John Piper on Newtown Elementary School and Murder
Wenceslas Hollar - Jesus before Pilate (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Murdering a human being is an assault on God . He made us in his own image. Destroying an image usually means you hate the imaged. Murdering God’s human image-bearer is not just murder. It’s treason — treason against the creator of the world. It is a capital crime — and more. “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image” ( Genesis 9:6). As usual, Jesus takes this up in devastating terms. None of us escapes. You have heard that it was said to those of old, “ You shall not murder ; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.” But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, “You fool!” will be liable to the hell of fire. ( Matthew 5:21 –22) He does not say unwarranted anger is the same as murder. It’s not. Ask the bereaved parents of Newto