Crime Versus Sin.

 In days gone by, Christians would have had few problems understanding the balance I try so hard to achieve when considering how we should deal with criminals today.

They would have grasped with ease the idea of 'letting the punishment be appropriate to the crime.' - The OT Lex Talionis.

It would never have occurred to them that 'reformers' would try to eradicate this from societal thinking.

They would have understood the needs of deterrence, letting justice be seen to be done and the necessity for society to be perceived as evenhanded.

They would not have been able to see how this would be in any conflict with their faith. They would have recognised that society had a specific job to do and the individual believer's job was emphatically not to try to forgive people of their crimes - including many who would reject that.

"God forgives" the 'reformers' would shriek, fully aware that He does NOT forgive crime - only sin!

Crime has been handed to society to deal with by God - and sin is for God alone.

Sin can of course, be forgiven via repentance and The Cross.

Where there is overlap - you may well be responsible to both Man and God.

So what is the duty of the Christian who is burgled today?

That is very personal so should they forgive the criminal and not call the police?

No. They must play their social role and separate that from their role as the believer willing to forgive 'those who sin against us'.

The liberal left - and more specifically, liberal christians, have muddied waters that formerly had been crystal clear.