Proverbs 6:16-19 

16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

                    We live in a violent world.  In 2001, the United States had 21,000 people murdered in the United States.  These statistics from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control do not include abortions, which took the lives of thousands of our unborn children.  Between 30 and 50 thousand Iraqis have died in the war.  In 2003, you will be glad to hear, Maine had the lowest ratio of murders per population above any other state in the union.

                    What may surprise you about this verse is that it does not state that God hates killing.  What God hates are hands that shed innocent blood.  It does not say that God hates hands that shed guilty blood.

                    Let me share some principles that are often confused by well-meaning people.

                    First, many are confused by the difference between mercy and justice.

                    The reasoning goes like this.  God wants us to love our enemies.  He asks us to give them mercy.  Therefore, Christian justice is showing mercy and compassion on people.  It is unjust to kill the guilty because it goes against the ethic of Christian justice.

                    But this reasoning confuses justice and mercy.  One cannot have mercy if there isn’t a separate idea of justice.  Mercy is deliverance from justice.

                    Justice is an eye for an eye.  Justice is when people get what they deserve.  Mercy is when a person does not get what they deserve.  Christians should never confuse mercy with justice. 

                    What do people who shed innocent blood deserve?  They deserve a life for a life.  That is justice.   “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.”

Genesis 9:6.  This is what God says.  It is given before the law, is given in the law and is a universal principle. Justice demands a life for a life.

                    God hates hands that shed innocent blood, but he does not hate hands that shed guilty blood.

                    The second area of confusion is between the role of the government and the role of the church.  Or, I might say, the role of the individual vs. the role of the government.  The church is people.  Every Christian is part of the body of Christ or the church.   So when I speak of the church, I am not speaking of the organization, I am speaking of Christians.  Christians and the church are the same.

                    So what is this area of confusion?  The area of confusion is in seeking the commands and teachings given to individual Christians and applying them to our government.

                    “14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” Romans 12:14, NIV.

                    To whom is this command given?  Who is the “you” found here?  This is the Christian.  This letter is written to the church.  We are to be agents of God’s mercy and grace.  If someone offends us, we are to forgive.  If someone seeks reconciliation, we are to be open to reconciliation.  If we are persecuted, we are to bless.   That is the role of the Christian and of the church.

                    But notice the transition in verse 19,

                    “19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:19-21, NIV.

                    These verses tell us that God is the one who will bring justice.  As Christians, we want to avoid being overcome by evil.  We do so by being instruments of mercy and grace, not in instruments of revenge. 

                    But God will bring justice.  And how does he do it? 

                    First, he doesn’t use the church.  The church will preach and teach on justice.  But the purpose for us preaching justice is to bring us to the place where we are ready to receive mercy.  When we see what we have done wrong, when we understand that the wages of sin is death, when we see that God satisfied justice by putting his Son to death for us, then we are able to receive the free gift of salvation by putting our faith in Jesus Christ.  The church is a place where people receive mercy and grace, not justice.  Christians are people who deal out mercy and grace, not justice.  We teach and preach about justice, but we are here to offer the good news of God’s mercy and grace.

                    So how does God deliver justice if he doesn’t do it through the church?  He does it through the government.

                    Romans 13:1-5 show us this:  “1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.” Romans 13:1-5, NIV.

                    Notice the effect the government has on evil doers.  Verse 3 mentions terror and fear.  Verse 4 mentions the sword and the agent of wrath and punishment.  Verse 5 speaks of punishment. 

                    The distinction between the church and government has caused many to struggle with capital punishment.  But the church, Christians, are to show mercy and grace, but the government is to execute justice.  God does not hate people in government who shed guilty blood, he does hate hands that shed innocent blood.

                    This is why someone like James Dobson could go into a prison and witness to Jeffrey Dohmer.  He was convicted of murder and cannibalism.  God used a Christian, a member of his body, the church,  to tell him of God’s mercy and grace and the government to execute justice on behalf of society.

                    There are times that the church must exercise justice, as in the case of church discipline over an unrepentant sinner.   And there are times it is proper for the government to show mercy and grace.  But in general, Christian people are to show mercy and grace, the government dispenses justice.

                    So who is innocent? 

                    First, no one is free from sin.  But there is a lower standard of innocence that is used here.   If we define justice as an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, a innocent person is one who has not done a sin that is worthy of physical death. 

                    Judas took responsibility for betraying innocent blood.  He betrayed Jesus and turned him in to the authorities.  In Matthew 27:4 he goes to the priests and confesses: “4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.””

                    Many of the Proverbs were written by Solomon, David’s son.  One of David’s nephews was a man named Joab.  He was appointed as one of the major leaders of the army of Israel.  He had an independent streak in him.  David had pleaded that no one kill his son, Absalom, but Joab killed him anyway.

                    Joab’s brother was killed by a man named Abner.  David entered into a peace agreement with Abner when Joab was not present.  Joab returned, heard about the agreement, and sent a messenger to ask Abner to return to David.  He murdered Abner before he made it back to David.

                    Later David decides to deal with Joab.  This is what the text says: “31 Then the king commanded Benaiah, “Do as [Joab] says. Strike him down and bury him, and so clear me and my father’s house of the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab shed.” 1 Kings 2:31, NIV.

                    Abner did not deserve death according to David. 

                    This makes us think of people like those in the Trade Towers. That is shedding of innocent blood.  It makes us think of Sadaam Hussein.  People he pulled off the street and murdered did not deserve it.  It makes us think of Columbine High School or of victims of domestic abuse.   No matter what they did, they were not deserving of death.

                    God hates hands that shed innocent blood.

                    We underestimate ourselves if we think we are above shedding innocent blood.  I think that if a bomb blew up our home and killed our loved ones, many of us would react in the same way that we see those in the mideast doing on television.   So often on the news we will hear a statement like this, “I know he/she/they had problems, but I never thought they would commit murder.” 

                    Jesus put his finger on the problem in Matthew “21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” Matthew 5:21, 22, NIV.

                    Notice the connection between anger and murder?  We can often find that same link between anger and suicide.   I have heard that one definition of depression is anger turned inward.  It is the buildup of anger that makes people like you and I vulnerable  to violent behavior.

                    Ephesians 4 tells us to “Be angry and sin not!”  Christians need to take their anger seriously.  If Jesus makes such a close connection between murder, which God hates, and anger, which needs to be controlled,

                    How do we deal with anger?

1.  First, prayer is critical.  Do you believe that God wants to help you with your anger?  Then tell him what is bothering you.  He already knows, so you won’t say anything to him that will surprise him.  Ask him for help.  Tell him that you want to be kept from sin.

2.  Second, the church is important.  Remember, the church is people.  Find a godly person and tell them what is bothering you.  Get their help, get their support.

3. Third, the object of your anger needs to be confronted in most situations.  The object of your anger must change from being a person to being an issue.  Paul tells us that we don’t battle flesh and blood.  There is a spiritual battle going on.  There are issues that need to be faced, talked about and settled. 

                    When would you not want to confront another person?  If they are under the influence of drugs, if you fear for your safety,  if you can’t control yourself....these might be good reasons to wait.  But wait on the Lord.

                    They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.  They shall mount up with wings a eagles.  They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)