How Should Christians Uphold God’s Standards of Justice in Controversial Court Cases?

Two high-profile cases have been part of the national conversation lately and have sparked discussions concerning matters of justice, morality, and the sanctity of life. First, you have Daniel Penny, the 26-year-old marine veteran, who was previously accused of killing Jordan Peely, a 30-year-old homeless man, when he placed him in a chokehold as part of Penny's attempt to protect subway passengers from Peely, who had been acting erratically and threatening them.

Earlier this week, Penny was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide in the subway chokehold case, just days after he was dismissed from a second-degree manslaughter charge after the jury deadlocked. While some have praised Penny for being a good samaritan for his actions, others have denounced him as a racist since he is white and Peely is black. 

Then you have Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old Ivy League graduate who is charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare Brian Thompson. Mangione had fatally shot Thompson in New York City last week as Thompson was heading towards an insurance conference, where he was scheduled to speak. In Mangione's case, he railed against the healthcare industry and believed that his actions were just, even if it was the murder of a businessman, husband, and father. He also received support online, to even be deemed a hero, as they too are frustrated with the healthcare industry.

As Christians, how do we respond to these particular matters amid society's divided take on morality, justice, and the sanctity of life, given that the loss of life is met with either praise or lament? 

First and foremost, when it truly comes to understanding these things, we must consider His character. God is both righteous and merciful, and He exhibits them perfectly. Meanwhile, we live in a fallen world that is opposed to Him and has rejected Him.

I can't help but think of the Old Testament book of Judges, which states that "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:15), which was referring to how the people did whatever they saw fit since there was no king to enforce law and order. They do whatever they feel is right, even if it's objectively wrong. Overall, it is reflective of a life without God, and that's the case today. A world without God is subject to doing what is right in one's own eyes. Proverbs takes it a step further: "there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12). Our decisions have consequences, including deadly ones. 

Although Mangione did what was right in his own eyes, he is paying the consequences right now because he murdered a man, who like Mangione and all of us, was made in the imago dei, the image of God. For Christians, we recognize that the truth of being image-bearers is important because it displays the value of the sanctity of life. All human beings are to be treated with dignity and respect. We must also extend compassion and care for one another, especially for those in need. 

Now, Penny's case was different because his intention wasn't to murder; it was to protect those around him. In a recent interview with Fox News, he told host Jenine Pirro that he would jump into action again if people were in danger. 

"I would not be able to live with myself if I didn't do anything in that situation and someone got hurt," he said. "I would feel guilty for the rest of my life."

"I'll take a million court appearances and people calling me names and people hating me just to keep one of those people from getting hurt or killed." 

In many cases, it is sad when someone is hurt, but no one else intervenes, which is otherwise known as the bystander effect. Penny did what he thought was best in the moment to prevent further harm. New York City has millions of residents as well as millions of tourists who visit the Big Apple each year, and no one should ever feel like their life is in danger, especially when taking public transportation. 

Although Penny was commended for his actions, others still see him as a murderer. In contrast, Mangione has received praise as a hero, even if he committed murder. This goes to show how far we have fallen as a society, which is called "evil good, and good evil" (Isaiah 5:20).

Nevertheless, nothing catches God off guard, and nothing will escape His justice. 

Christians are reminded that ultimately, "vengeance belongs to the Lord" when it comes to seeking retaliation or revenge for ourselves. At the same time, however, we are to practice righteousness and help those in need or who are in danger. Let us remember that each of us "will give an account of ourselves to God" (Romans 14:12), so how we live in the now matters.

Ultimately, Christians are to continue to share the light of the Gospel in this dark world. I'm always reminded that so many are lost without Christ, who alone can save them and transform their lives. May we pray that the church will continue to be a "city on a hill" (Matthew 5:14) so that we can reflect the light of Christ in the world. 

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images-Brian A Jackson

Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.