[Image: Downtown Annapolis -2, 2013, JA Van Devender]
James 2:12–13 (NKJV)
12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
The spectacle is over. Whatever else one says about Major Nidal Malik Hasan, it has to be said that he played his trial with masterful strategy. He offered no defense of his actions. In fact, when "cross-examining" witnesses put forth by the prosecution, he actually drew out statements from them which described his actions in shooting his fellow soldiers and civilians in more graphic detail. His plan was to highlight his guilt not mitigate it. In closing he offered no closing statements and obviously sought the death penalty in sentencing. I can not think of how he could have spoken more loudly than through his silence.
Now the sentence is in... death by lethal injection, delivered by a jury after less than two hours of deliberation. The only question that remains is "will the government of the United States do it?"
It poses an interesting quandry for those opposed to the death penalty. The man desires to be put to death for his actions. There will obviously be no series of appeals, at least not initiated by him. There can be no legal actions which represent themselves as "acting on his behalf" as if he was incapable of doing them himself. He is obviously sane, controlled and fully aware of what is happening. So what are those who oppose the death penalty to do?
I imagine they will argue that even in cases such as this that it is morally reprehensible for the state to kill him. There will be the usual statements about how it reduces the rest of us down to his level. There will even be appeals to the notion of "mercy", that by allowing him to live we are giving him opportunity to change his mind... etc. etc. etc.
Towering above such arguments stands the cross... the effective communication of God's absolute decree that the just penalty for sin is physical death followed by eternal punishment. There also is proclaimed God's absolute decree that mercy is shown to those who repent and embrace the Lord who there suffered that just penalty of sin on their behalf. Judgment and mercy... not in competition or contradiction... but complementary and mutually reinforcing. There, high above all human endeavors is God's fullest word on the subject.
Judgment is demanded for sin. Mercy is extended to those who repent.
Major Hasan denies the supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ - for that he will face that same Lord Jesus Christ and give account to HIm for that arrogance. Major Hasan killed those who, like him, were created in the image of God. He did so without mercy and the words of James make it very clear, that judgment without mercy is justly deserved by those who show no mercy. It would be vindictive rather than merciful to withhold the sentence of death. It matters not whether he wants it... we should not entertain some vengeful idea that he will be more miserable alive than dead and therefore let's inflict the maximum amount of pain on him by keeping him alive and physically crippled for years. That's not '"mercy" - that's hate. Furthermore, apart from repentance, what he faces after death is far more hideous than anything that man can do by keeping him alive. But that is not for us to contemplate... that is a matter between God and Maj. Hasan and we simply leave it at that.
He has killed... he deserves to die... it is just and merciful to execute him. However there is one thing remaining to say. The message Major Hasan communicated and seeks to reinforce by his execution must be repudiated with the same clarity that he has demonstrated. It must be clearly proclaimed that his death is just, first and foremost because he has committed idolatry. He has placed a figment of man's imagination, an abstract idol, in the place of the God of the Bible. He has deluded himself by asserting the supremacy of a false prophet over the Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth the Christ of God. His murderous actions were simply the logical outworkings of this underlying blasphemy. For that alone it would be just for him to die, though under the present dispensation that is not given to human judges to decree. But it would be just. Mercy is offered conditioned on reprentance but not otherwise. We must keep God's name above all others if we are to have any hope of justice. We must extend mercy in God's name or else it is not mercy at all.
Here is the law and the prophets... here is justice and mercy. And we must simply give Major Hasan over to the God who loves justice and mercy for his final determination. This we know, mercy triumphs over judgment for those who humbly seek it through Christ... and no matter how hideous Maj. Hasan's life and actions, it is still available to him should he repent and seek it from God. God who is alone the judge of human hearts would righteously and justly extend mercy if such was the case... if such was not the case, God's righteous and just determination would be that mercy not be shown to those who have not practiced it.
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