a watershed issue…
"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword… See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her--but now murderers! Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water. Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow's case does not come before them… Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" (Isaiah 1:18-23; 6.8)
The judge of Municipal Court, Number One, in the city of San Diego scrutinized the faces of the twenty-four perspective jurors assembled in his courtroom. While the judge asked questions to determine who to impanel for this case, I took the opportunity to record our responses. (The “lay-sociologist” within me could not pass up this opportune moment to be a participant-observer of this random sample selected by a computer!) Let me review the demographics of our group:
13 women and 11 men comprised this jury pool
Our ages ranged from the middle 20’s to 68 (one person’s boast!)
Every corner of the county was represented
The ethnic composition of the group was 1 Philippine, 2 African Americans, and the rest Caucasian
20 of the 24 had at least an undergraduate degree.
3 have never been married; 4 are single (marital status unknown); 8 are unmarried parents; 2 are widowed; and 7 are currently married.
No juror is receiving welfare assistance of any kind. Four jurors recently retired. Current occupations include lawyer, epidemiologist, engineer, stockbroker, inventor, filmmaker, homemaker, office manager, mergers and acquisitions executive, INS agent, store manager, administrative assistant, workers' compensation claims investigator, teacher, and graphic designer.
Two questions were significant to me. The first, “Have you ever been the victim of a crime? If so, what was the crime?” and the second, “Do you have a family member or friend who has been convicted of a crime? If so, please explain the circumstances to this court…” The answers to these questions stunned me… Every member of the jury pool had been victimized once by crime, 75% had been victimized twice, and 60% three times. The crimes included assault, theft, rape, and murder. 75% had a relative or friend who had been convicted of a crime. These crimes included theft, drugs, racketeering, murder, and fraud. There in Municipal Court, Number One, in the City of San Diego (“America’s Finest City”), I heard a litany of brokenness, destruction, and sorrow as we told our stories. It was a funeral dirge sung for a society that is literally killing itself.
Scripture teaches us that street violence, estranged relationships, injustice, economic decay, and loss of civic leadership are the by-products of people who rebel against God. The sole remedy is repentance, not legislative change or an austere federal budget. Our problem is spiritual… The spiritual, contrary to popular perception, is not the realm of the irrelevant or the mystical. Reality, as we perceive it, is embedded in a spiritual foundation. It is axiomatic that any society is at risk when its foundation has corroded — or perhaps, was never really there to begin with.. King Solomon observed in his day, “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint….” (Proverbs 29.18; see Romans 1.18-32)
I am convinced that a watershed issue facing followers of Jesus Christ today will be our response to the decay and despair around us. Christians are people who recognize that the person and power of Jesus Christ are the only viable hope for our city, nation, and world. “But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?” (Romans 10:14) Are you ready to answer like Isaiah, “Here am I. Send me!” If so, then there is no better day to start than today!
