I have to admit that just the mere showing of Jerry Sandusky's face on the television makes me want to vomit. To say that my response to his image is that of antipathy and rage would be putting it lightly. Just remember, I am the guy who wanted to call down fire from heaven and consume a bunch of old grey-haired bitties who were taking too long to eat their lunches.
Now, just in case you have been hiding under a rock and you don't know who Jerry Sandusky is, I will now illuminate you. He was a former Penn State football coach who had a defensive philosophy of "get penetration and cover the tight end." You know, Penn State University, where you can go and major in minors. I know, what he did was absolutely terrible and I shouldn't joke about it. Not to mention that my mom always said that if you can't say something nice about somebody then you probably shouldn't say anything at all. Well, Mom, this is for you... Even though I hate Jerry Sandusky, at least he probably drove slowly through school zones.
So, as a Christian, is my hate of him justified? On one hand, I desire justice, and on the other hand, I know that he was created in God's image. Would I be foolish to think that God's mercy could not extend to him if he reached out to God for forgiveness? I will admit that I have prayed for his victims and their families but I have not prayed for Sandusky and his family.
Maybe at some point I stopped believing in Sandusky as a human being and viewed him more as a sub-human monster. I don't know. Certainly I know that he is not beyond the reach of God's grace but I wrestle with what should be the appropriate response when things like this take place. As Christians, I know we aren't supposed to stick our heads in the sand and pretend that things like this don't take place. Nor are we supposed to just heap condemnation on the perpetrators of evil without believing that our God still is in the business of dishing out amazing grace.
So, tonight will I pray for Jerry Sandusky's salvation? I wish I could say "Yes" but I probably won't.
Be Well.
Bill
