by: Allen Domelle
We are beginning to quickly understand how Jesus, an innocent person, was condemned and crucified. When taking into consideration the current events of the past few weeks, you can clearly see that we have been inundated with three incidents that show how mob justice quickly becomes an injustice. Justice has been determined by the mobs of people and news media giving the accused very little chance of seeing true justice.
Just a few weeks ago, a police officer shot and killed Michael Brown. Immediately, the mobs gathered and rioted, demanding the prosecution of the police officer without once hearing his side of the story. Criminals took advantage of the mobs and looted private store owners who had nothing to do with the incident. Governor Jay Nixon of Missouri foolishly said that the police officer should be indicted without once allowing the justice system to take its process, and in this writers opinion, he should have been immediately impeached for obstruction of justice.
Then, we have the running back for the Baltimore Ravens who hit his wife in the elevator. Trust me, I am not at all justifying a man hitting a woman. Any man who hits a woman is not much of a man. However, the mob media has decided already what should become of this man without allowing the justice system to take its process. Yet, the mob media, ESPN, will hypocritically allow a man who agreed to the charge of obstruction of justice in a murder trial to be one of their prime time commentators on “Monday Night Countdown,” “Sunday NFL Countdown” and “SportsCenter.”
Now, we are faced with the running back for the Minnesota Vikings, Adrian Peterson, who has been indicted for allegedly abusing his 4-year-old son by spanking him. Without hearing the case, Adrian Peterson has been tried and proven guilty by the mob media. Former wide receiver Chris Carter foolishly went off on Sunday condemning the NFL and these players without even knowing the whole case. It doesn’t matter the news source you watch, Adrian Peterson is guilty and he’s not even had a chance to have his day in court and tell his side of the story.
I’m not saying in any of these incidents whether any of these people are guilty or innocent. I’m not excusing a man hitting a woman, a parent abusing a child or a police officer abusing his power, what I am saying is that in each of these incidents these individuals stand little chance of having justice because of mob justice. If they are guilty, then they should pay for their crimes, but how can they have justice when mob justice has already tried and sentenced these men by public opinion?
Mob justice is exactly how Jesus was crucified. Yes, He had to die so that our sins could be paid, but it was mob justice that sentenced Him to die. Matthew 26:47 gives us the beginning account of the mob justice when it says, “And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.” The enemies of Christ could find nothing to condemn Him; instead, they gathered a mob to have Him arrested.
Because of their hatred of Jesus, the only thing they could do was incite mobs against Him. Notice what they did in Matthew 27:20, “But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.” They had no real reason to indict Jesus, so they persuaded the multitude that He should die without telling their true agenda.
By inciting the multitude, the chief priests and elders were able to bring mob justice into the very court system where Pilate was to try Jesus. The Scriptures say, “And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.” (Mark 15:8) They did not want justice, they wanted Jesus killed to pacify their agenda.
Pilate himself was influenced by this mob justice. He said, “…Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:” (Luke 23:14) Yet, in Mark 15:15 it says, “And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.” This was not justice, this was mob justice. Jesus was unjustly crucified because the mobs influenced him.
Americans, and especially Christians, need to be very careful about getting caught up in mob justice. Let me give you several thoughts that will help you.
1. Mob justice always has an agenda.
Just like the chief priests had an agenda to crucify Jesus, you will always find that there is an agenda behind the scenes of mob justice. Those pushing the mob justice always have an ulterior motive that you won’t see until it’s too late.
2. Accusations do not make someone guilty.
Accusations are not an admittance of guilt. I don’t care who it is who is making the accusations, you should never condemn someone off accusations. You wouldn’t like it if you were the one condemned by accusations, so don’t be guilty of condemning others by accusation. Furthermore, just because there is an indictment doesn’t mean someone is guilty. Indictments simply mean there is enough evidence that someone should be tried on those charges. IT DOESNT MEAN THEY ARE GUILTY!
3. Just because the news media reports it doesn’t make it true.
The news will report what makes them money and what agenda they want to push. They are professionals at crafting a story to show their opinion so they can affect the mindset of their listeners. Every news source has their agenda, so don’t let their reporting of an incident make something true in your own mind.
4. Always remember that people are innocent until proven guilty.
One of the most important things you must remember is that mob justice has someone guilty before they can prove their innocence. Mob justice is wrong because justice is determined by mob rule and perception. Mob justice is wrong because justice is determined by what appeases the mobs. Justice says that someone is innocent until proven guilty. Justice must always be based on principle, but mob justice is based on perception, emotions and prejudice. You would be better to fall on the side of believing one’s innocence and be wrong than to believe someone is guilty and be wrong. Always make it a practice to believe in the innocence of people until they are proven guilty.
Finally, as a Christian, you should desire to see people innocent and not guilty. If they are guilty, you should desire for them to be restored. Galatians 6:1 says, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” You should never be happy when someone has done wrong. It should break your heart. Instead of rejoicing in someone’s guilt, pray that they can be restored. One day it will be your relative, friend or it could be you who is guilty. Treat those who are guilty in the same manner that you would want to be treated if you found yourself in the same situation of those who are condemned by mob justice.
Let’s be good Christians in these areas and not become a part of the mob justice. Mob justice leads to injustice, and injustice leads to a society that does that which is right in their own eyes. Let’s not contribute to a chaotic society, but let’s contribute to a society of order by allowing the accused to have their day to prove their innocence.
Allen Domelle is the editor of the Old Paths Journal which is more than just a Christian’s publication. It is an excellent place to learn how today’s headlines will forge tomorrow’s laws and statutes. Keep yourself in tune with what is happening around the world, as well as in your own backyard with our daily updates and devotionals.