Carl's Soap Box

Zero Tolerance for Zero Tolerance

Zero tolerance policies may seem like a good solution in combating many of societies problems where apathy, disregard for the law, and lack of respect for authority have spawn from over-jtolerance in the past. Basically, a zero tolerance policy means that penalties will automatically be imposed for certain behaviors without regard to circumstances and without any consideration for motives or how such charges may negatively impact a person's life.

These zero tolerance policies are usually the result of the establishment's over response to society's problems. The current laws in some states that prohibit any form of physical discipline for children is an example. At one time the laws for protecting children from abuse were too slack. Then about thirty years ago there were a few severe cases of child abuse that were so terrible that they made national news. People were outraged. The need for tougher child abuse laws was suddenly evident. However rather than addressing the problem with thoughtfulness so as to correct the problem without hindering the authority parents and teachers need to maintain control and discipline at home and in the classroom, law makers over responded. As a result of this over reaction, parents in some states are not allowed to apply even the slightest amount of physical discipline. Even in the states that still permit parents and teachers to spank children as a means of correction, the laws are so strict that that many parents are afraid to correct their children in this way. The result of this particular zero tolerance policy is a generation of young people who have no respect for their parents or any other authority figure. They behave as though they have never had a spanking; because they haven't ever received a spanking.

Domestic violence was another problem in which law makers crossed the line of reason when they set out to create solutions. Most local governments now have a zero policy for domestic abuse. The principal problem in resolving domestic abuse incidents was that the victim often would not press charges against the assailant. To resolve this problem, a zero tolerance policy was implemented. This may seem appropriate on the surface, but it removes any human judgment or application of reason and common sense. A significant flaw in the system is that the definition of "assault" itself is vague and often exaggerated. Basically any physical contact can be considered assault by the simple accusation of the alleged victim. To illustrate, here is a real life example that I heard about...

A man and his wife were having an argument one morning. They resolved their differences made up and even had "romantic marital relations" (if you know what I mean). During the argument a neighbor had heard the two arguing and had called the police. By the time the police arrived several hours later, they had already made up and were grilling out on the patio. The police questioned the couple and asked if there had been any physical assault by either of them. The man just laughed and told the officers that at one time his wife had slapped him on the arm. The police immediately placed the woman under arrest. When the husband protested, they pinned him to the wall and warned him not to interfere. This is zero tolerance in action.

Zero tolerance policies for sexual harassment in school and the work place sounds like a good idea. Certainly no one should be subject to "real" sexual harassment either at work or at school. The problem is that "zero" tolerance redefines "harassment" so that even harmless and innocent gestures, comments and actions may be considered sexual harassment. A teacher can no longer place an encouraging hand on a students shoulder without risk of being charged with sexual harassment. I remember a case where a first grader (male) was expelled from school for kissing another first grader (female) on the cheek. In the work place you better be careful about telling someone that they look nice. Pats on the back for job well done regardless of how innocent it may be can get a supervisor fired. You better watch how you talk also. Words such as "honey" or "sweetheart" can get a person in big trouble whether it is said in jest or as words of compassion to comfort someone who just needs to hear a few kind words. This can particularly be a problem in the South where using words such as "honey", "hon" is simply a cultural thing. If you go into a convenience store in the South, it is not uncommon for the cashier (especially if the cashier is female) to say something like "thank ya hon" when she rings up your purchase (it's a suthern thang ya know). It's always been that way here and no one thinks anything of it. It's seen as simple friendliness. Although this still goes on, a person could loose their job for it if someone wanted to push the issue. With zero tolerance policies for sexual harassment in place, we have to be careful about letting our humanity show.

A zero tolerance policy regarding students carrying weapons to school seems reasonable; but take a look at these incidents and see if they seem reasonable...

In February of 1998, a fifth grade student was expelled when she picked up her mother's lunch box by mistake which contained a paring knife.

In March of 2002 an honor Hurst Texas high school honor student was expelled for having a bread knife in the back of his pick up truck which was parked on school property.

