hese pictures (below left) were forwarded to me this week, and it was painful (very
painful) looking through it.
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I am imperfect and I have imperfect children, in-fact my wife and I had a
meeting with one of our son's teacher this weeks for deliberate break in
communication (aka lying), when I ask this son why he always said "no
homework" when he had home work, his reply was "I want to play", we fixed
that with consequences. At the same time we challenged him on what he has
learnt in bible studies, and to always remember that even when daddy or
mummy is not present, God is. I remember telling a few lies when I was
this son's age.
Human nature looks for the easy way out of situations, Nigerians have
adapted to a culture of corruption (from government officials stealing to
419 and yahoo boys) that we have no clue how to defeat (or better still we
don't want to defeat), because of poverty. The country of Iceland never
had a street riot in 15 years, but the current economic turmoil has
brought the people out of homes to the streets protesting against their
government for days, in record setting cold weather. In America two
investment bankers faked their own death (one even crashed a $2 million
jet) to avoid being persecuted; they both failed and are now in police
net.
When times are tough people are creative in ways of surviving, some chose
good creativity, while others choose criminal ways. Law makers in
responsible countries make laws to punish appropriately and also
rehabilitate the offender, especially if he/she is a minor. Iran is a
country that has been under economic isolation for many years because of
their policies and threats, it however seems the economic blockade is not
affecting the government but its populace. Anyone (Iranian) who dare
challenge the government about how the populace is suffering ends up in
jail.
Poverty has turned many Iranian children into street beggars and some
steal to exist (I'm not condoning stealing). Rather than provide avenues
to take care of these children, the custodian of government in Iran are
carrying out lop sided consequences (for poor kids), what they call
"Sharia Law", with the no room for grace or rehabilitation.
Bad behavior deserves appropriate consequences (perhaps this child needed
a privilege taken away or some ass whooping). Laws cannot save human soul
nor can it help our infirmities as humans; laws are mirrors that points
out our sin. Laws are supposed to be deterrents, they never change human
mind. Change comes from the heart, with gradual transformation and renewal
of the mind. (For Christians, which I am one, an encounter with Christ,
who died and rose for our sins, bring about the change of heart and the
mind renewal). Forgiveness and grace are strong principles in
Christianity. In my 17+ years as a prison clergy volunteer, I have seen
the grace of God in action - today I know ex-convicts who are good
citizens. A great and well known example is Dr. Chuck Olson, the founder
of Prison Fellowship (In America).
I have nothing against Islam, but I do have serious problems with "Sharia"
laws if the pictures below are what Sharia is about. Is this what Islam is
about? I welcome comments from Muslims on this forum.
I know this for a fact; all of us reading this article (including the
person holding the boy down) at his age have stolen something or told a
lie, so we all should be walking around with one arm or a missing tongue.
Is this the Sharia law that Arch-Bishop Rowan (the bishop of Canterbury)
said would not affect British jurisprudence?
I am not happy.
