Politics
Non-Christians often determine guilt or innocence based on their political opinions and whom they WANT to be right. As Christians, we must not do this.
We must remember that we really don’t know who is telling the truth; we weren’t there. We live in a time when false accusations are made all the time. An example is the Duke Lacross team being accused falsely of inappropriate actions. As Christians, we should distinguish ourselves by being ready to listen to each side, slow to voice our opinion, and not allowing anger to color our “discernment.”
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: (James 1:19)
Any thinking person should disapprove of the handling of the accusation by Senate Democrats. Their goal was not to help or protect Dr. Ford, but to use her as a political tool for vengeance on the Republican Party because of their hatred of President Trump. Like Dr. Ford, Judge Kavanaugh was only a tool. The lack of compassion on the part of Democrats has subjected what seems to be a very wounded woman to more stress, pain, and anxiety than was ever necessary.
As I watched the testimony of Dr. Ford with an open mind, I can see why some would believe her story. It did not lack sincerity or emotion. There were, however, many holes in her story that left many important questions unanswered.
As I watched Judge Kavanaugh’s testimony with an open mind, I found nothing objectionable about either his demeanor or his responses. I thought this is precisely how you would expect a man who has been falsely accused and unjustly smeared as a rapist in front of the entire country to act.
I have no doubt that the emotions of both parties were real, genuine, and appropriate. This is why cases in our courtrooms are based on evidence, not emotions. It is impossible for even the most discerning mind to determine, from the emotions and sincerity of the witnesses’ testimonies, who is right and who is wrong.
As Christians, we should distinguish ourselves from the world. We should not determine guilt or innocence based upon political or emotional feelings. We should never make a decision based upon what or how we want things to be. The only righteous moral standard for justice comes from God alone. Without this standard, everything becomes an effort to gain political power and to impose one’s moral code on others. Those who unjustly accuse others can justify what they do by saying “The end justifies the means.” The Bible says something entirely different.
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. (John 7:24)
God’s system of human judgment requires proper evidence. “She said,” he said allegations are not sufficient to condemn. A person’s life should not be destroyed simply because someone accuses them of something. There must be corroborating evidence to support the allegation.
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. (Deuteronomy 19:15)
As Christians, we are not to make hasty judgments based upon who or what we want to be right. A simple accusation is not sufficient to determine the guilt of a person. We are to listen carefully to the accuser and the accused. One thing is certain, in every accusation, there is an injustice. Either the accuser has been treated unjustly by the accused, or the accused is unjustly maligned by the accuser.
Remember, the legal system in America was based upon the legal system found in the Bible. God cares about justice. He expects His children to care about it also. If He required the corroborating testimony of multiple witnesses, so should we. We are to be persuaded by evidence.
In the presence of evidence, we do not dismiss it. In the absence of evidence, we do not condemn. If we do not use God’s standard for justice, we are moving toward the loss of all of our freedoms. There must be a presumption of innocence for the accused or the result will be more injustice.