The world was shocked as it learned that 3 young women had escaped a 10 year or more captivity from the Cleveland, Ohio basement of Ariel Castro. Even the neighbors of Mr. Castro were greatly disturbed that this man, a school bus driver, had successfully kept these three women, Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight, hidden away within the confines of suburban America - a home ideally located on Main Street, USA.
Ariel Castro is not alone in the crime of abducting and keeping captive women over long periods of time. The cases of Elizabeth Smart and Jaycee Dugard still resonate in the hearts and minds of many. America is not alone in this phenomenon. Cases from Europe, such as those of Wolfgang Priklopil and Josef Fritzl, also surfaced over recent years.
Our minds can only shudder at the thoughts of what these women went through. Rape, forced abortion, isolation and fear are only a few of the crimes perpetrated on these women. Many would say that no punishment would be good, or bad, enough for these demented men.
Now admittedly I am not a psychologist. Neither am I a defense attorney nor prosecutor. I will never sit as a judge in a court of law deciding even minor traffic violations, let alone such serious crimes as these. Yet with absolute certainty I can tell you that none of the men, who violated the freedoms and bodies of these women, many of whom were children when abducted, will say in their defense, "I did this because I loved her!"
Our minds can only shudder at the thoughts of what these women went through. Rape, forced abortion, isolation and fear are only a few of the crimes perpetrated on these women. Many would say that no punishment would be good, or bad, enough for these demented men.
Now admittedly I am not a psychologist. Neither am I a defense attorney nor prosecutor. I will never sit as a judge in a court of law deciding even minor traffic violations, let alone such serious crimes as these. Yet with absolute certainty I can tell you that none of the men, who violated the freedoms and bodies of these women, many of whom were children when abducted, will say in their defense, "I did this because I loved her!"
... none of the men ... will say in their defense, "I did this because I loved her!"
Thus we discover not only a great truth about God, but equally an answer to a life long question posed by the skeptic, the atheist and the inquisitive. The believer is often asked, "If God exists, why is there so much evil in the world?" The answer is as simple as this declaration, "God is LOVE"!
God's love does not constrain us, forcing us to do things we do not want to do. God's love does not keep us captive against our volition. God's love does not chain us with fear and intimidation. God's love grants to us freedom that Ariel Castro and these other wicked men, were never willing to grant their captives. From the Garden of Genesis 2 onward, God's love constantly granted man freedom; even when evil and sin were among the choices available to him in that liberty.
The next time you are asking yourself, or the next time someone asks you, about the root of evil or why evil is permitted by God the answer is simple, "Ariel Castro and the Love of God!"
God's love does not constrain us, forcing us to do things we do not want to do. God's love does not keep us captive against our volition. God's love does not chain us with fear and intimidation. God's love grants to us freedom that Ariel Castro and these other wicked men, were never willing to grant their captives. From the Garden of Genesis 2 onward, God's love constantly granted man freedom; even when evil and sin were among the choices available to him in that liberty.
The next time you are asking yourself, or the next time someone asks you, about the root of evil or why evil is permitted by God the answer is simple, "Ariel Castro and the Love of God!"
Love is patient and kind;
love does not envy or boast;
it is not arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way;
it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice at wrongdoing,
but rejoices with the truth.
Love bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.
Love never ends.
(1 Corinthians 13:4-8, ESV)
love does not envy or boast;
it is not arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way;
it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice at wrongdoing,
but rejoices with the truth.
Love bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.
Love never ends.
(1 Corinthians 13:4-8, ESV)
RSS Feed