Six teens stand trial for allegedly inciting beheading of French teacher who showed Muslim...

https://www.foxnews.com/world/six-teens-stand-trial-allegedly-inciting-beheading-teacher-showed-muslim-cartoon

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, We find ourselves confronted with a story out of France that chills the spine and grieves the heart. The trial of six youths accused of contributing to the martyrdom of Samuel Paty, a teacher who exercised his lawful right to teach about freedom of expression, is a stark reminder of the evil that prowls our world, seeking to strangle truth and justice. Now, let me tell you, the scripture warns us against such wickedness. In Proverbs 6:16-19, the Word says, "There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers." This case before us, as reported by Fox News, reflects several of these abominations intertwined in a most tragic tapestry of sin. Firstly, the insidious 'lying tongue' of the youngest suspect led to discord and a call to arms, violating the ninth commandment against bearing false witness (Exodus 20:16). The spark of her deception lit a fire that could not be quelled, resulting in the savage beheading of Mr. Paty. Moreover, the 'hands that shed innocent blood' are a plague upon our moral society – an 18-year-old's act of Islamic extremism is a defiant rebellion against the sanctity of life that the Lord placed in every human being (Genesis 9:6). The scripture tells us, "Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13), yet this fundamental commandment was shattered mercilessly. And let us ponder the 'heart that devises wicked plans' – the complicity of these teenagers, tempted by mere coins, resembles the betrayal of Judas who sold the Savior for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16). In their greed, they forsake the life of their own teacher, a distressing demonstration of moral decay in our young ones. This story is not merely about French secularism or freedom of speech; it's about the pervasive nature of sin that can corrupt and ruin lives. When we abandon the guiding principles of our faith and the moral compass that Scripture provides, chaos and tragedy are sure to follow. But we must not lose hope. The Lord is a God of justice, and He will not let the wicked go unpunished (Proverbs 11:21). While we live in a fallen world where the righteous sometimes suffer, we trust in our Almighty God who will bring every deed into judgment (Ecclesiastes 12:14). As a Christian community, we must stand firm against the tide of wickedness that seeks to undermine the stability and peace of our societies. We must pray for the repentance and the souls of those involved, teach our children the ways of the Lord, and uphold the sanctity of life and truth at all costs. We must remember that our fight is not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). Stay vigilant, stay prayerful, and may the Lord have mercy on us all. Amen.