Weapons or Wickedness By Warren E. Berkley
Reprinted from the October, 1999 on-line edition of The Expository Files.
(http://www.geocities.com/~expository/)

In the New King James version of the Bible the word "wicked" occurs 342 times. One occurrence of this word is in 2 Peter 2:7, where we are told that Lot was "oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked." In that verse there is the "adjective athesmos" and "it means lawless men" (p.#447, Word Meanings In The New Testament, Ralph Earle). Abbott-Smith says that it is used "especially of those who violate the law of nature and conscience," (p.#11, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament). The same word is used only one other time in the New Testament, also in 2 Peter. Near the end of the epistle he warns us: "beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked," (2 Pet. 3:17). Vines quotes Moulton and Milligan regarding this use of athesmos: "An instance of the use of the word is found in the papyri, where a father breaks off his daughter's engagement because he learnt that her fiancé was giving himself over to lawless deeds," (p.#215, Vines). I believe it would be useful for us to use the word more today. It describes some recent and disturbing current events. The problem we are seeing is not weapons, but wickedness.

The murders at Littleton, Colorado and more recently in Ft. Worth were acts of wickedness, and I was pleased to hear our Governor state the matter plainly when he said: "We can pass laws, but there needs to be a higher law. And that is love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself." He said "All these incidents raise all kinds of questions about our culture. We're dealing with a situation where there's a wave of hatred passing through America." In other comments he used the terms "wicked" and "evil."

At about the same time the Governor was speaking, US Attorney General Janet Reno was blaming guns and promoting the urgent legislation of even more laws (this the same week that violators of gun laws were pardoned by the Administration she works for; the FLAN terrorists!). It occurs to me that the problem is sin not guns; wickedness not inadequate legislation; evil in individuals, not "society." And we would do well to use the terms when discussing such crimes.

If guns cause murders , and should therefore be eliminated, let us apply that same reasoning consistently. Let us argue that pens cause forgery; crow bars cause break-ins; telephones cause obscene phone calls and computers cause pornography on the Internet!

The simple truth is, we need to see the wicked people who use these instruments and identify them as the problem, not the instruments they use. This is the Biblical view. In all of the murders, rapes, crimes and injustice reported in the Bible, there is never an emphasis on the existence of the instruments or weapons used. God said to Cain, "What have you done," (Gen. 4:10); the account does not mention the weapon used. A few chapters later, God made it clear that murdering is a serious crime and must be punished (Gen. 9:6). One of the Ten Commandments said, "You shall not murder," (Ex. 20:13). This is quoted in Matt. 19:18; Luke 19:20 and Rom. 13:9. In the New Testament, Jesus legislated against murder - but back of the act, He legislated against the malice that caused it (Matt. 5:22). In all of this, no mention is made of the evil instruments or weapons. Rather, the evil persons; the wicked and selfish attitudes of malice and hatred. That's the problem. And regardless of how men see the problem and respond to it, God will deal with it in His time. We can be sure of that. Meantime, let us give heed: "...Beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked."

"A man that does not know how to be shaken to his heart's core with indignation over things evil is either a fungus or a wicked man." (H. W. Beecher)

The Ticket - Author Unknown (contributed by K. Dillinger)

Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55 zone. The flashing red in his rearview mirror insisted he pull over quickly, but Jack let the car coast.

Fourth time in as many months. How could a guy get caught so often? When his car had slowed to 10 miles an hour, Jack pulled over, but only partially. Let the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard. Maybe some other car will tweak his backside with a mirror.

He slumped into his seat, the collar of his trench coat covering his ears. He tapped the steering wheel, doing his best to look bored, his eyes on the mirror. The cop was stepping out of his car, the big pad in hand. Bob? Bob from church? Jack sunk farther into his trench coat. This was worse than the coming ticket. A Christian cop catching a guy from his own church. A guy who happened to be a little eager to get home after a long day at the office. A guy he was about to play golf with tomorrow.

Jack was tempted to leave the window shut long enough to gain the psychological edge but decided on a different tack. Jumping out of the car, he approached a man he saw every Sunday, a man he'd never seen in uniform.

"Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this."

"Hello, Jack." No smile.

"Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and kids."

'Yeah, I guess." Bob seemed uncertain. Good.

"I've seen some long days at the office lately. I'm afraid I bent the rules a bit-just this once." Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement. "Diane said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight. Know what I mean?"

"I know what you mean. I also know that you have a reputation in our precinct."

Ouch. This was not going in the right direction. Time to change tactics.

"What'd you clock me at?"

"Seventy-one. Would you sit back in your car, please?"

"Now wait a minute here, Bob. I checked as soon as I saw you. I was barely nudging 65."

The lie seemed to come easier with every ticket.

"Please, Jack, in the car."

Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open door. Slamming it shut, he stared at the dashboard. He was in no rush to open the window.

The minutes ticked by. Bob scribbled away on the pad. Why hadn't he asked for a driver's license?

Whatever the reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever sat near this cop again.

A tap on the door jerked his head to the left. There was Bob, a folded paper in hand. Jack rolled down the window a mere two inches, just enough room for Bob to pass him the slip.

"Thanks." Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice.

Bob returned to his car without a word.

Jack watched his retreat in the mirror, bottom teeth scratching his upper lip. When Bob vanished inside his car, jack unfolded the sheet of paper. How much was this one going to cost?

Wait a minute. What was this? Some kind of joke? Certainly not a ticket. Jack began to read:

Dear Jack:

Once upon a time I had a daughter. She was six when killed by a car. You guessed it-a speeding driver. A fine and three months in jail, and the man was free. Free to hug his daughters. All three of them. I only had one, and I'm going to have to wait until heaven before I can ever hug her again. A thousand times I've tried to forgive that man. A thousand times I thought I had, Maybe I did, but I need to do it again. Even now. Pray for me. And be careful. My son is all I have left.

Bob

Jack shifted uncomfortably in his trench coat. Then he twisted around in time to see Bob's car pull away and head down the road. Jack watched until it disappeared. A full 15 minutes later, he, too, pulled away and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness and hugging a surprised wife and kids when he arrived.