6/21/12 Leonel,
22
Yesterday I wrote
about how atheists justify their unbelief, and today I was reminded of how
street gang members excuse their actions, even murder. I was witnessing with Luke, our church's
supported elder, and while he talked with Jose, who runs with a gang that calls
itself followers of Satan, I used a million dollar gospel tract as a
conversation starter with another member of the same gang named Leonel. "Someone just gave me one of those
yesterday at 26th & Cal" he said, referring to Chicago's Cook County
jail. Someone had been witnessing to him
there, which let me know God is at work in his life and I get to be part of
it! But looking at Leonel, its kind of hard
to see past all his piercings and Satanic and gang-related tattoos including those
on his neck and face, even on his eyelids.
Running down his face are teardrops representing fellow gang members who
have been killed; some filled in indicating that they have been avenged and
others yet to be avenged. But I also
looked in his eyes and saw a soul that needs to hear the Gospel. I used God's laws to help Leonel see his need
for God's grace, and as I asked about how well he has kept various commandments,
it was interesting that Leonel was adamant that he has never or would never
steal, yet admitted (indirectly) to murder.
In his peer group, there is no respect for a thief, but the killing of
an enemy brings great respect. Leonel
used many well-worn excuses justifying the murder of opposing gang members,
such as the need for self-defense and vengeance that he feels won't come
through corrupt police or a broken court system. But in the end they are just excuses. I know better than to excuse Leonel's actions,
but I also know that it is only by God's grace that I myself didn't grow up in
the same circumstances and do even worse things than he has. We all have much in common with him. We all have a God-given conscience - the
knowledge of good and evil - and we are all experts at making excuses for the
times we go against it.
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