Down through history stories and instances of inappropriate behavior repeat. Often, these come in the form of the judgment of others without stopping to examine our own behavior first. Behavioral boundaries are addressed in the Ten Commandments and often in parables told by Jesus. Because we are human, deviations from God’s commandments and examples through Jesus’ parables are frequent.
The Ten Commandments
Even irreligious or impious people have heard or know of Moses. His story of escape from Egypt and his return to free the Israelites is told in the early books of the Bible, the Torah. Even if you only know the story from the movie starring Charlton Heston, you know the narrative.
Moses is not only one of the early leaders of the Israelites but the conveyor of laws that form the underpinnings of modern life in Christian and Jewish nations. Having received stone tablets from God on Mount Sinai, he conveyed these tablets and laws to the Israelites. These ten laws define our behavior, relationships, and how nations interact.
As many societies become more secular, the Ten Commandments seem to take on the role of “strong suggestions” and not laws. In America, we only need to remember that they are etched in stone at the Supreme Court with a display of Moses and the tablets in the pediment over the entrance. Behavioral boundaries govern how we live, no matter our religion or beliefs.
Uneven Application of the Law
We have witnessed a very uneven application of the law in recent years, from the FBI’s refusal to prosecute Hillary Clinton to the prosecution of the January 6 group. We have seen parents persecuted for standing up for their rights in front of school boards and the refusal to prosecute store looters in major cities. When we see different treatment for President Trump and President Biden for similar offenses with classified documents, we know the law is tilted to favor some and not others. The most egregious is the refusal to enforce our border laws and the introduction of millions of illegal immigrants into the country solely for political gain in the House of Representatives and the Electoral College.
When Congress, our legislative branch of government, does not enforce the nation’s laws, we are on a slippery slope that needs to be corrected. The blindfold ought to be placed back over the eyes of Justice if we are to survive. The finger of divisive politics needs to be lifted from her scale.
Blinded by Sinful Behavior
President Trump has many self-inflicted bumps and bruises. He is a capable entrepreneur, visionary, and President but an ineffective role model in many respects. He is like many before him who were held in high regard and then fell from grace. Tiger Woods, Richard Nixon, Lance Armstrong, Charlie Sheen, Mel Gibson, and many others have all discovered that fame and fortune can be fleeting commodities.
But others have painfully learned that one person’s transgressions do not forgive others for their sin. If President Trump’s political sin is questioning the election outcome in 2020, he is joined by many others in prior elections. He is not even close if people want to play a sin-ranking order game.
“Hillary Clinton says she would not rule out questioning the legitimacy of the 2016 election if new information surfaces that the Russians interfered even more deeply than currently known.”
“Vice President Al Gore lodged his expected legal challenge today to Florida's declaration that George W. Bush had won the state, and hence the presidency, while the Bush camp forged ahead with preparations to take office.”
Election results could have been more questionable in 1876, 1888, and 1960. All losers expressed concerns with the outcome, but none sued or were as vocal as President Trump. In the 2000 election, the Supreme Court had to halt the recounting to settle the issue.
In God’s eyes, except for murder, sin is not relative; one sin is not more significant than another. As mere mortals, this is often where we get off track. In pursuit of our definition of justice, we overlook our own issues to pursue retribution on others we consider more sinful.
Jesus emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, humility, and introspection before embarking on a campaign seeking “justice.”
The Same Old Story
If you consider the Bible mere ancient history, devoid of relevance in today’s world, this parable is a potent reminder of its enduring importance.
3“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Human nature, as Jesus astutely observed, remains remarkably consistent across time. The sins prevalent in the first century and before persist, although sometimes cloaked by technology or situational ethics. Regardless of the wrapping, their essence remains unchanged.
When Fanni Willis decided to pursue the lawsuit against President Trump and others, she hid the “log in her own eye.” Suppose court testimony and reporting are even directionally correct in this case. I believe that Ms. Willis has broken at least four of God’s Ten Commandments: adultery, thievery, bearing false witness, and covetousness. None of these are traits I want in a prosecutor in any trial in this Nation.
