The Blog of Columbus, Georgia

Saturday, October 25, 2008

25 OCT 08: HE'S GOTTA HAVE IT?

(BLOGGER'S NOTE: You may find the following item humorous, serious, or a little of both - but we offer these thoughts from time to time, as we keep a seventh-day Sabbath.)

"That man needs to read his Bible." So one person commented at a local news web site this past week, about the Frank Lumpkin III case. But what if his Bible was in the back seat of his stolen SUV?

OK, fair enough. Let's read the Bible, to see what it says about a case like this. But to read some of the other online comments, there probably would be a debate over where to read first. Each side would have a stack of verses ready, to prove its point -- almost like a cookie-stacking contest, only with the higher stack of scriptures winning.

Let's take the known events of this past week (at least according to Columbus police) in order:

1. Someone stole Frank Lumpkin III's Navigator. "Thou shalt not steal" is still in the Ten Commandments, and was quoted by Jesus. But many people will ignore this, and "steal a taco" Tuesday in a nationwide giveaway.

2. Lumpkin called Columbus Police several times about his stolen Navigator. The word "police" isn't in the NIV Bible, but Luke 18 has a parable about a widow who went to a judge several times to be avenged (in King James language) over an adversary. Hmmmm - maybe a local judge helped Lumpkin find his car.

3. Lumpkin went to the Super C on Fort Benning Road, to attempt what his attorney calls a "citizen's arrest." Uh-oh. Go back to Luke 18, and you'll find the parable doesn't end that way. The widow keeps pleading until the judge breaks down and intervenes. Admittedly, nowadays the widow might face charges for making harassing phone calls.

So here's the quick executive summary so far: It's wrong to steal cars. It's right to go to the authorities, when your car is stolen. But it's wrong to take vengeance on your own -- well, unless God tells you to do it. He did that to Moses in Numbers 31. Does Frank Martin have tapes of any unusual conversations involving Frank Lumpkin III?

4. Several young people were found inside the stolen Navigator. How many of them knew it was stolen is unclear, but Proverbs 1 warns we should NOT give in to enticing sinners -- such as the ones who use hypnosis by waving car keys in front of your eyes.

5. Friday's Ledger-Enquirer revealed three men were in a car with Lumpkin when he arrived at the Super C. Shall we go back and review point 4? Or should we wait for the newspaper to investigate those three men, like some did "Joe the Plumber?"

The point of all this hopefully is clear. If police reports are true, ALL sides in this case sinned. And James 2 indicates ANY sin which breaks the law is considered a violation of the entire law. The only difference may come in whether your judge is in a good mood or a bad mood.

But you know, the original commenter has a valid point. If people on all sides really read their Bibles, we wouldn't be having this debate in Columbus. Well, check that - if people actually applied what they read, we wouldn't have this debate. That lesson actually goes back to the old Romper Room TV show: do be a DO bee.

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