Do we love our dogs more than our children?

Which is more disgusting: a pit-bull being egged on to fight another pit-bull, or a 4 year old girl being molested by her father? According to North American jurisprudence, the dog deserves more sympathy than the child. Here are two scenarios:

>Michael Vick the disgraced NFLer was convicted of involvement in an illegal, multi-state dog-fighting ring. For his crime, he was:
• fined $1 million dollars,
• given a 23 month federal prison sentence,
• and a 3 year prison sentence in Virginia.

>An unnamed Ontario man logged onto a secretive website, and molested his four year old daughter live on the Internet for the pleasure of his sick viewers. He was sentenced to:
• 20 months in addition to the 14 months he had served during his trial period.

These convictions took place in two different countries, but on the same continent. As North Americans, it seems to me that we have lost sight of the idea that certain crimes are a greater expression of one’s depravity than others and that the punishment should fit the crime. So how might we reverse this troubling slide in justice?

First, we need to each do our part in educating our children and others we influence as to God’s views of justice. We need to confront the growing untruth that passivity to crime is the Christian calling, and regain our belief that punishment is part of biblical justice.

Second, we need to rid ourselves of the unbiblical viewpoint that all sin is equal. All sin is damnable, but Scripture clearly portrays certain sins of greater weight than others. Our justice systems must take this into account when sentencing offenders.

Third, we need to become voices for the voiceless. While animals surely need protection from abuse, so do the children, the disabled, and the weak among us. If we can rally thousands of people to strike over a cut in benefits, can we not do the same when a little girl is dealt injustice?

Fourth, we need to earnestly pray for the return of Christ. Evil will prevail until he comes and frees us from this world of sin and transgression.