Who died and made us Judge?

During my youth class the other night most of the kids were in a very vocal state about the Trayvon shooting. Here are some of my thoughts about it.
1. Definitely a sad/bad situation.
2. Absolute truth - is it irrelevant?
3. Lemmings - any of various small, mouselike rodents of the genera Lemmus, Myopus, and Dicrostonyx, of far northern regions, as L. lemmus, of Norway, Sweden, etc., noted for periodic mass migrations that sometimes result in mass drownings.
4. S and s

The loss of life, the confusion, the apparent injustice in so many ways. But, why is this instance so special? I mean, I don't want to take away from the alleged heinousness of it. But, it seems to me that injustice occurs like this daily. Why are my students in an uproar. What about the mom who put her 2 year old in the dryer because the child wouldn't stop crying...then, turned it on and killed the child? What about the white cop that kicked the white lady in the head and knocked her out? A simple search on youtube reveals a plethora of injustices caught on tape. Why has this one been singled out?

Throughout the discussion it has already been decided that the man that shot Trayvon is guilty. Peoples opinions have already been tainted by the news and gossip around schools, offices, etc. There are groups gathering resources to "ensure" justice is served. Celebrities are twittering out the alleged murderers address so that folks can send him hate mail. Unfortunately, they sent out the address of an old couple instead (accidentally apparently) that cannot even return to their home now thanks to death threats...(what about the injustice to them?!!?!?!) The truth is almost unattainable and if the truth is revealed would probably not be accepted by most if it doesn't conform to what people already believe. Does truth matter here? Has the momentum grown too much for an innocent verdict to be decided without a revolt? It reminds me of "Crucify Him!, Crucify Him!". Where the influential opinion would coerce the masses to release a murderer and kill the Savior of the world. I am definitely not saying that the man that killed Trayvon is innocent and the Savior, I am just saying that people are easily influenced to demand the blood of someone in an apparently controversial situation without full understanding of the situation just because the masses are shouting "Crucify him" so to speak.

That leads me to lemmings. Lemmings are a form of rodent. They became the subject of a popular misconception that they commit mass suicide when they migrate. Actually, it is not a mass suicide but the result of their migratory behavior. Driven by strong biological urges, some species of lemmings may migrate in large groups when population density becomes too great. Lemmings can swim and may choose to cross a body of water in search of a new habitat. In such cases, many may drown if the body of water is so wide as to stretch their physical capability to the limit. This misconception gave rise to the metaphor of those who follow aimlessly, even to their own peril. When people are referred to as lemmings, that same metaphor is a reference to people that go along unquestioningly with popular opinion, with potentially dangerous or fatal consequences. (information from wikipedia on Lemmings)...In the same fashion, while I don't think there is a collaborative effort among media executives, we tend to follow the news as fact. And even more absurdly, tend to make important in our lives what they say is important. Let's be honest, the news companies are not in their line of business to benefit mankind, they are in business to make money. It's good business sense to focus on the sensational, controversial and absurd to raise their marketing value to attract companies that want put their advertisements in front of the most viewers eyes'. Yet, as they focus on most crazy issues that accomplish this ... the lemmings follow. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't necessarily think the news is evil or attempting to lead the world astray or anything like that...they are just trying to make money. I think the crux of the issue is our inability to discern with wisdom how we should respond to the fantastic...are we lemmings, lead by popular opinion, or are we believers in a sovereign God? Yep, I think those 2 are polar opposites contrary to the lemmings, er, rather, popular opinion. ;-)

Sin vs sin. That's a capital "S" sin vs. a lowercase "s" sin... you know...like MURDER vs. looking down your nose at someone. I mean, really...can we even compare the 2? This is where I think a lot of the issue lies with the Trayvon murder and the uproar that comes with it. It's an apparently easy thing to point at the alleged murderer and say GUILTY without even knowing the facts. Add the fact that in every paper, on every web page, in every classroom the lemmings are repeating what they "learn"...casting official judgment on what they think should happen. The alleged is now condemned without even going to trial. Here's my warning on that...to GOD, there is no difference in Sin and sin. There is no difference in MURDER and having an evil thought. That's right, have you stolen a paper clip? Talked back to your parents? Really wanted what someone else had? Thought about the opposite sex in hormonal ways? All that is sin...all of that separates us from a HOLY GOD. He hates all sin, not just the sins that in human minds are bad...ALL OF IT. So, the question I have is this: How do we, as guilty sinners ourselves, feel comfortable in pointing, talking about, casting judgment on ANYONE else? God is the ultimate judge. God has put/allowed the governments to be established for this type of thing on earth. The best advice is from Jesus on the matter - in Matthew 7:2 "For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you."

So, if we believe in a sovereign God how should we respond to this travesty? In my opinion and in following the example of Jesus, mercy should rule our thoughts. If you are a believer in Jesus, you are the recipients of mercy, grace and love in immeasurable amounts. We need to remember that and heed the advice of our savior in Matthew 7:2. As we make ourselves judges we could be condemning ourselves. Let's be careful how we proceed...remember LUV4-1ANOTHER