“Justice for Caylee!” the crowd chanted outside the Orlando courthouse as the jury’s decision was announced.
Television and radio personalities weighed in as well. “I absolutely cannot believe that Caylee’s death has gone unavenged,” said CNN’s Nancy Grace.
Kim Kardashian (who – interestingly enough – is the daughter of one of O.J. Simpson’s “dream team”) stated she was “truly sick” over the “not guilty” verdict.
On the CBN News Facebook page, one viewer wrote, "She will answer to Someone more powerful...the Righteous Judge!"
“Where is justice for Caylee?” yelled a woman outside the Orlando courthouse. Where indeed?
I have found a very mixed bag of thoughts and emotions about this verdict on my Facebook page. Some believe justice was served as a lack of evidence allowed for the reasonable doubt necessary for a verdict of “not guilty.” Others are quite descriptive in the harm they’d like to see inflicted on the defendant – as well as the jurors.
And then there are those who find solace and satisfaction in a God who, they are certain, will eventually give Casey just what she deserves. After all, the Bible says, “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord!” (Romans 12:19) Justifiable rage! Sanctified revenge! Blistering penalty! The wrath of God!
But let’s think that through for a minute. The Bible also says, “There is none righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10), “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), "They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one." (Psalm 14:3)
If the wages of sin – any sin – is death (Romans 6:23), then that whole rage, revenge, penalty, wrath thing is something Casey absolutely deserves . . . just as much as I do.
I don’t know about you, but I’m terribly thankful that Romans 6:23 doesn’t end there. Yes, the wages of sin is death – but the gift of God is eternal life. Our God is the prodigal God – the God recklessly extravagant in love, forgiveness, and mercy. I can rest in the assurance that there is nothing that can separate me from His love (Romans 8:38-39). And if I am thankful for the grace that is extended to me, how can I wish for anything but that same grace to be extended to every other sinner in this world – even those whose sins are televised for the world to see.
Tami Cinquemani
Well written and a great perspective.
ReplyDeleteTami,
ReplyDeleteI think your article is very timely and thought provoking, not just from a Christian perspective but from an American perspective. While I think Casey is guilty and deserving of consequences, this case showed in bold relief the rule of law that we celebrate. As a nation we value protecting the innocent more than we value punishing the guilty, so the benefit of living in a functional democracy is that occasionally ( maybe more than occasionally ) one gets away. Those losses are to be celebrated at the altar of freedom.