Hear Their Threats
“Whoever corruptly, or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication, endeavors to influence, intimidate, or impede any grand or petit juror, or officer in or of any court of the United States, or officer who may be serving at any examination or other proceeding before any United States magistrate judge or other committing magistrate, in the discharge of his duty, or injures any such grand or petit juror in his person or property on account of any verdict or indictment assented to by him, or on account of his being or having been such juror, or injures any such officer, magistrate judge, or other committing magistrate in his person or property on account of the performance of his official duties, or corruptly or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication, influences, obstructs, or impedes, or endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede, the due administration of justice, shall be punished as provided in subsection…”
This lengthy, run-on sentence is presented in the United States Code, Title 18, Section 1503. It ominously warns anyone who aims any kind of threat in any form of communication at a justice, juror, magistrate, or judge in the United States, that there will be hell to pay. Judges are God’s idea; the wisdom of impartial, educated adjudicators spared Moses from working himself to death. When they are threatened for doing their jobs, making indictments or coming to a verdict, it is a gross act of injustice and corruption.
“While this extremist Supreme Court works to punish and control the American people, Democrats must continue our fight to expand freedom in America…”
This isn’t a hastily sent tweet. This is from an official communication from the Office of the Speaker of the House, demonizing the Supreme Court of the United States of America. This comes during a time where the Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly warned about potential violence from extremists against U.S. judges. Extremists who will jump at any rhetoric or allowance of discrimination or aggression.
Whoever corruptly, or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication, endeavors to influence, intimidate, or impede…
A sitting legislator made what can easily be construed as an implicit threat against one of the most essential institutions of these United States. The correct response to this should be immediate, no-holds-barred outrage. There should be pandemonium in the White House as the President forms an immediate rebuke. There should be calls for investigations and even shouts for impeachment. What kind of perverted, foolish person would even consider adding this kind of fuel to a fire?
Worse than that, what kind of leadership finds vitriol against an objectively, scientifically, morally right constitutional choice that will save innocent humans from death?
It is extremely difficult for me not to feel an overwhelming hurricane of anger in my gut, in this moment. Perhaps this is written out of emotion. Maybe I should have cooled off, before I set to writing. But if the President won’t correct this out-of-line, extreme behavior, a citizen of these United States will have to do.
BUT, I am not just a citizen of this earthly government. There is a recorded code that I follow that supersedes any other, no matter how well-constructed or well-meaning. While I feel enraged at evil, I do not meet it with force or threats. The disciples of Jesus knew (and still know) what we ought to do in the face of human threats, implicit or otherwise:
“And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29–30)
This is how victory is accomplished. We don’t look at the threats of those with power, who foolishly abuse their sworn oaths for the sake of power and notoriety. They may have even abused a position they should have vacated years ago, with no apparent resistance. That does not matter, not to us. God is the avenger and the judge, not me. My job is to confront evil and to plea for the hand of God to strike with miraculous signs and healing power. I can rest knowing that God sees how human beings respond to justice, and that He will always reward according to our deeds. I am angry, but I know that my anger is simply fuel for the work of Heaven to redeem this fallen world and to save those under its shadow.
When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. (Proverbs 21:15)
