisan Bible truths offer a MRI/EKG of our society’s ills. More importantly, the Gospel offers hope for a kingdom more unshakable than any Republic.
Psalm 14:3: “They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good …”
Ecclesiastes 3:16: “I saw under the sun … in the place of justice, even there was wickedness …”
Isaiah 16:5: “… a throne will be established in steadfast love … on it will sit in faithfulness, in the tent of David, One who judges, and seeks justice, and is swift to do righteousness.”
Isaiah 42:3: “A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench…”
Isaiah 59:14: “Justice is turned back … righteousness stands far away … truth has stumbled in the public squares …”
Micah 6:8: “He has told you … what is good … what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Romans 2:1: “… you have no excuse … in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.”
Hebrews 4:13: “No creature is hidden from [God’s] sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of the One to whom we must give account.”
Thankful for the Good News: only one Person in history is perfectly right, the righteous Hero and Worthy Victim. Only in Jesus are “justice and mercy … reconciled, [do] steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.” (Psalm 85:10)
None of us — whether Republican, Democrat, or Independent — can vindicate our lives by claiming personal virtue, or by blaming or playing the victim. We cannot justify ourselves by anything we have accomplished or by what we have suffered.
I am grateful for the one and only Hero who unjustly yet willingly took the abused Victim’s place, was violently assaulted, and absorbed my blame. Only God is the righteous Judge, and the justifier of those with faith in Jesus.
I pray for my grandsons to be godly, chaste, and respectful men. I pray for my granddaughter to be a godly, chaste, and a strong woman. I pray that all of my grandchildren will heed the words of Psalm 146:3: “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.” LORD, have mercy. Come, Lord Jesus!