In 2002 a South Carolina high school freshman was expelled for possessing a butter knife. She was making toast before school using the knife as she noticed the clock and ran out locking the door behind her with the butter knife still in her hand. It is true that she could have woke up her parents to open the door and left the knife at home or she could have dropped it on the porch. She took it to school and placed it in her locker and forgot about it. When it was found by school officials, the zero tolerance policy automatically kicked in and required her expulsion.

In October of 2009, a high school honor student and Eagle Scout was suspended for having a pin knife which was locked in a survival kit box which was locked in the trunk of his car which was parked on school property.

All of these issues (child abuse, domestic abuse, sexual harassment, and school violence) are serious problems and indeed need to be addressed with urgency and effective action. While zero tolerance policies sound like strong and effective solutiion, they often harm the innocent and depreciate our liberties. Zero tolerance policies assume all cases are the same without regard for extenuating circumstances. The reason we have a legal system requiring a jury of our peers is that cases can be examined individually and reason can be applied to the law. Zero tolerance policies hinder this process by requiring jurors to make determinations within a set of parameters so rigid that make their function ineffectual. The parameters of zero tolerance policies are so rigid in fact that they do not even allow for the application of common sense in many cases.

In my humble opinion, a more sensible approach would be to look at each case without any predetermined action to be taken. If after considering all the facts of the case, a penalty is warranted, then it should be imposed in appropriate measure. It seems our current system with it's zero policies is quick to condemn with little regard to circumstances, yet so slack in imposing adequate sentencing toward the truly dangerous criminals. If you check the sex offender registry you may be shocked at how many sex offenders live around you. Why are they living around you rather than living in prison? Criminals often serve less than ten years for murder. I know of someone whose home was broken into a few years ago. The burglars were caught and sent to jail. It seems these burglars had been in and out of jail their entire life for burglary and other crimes. Each time they are caught they serve two or three years and return to their trade as soon as they are out. They do it over and over again.

It's no wonder then that society is fed up with the crime situation, but the correct response it seems would be to impose more severe penalties on the truly hard core criminals rather than locking up or expelling every person who mistakenly breaks a petty rule.

Random Thoughts For Ponder

It has been said that Christians ought not to envolve themselves in politics, even so far as to discuss political issues. I believe however, that a Christian should be concerned about the welfare of their community, their state, and their nation. How can we love people and not be concerned for their welfare? It stands to reason therefore that if we are concerned for people's welfare, we will have an interest in political issues. After all, t politicians in office have a great impact on our ecconomy, our safety, our health, our medical care, our retirement, and our liberties just to name a few.

Putting our faith in the Lord to care for us and provide all our needs does not mean that we should not care about what is going on around us. Rather than putting our heads in the sand, we ought to take a stand on these issues and present a Christian perspective to be considered when these things are being discussed, debated, and boted on. Christians believing they should remain silent on political issues is how prayer was removed from our schools, the Ten Commandments were removed from our courthouses, and same sex marriage was legalized.

Love

You've probably heard the saying and even seen it on posters...

"Love is never having to say you're sorry." I believe that is a ridiculous statement! We sometimes hurt the people we love. In a moment of frustration or anger we may say something that we do not mean. Sometimes we may do something out of ignorance or insensitivity that causes hurt to someone we love. None of us are perfect and therefore we will all do things from time to time that causes some sort of hurt to our loved ones in spite of our best intentions. Love is then demonstrated when we humble ourselves and make an appology. Implied appologies do not count. Confessions are not appologies, but should accomany the appology. The only way to give a real appology is to come out and say that you are sorry.

Living in Sin

There is an old phrase used to describe an unmarried couple living together. It is said that they are "loving in sin". The truth is that ANY person who has never put their trust in Jesus to be their savior is living in sin regardless of how moral they may be.

