Albert Snyder's Legal Battle
Some nights Albert Snyder awakes in the middle of the night, and on other occasions he does not sleep at all. He is tormented and incensed by the signs carried by a protesting church group outside his Marine son's funeral. For instance, one sign read: "Thank God for Dead Soldiers." The protestors reason that Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder died as an expression of God's displeasure concerning the participation of homosexuals in the military, although he was not himself gay.
Now, more than four years after his son's death in a Humvee accident in Iraq, Snyder's legal battle appears headed for the Supreme Court. From his perspective, the protestors were not engaged in a legitimate exercise of free speech, but were disrupting a private assembly, and harassing people when most vulnerable. This, in turn, acted as an incitement to violence. Incidentlly, if this reasoning is allowed, it could apply in a much wider range of circumstances.
While the legality of the protest is a matter for the courts to decide, we are left to consider what is at issue. The sage aptly observes: "Righteousness exalts a nation, for sin is a disgrace to any people" (Prov. 14:24). In more graphic terms, whatever a people sow, that will they reap. Granted, there are mitigating circumstances. As a prime consideration, God is more inclined to reward righteous resolve than allow recompense for evil (cf. Exod. 20:5-6).
Meanwhile, Jesus appears to caution against the application of this principle in select instances. In this regard, some called his attention to certain Galileans who Herod had put to death. "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?" he rhetorically inquired. "I tell you, no! Or those eighteen who died when the tower of Siloam fell on them-do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish" (Luke 13:2-5). We are thus warned against presumptive conclusions, with the view that we shall all have to give an accounting.
Moreover, Albert Synder is as a rule soft-spoken and polite. However, anger and sadness flare up quickly, and with little warning. In this regard, the litigation has forced him to relive the anguish of his son's death. One would hope that he will soon experience a desperately needed sense of closure.
As for the propriety of homosexuals serving in the military, and under what circumstances, this is a related but complex issue that deserves separate consideration. It brings to mind my homiletics professor's insistent admonition: "When you are finished, stop." Indeed!
It bears repeating, you are cordially invited to visit my publication website:
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/p/publications
Article submitted Monday, April 19, 2010 & read 591 times.
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» left by Mark Parsec (1 year 295 days ago.)
Hi Morris,Great article. It should help people to put things into perspective. Let he who has an ear hear...God bless you,MarkRespond to this comment