According to the American Bar Association, even the appearance of impropriety is enough to remove a judge or lawyer from a case. Anything else begins to erode public confidence in the judicial system.
According to the American BAR Association, the conduct of judges and lawyers follows a parallel path where conduct is critical to the integrity of the whole legal system.
A judge shall act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary, and shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety.
Judges and lawyers are held to a higher standard where even the appearance of misconduct, even if not proven, is enough to remove them from a case. Using this explanation, Ms. Willis should remove herself or be removed from the case against President Trump and his codefendants. Anything less redefines “impropriety” and opens the door to unsavory characters performing in our courtrooms. She would have been dismissed for an inappropriate workplace relationship in any reasonable business environment.
Lessons from Moses and Jesus Still Live On
When we combine God’s commandments, as communicated through Moses, with the parables of Jesus, we are at the conjunction of behavioral boundaries and sound judgment. All the defendants in the Georgia case deserve fair representation, and the people of the State of Georgia need to know that their officials do not have their finger on the scale of Justice. We are where we are in this battle because of sin, not because of election interference.
Resources
After salacious hearing, can Fani Willis regain control of Trump case?, by Sam Levine, The Guardian, theguardian.org, February 16, 2024.
After Testimony in Atlanta, Willis Receives Both Praise and Condemnation, by Rick Rojas, Christian Boone, and Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon, The New York Times, nytimes.com, February 16, 2024.
Atheism and Agnosticism, by Austin Cline, Learn Religions, learnreligions.com, May 15, 2019.
Clinton Won’t Rule Out Questioning 2016 Election, But Says No Clear Means To Do So, by Terry Gross, NPR, NPR.org, September 18, 2017.
Do All Denominations Believe in the 10 Commandments?, by Daniel Isaiah Joseph, ChristianityFAQ, christianityfaq.com, June 14, 2023.
Fani Willis misconduct hearing adjourns after 2nd day in Trump Georgia case, by Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk, kiro.com, February 16, 2024.
Four Times the Results of a Presidential Election Were Contested, by Robert Speel, Smithsonian Magazine, smithsonianmag.com, November 4, 2020.
Gore Lawyers File Challenges to Contest Election Results, The New York Times, nytimes.com, November 27, 2000.
Hillary Clinton questions ‘legitimacy’ of Trump’s victory in 2016 election, by Alex Pappas, FOX News, foxnews.com, November 17, 2017.
Hillary Clinton’s Bad Habit of Questioning Election Results Has Spread to All Democrats, by Jim Geraghty, The National Review, nationalreview.com, May 6, 2019.
In fiery testimony, Fani Willis hits back at misconduct claims that threaten future of Trump case, by Kate Brumback and Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press, apnews.com, February 15, 2024.
Recalling Gore’s response to the 2000 Supreme Court election ruling, by Eric Black, Minnesota Post, minnpost.com, December 14, 2020.
Rule 1.2: Promoting Confidence in the Judiciary, America BAR Association, americanbar.org, July 16, 2020.
The 2000 Election Never Ended, by Andrew Rice, Intelligencer, nymag.com, November 5, 2020.
The Blindness of Sin (Luke 18:9-17), by Steven Brazzell, Park Baptist Church, parkbaptist.org, September 15, 2014.
The Supreme Court and the Ten Commandments, by The Editors, America Magazine, americamagazine.org, July 18, 2005.
Trump’s hubris has brought about the downfall of his family’s business empire, by Sidney Blumenthal, The Guardian, theguardian.org, February 17, 2024.
Watch: Anti-Trump DA Fani Willis Rages at Lawyer, Forces Judge to Call for Recess, by Randy DeSoto (Western Journal), Independent Journal Review, ijr.com, February 16, 2024.