Christian Music

Why is it that so many people believe that God could only possibly like the same type of worship music that they like? Like everyone else, I have my favorite type of worship music which happens to be traditional gospel. While I feel that traditional gospel music is more compatible with the basics of the gospel such as the blood atonement and the work of the cross; this does not mean that all other forms of Christian music are are unfit for worship. I believe many people simply judge by the "sound" of the music (the beat, the tempo, etc..).

I know of some people who even believe that the use of certain instruments such as drums or an electric guitar makes the music unfit for worship. This is pure leagalism and has no biblical basis. More attention should be paid to the lyrics to determine if they are compatible with God's word and if the lyrics praise and honor our Lord.

I believe it is fine to have our favorite type of Christian music and only listen to that particlar style, but we should not criticise those who chose to listen or play another style based entirely on our personal feelings which are not supported by scripture.

Ye Must Be Born Again

Someone may say about a man mowing his yard on a Sunday... "Don't he know that he will go to Hell for that?" The truth is that if the man is saved, mowing his yard on Sunday will not send him to Hell, and if he is lost ceasing to mow his yard on Sunday will not get him into Heaven.

Note: The eternal security of salvation is not a free ticket to sin. Sin hinders us from receiving the fullness of God's blessings even to the point that He will not hear our prayers. There is also the Judgement Seat of Christ that every Christian must face and give an account for every thing he/she has done after they were saved.

Does God Hear All Prayers?

I've heard people say that God hears all prayers. I've heard some take it a step farther and say that God answers all prayers. As surprising as it may seem, this is not what the bible teaches. First of all, we must be a child of God (saved) to have our prayers answered. The exception is the sinner's prayer of confession and replea for God to save their soul.

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
John 9:31

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
Psalm 66:18

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
1 Peter 3:12

I have known a number of lost people who pray on a regular basis. Many will not accept the fact that God will not hear them. Everyone wants to believe that God hears their prayers, even the lost. One might ask, "If a person prays, isn't that proof that they are a believer and therefore saved? The answer is no. Prayer is only evidence that they have an intellectual belief in God, but is not evident that they have believed in their heart which is quiet different and is the type of belief that results in salvation.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:10

Even born again Christians can get into a condition of which God will not hear their prayers. There is an abundance of scripture which teaches us that if we get out of fellowship with God by living contrary to His Word, He will not hear our prayers. Here are a few...

He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
Proverbs 28:9

And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
Isaiah 1:15

Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Isaiah 59:1-2

Sometimes a fellow Christian may ask other Christians to pray for him/her due to some sort of hardship. This is certainly acceptable and we should always be willing to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Sometimes that Christian who is asking for prayer is out of fellowship with God. They may not be living according to the statues and teachings of God's word. I'm not talking about a mistake here and there, after all none of us are perfect. I'm talking about someone who has grown cold and indifferent toward God. I'm talking about someone who is living in such a way that they are barely or not at all recognizable as a Christian. While we are not to judge one another, we are to encourage, exhort, counsel, and if necessary rebuke one another to help them be reconciled back into fellowship with God where they will be in a position to receive the fullness of His blessings. When properly executed, these things are not acts of judgement or criticism, but rather they are acts of brotherly love.

Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Proverbs 27:5-6

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Proverbs 11:14

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Proverbs 12:15

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.
Galations 6:1

While praying for such a person's needs as they have requested, we should also pray for their restoration of fellowship with God. We should also do our part as a counselor by reminding them that the way of a transgressor is hard. Though God is faithful to answer the prayers of those who abide in Him, we can pray for until we are blue in the face, but God will not bless over sin. The best that we can do for one who has strayed from fellowship with God is to help them see their true condition and their need to be reconciled through repentance.

Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
Proverbs 13:15

Another condition for God hearing and answering prayers is faith.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
James 1:6-7

In contrast, we have some promises in God's word that He will hear and answer the prayers of His people who pray in faith and live in obedience.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:16

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 18:19

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Matthew 21:22

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
John 15:7

It is plain to see from scripture that God's favorable response to our prayers is contingent to our faith and obedience.