Let God Judge Righteously
I don’t normally speak publicly about legal cases, but the Lindsay Clancy case has captured the attention of people around the world. Because so many opinions and conclusions have already been formed, I believe it is important for us, as believers, to step back and remember what Scripture teaches us.
A person is innocent until proven guilty. We are not the judge, the jury, or God. We do not know every fact, every circumstance, every relationship, or everything that happened behind closed doors. Scripture tells us, “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Proverbs 18:13
We should never allow emotion, speculation, social media, or incomplete information to cause us to pronounce someone guilty before the evidence has been fully heard. At the same time, we cannot ignore the reality that evil exists. Scripture tells us that we wrestle not merely against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness (Ephesians 6:12). This world is fallen. Sin has brought unimaginable suffering, and innocent lives are sometimes destroyed because of the darkness that exists in this world.
The loss of children is heartbreaking beyond words, and my heart goes out to every person affected by this tragedy. But even in the midst of something so heartbreaking, we must be careful about assigning motives, identifying unseen spiritual causes, or accusing people without evidence. Let the facts speak. Let the investigation and legal process take its course. And let us pray.
The Bible reminds us that God is a just God. He sees what we cannot see. Nothing is hidden from Him. “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.”Luke 12:2 And one day, Jesus Christ will judge all mankind. “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained.” Acts 17:31 We will all stand before God. Every action, every motive, every hidden thing will ultimately be brought into the light. That judgment belongs to God; not to us.
So let us be careful not to cast stones. Jesus said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Matthew 7:1
That does not mean we ignore truth, excuse wickedness, or abandon justice. It means we should not take God's seat and condemn someone when we do not possess all the facts.
We are called to pray for everyone involved; the families who are grieving, those investigating or trying the case, those who may be suffering, and even the person or people accused. Pray that truth will come to light, that justice will prevail, and that no one will allow bitterness, hatred, or the enemy to destroy their soul. This world is not our home. Scripture warns us to be sober and vigilant because our adversary, the devil, seeks whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).
Therefore, stay close to the Living God through Jesus Christ. Guard your heart, your mind, your body, and your spirit. Scripture calls our bodies the temple of the Holy Spirit(1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
There are many temptations, influences, substances, circumstances, and choices in this world that can affect our judgment and lead us away from God. We must be discerning about what we allow into our lives and into our minds. But we should also be careful not to make claims about a specific person, people, or situation that we cannot prove.
Grace does not mean denying justice. Mercy does not mean denying truth. And seeking justice does not give us permission to condemn someone before the evidence has been heard.
God has extended grace to us through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, we should extend grace while still allowing truth and justice to take their proper course.
So instead of feeding speculation, let us pray. Pray that evil will not gain another victory through hatred, division, or condemnation. And most importantly, pray that we ourselves endure to the end. Jesus said, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13
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