I listen to or watch the news after dinner. Often, it makes me upset to see so much suffering and so much violence that has no meaning or a clear reason for the hurt it causes. Currently, we are plagued with rampages of anger and behavior that hurt or kill ordinary citizens and innocent souls who are caught in the middle of this fury. It makes one wonder what situations or disconnects fuel these acts and bring them out in the community. I realize there are numerous reasons, but the mystery for me is why these acts did not exist in past generations and now appear. When I was a child, you could walk to school by yourself or ride your bike in another section of town. You were safe and trusting your neighbor. This simple and safe atmosphere has been absent from our community for some time.

Granted, living here in the UP, there is still much of that kindness and helpful community we trust and almost expect out of our neighbors; hopefully, this will not change. But on the national scene, this compassion and care seem to have been given over to agencies to control and administer, the police, social services, and mental health organizations. They are taking care of things, but these agencies can only do so much. It is a deeper wound in society that is making the community not safe.

What are the factors that have entered our current dilemma? One of them is evident in our current situation. That is misplaced compassion, especially when it comes to violent crimes against the innocent. We have replaced the law that was to protect the innocent and society, with a legal system that is to hold responsible those who use violence and disregard human beings who live in the community. That has not been the case lately in several instances where the rights of the criminal are better protected than those of the innocent victim. This concept turns the Law on its head. What kind of a legal system is this? Justice cannot be served by allowing this kind of action, which is a form of misplaced compassion. It only extends the behavior of the violent person and presents no justice for the action done to the victim.

Granted, many of the people involved in these violent crimes have had a very difficult upbringing, but responsibility for violence must be met with Justice. Compassion is based on love, not a political agenda. In legal terms, it is based on responsibility for one’s actions. Often, the problem is ingrained in the actor of these crimes; it could be mental illness that has not been seen or treated, it could be a broken home, it could be bad company, fill in the blank. But the responsibility for the crime must take into account not only the circumstances of the criminal but also the harm done to the innocent victim. So, what is the answer to this dilemma?

As Christians, we are commanded to love our Neighbor, but in our hectic modern world, it becomes increasingly difficult not only to help but also to understand our neighbor, yet we have been commanded by Jesus to do just that. Compassion is a component of Mercy. We say that God is all merciful. What does this mean? Mercy is part compassion and part forgiveness. We are talking about misplaced compassion. Misplaced compassion is using an ideology for political ends, rather than following the rubrics of responsibility and the truth that this brings to Justice. We cannot move forward as a community if there is no clear understanding of what constitutes acceptable behavior with consequences. The accused is equal before the law but responsible for his or her behavior. False compassion is a manipulation of the law and sends a message of tolerance for these acts in society, causing confusion not only for the victim but also for the offender.

Are there ways to work with these concepts of violence, mental health, or people who have been compromised by eroding social expectations? Yes, as Christians, we can pray for our community, pray for families, and pray for the person who commits these awful crimes. We can live a good life that reflects our Christian principles, especially when we are shunned because of what we believe. We can raise a good family, taking time for worship and prayer in our homes. We can guide our children on the righteous path. We can practice compassion and care for our neighbor, even when it is out of our comfort zone. Remember, we are called by Jesus to serve as the light of the world; this does not stop when there are problems and complications in our society. We are to forgive, move forward, and, with love and care, bring peace to our lives. We are bound for heaven; earth is a temporary place that challenges us every day.

Micah 6:8 (“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness?”), Psalm 85:10-11 (“Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; justice and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and justice will look down from the sky.”),