October 30, 2007
THINK IT OVER
by Charles R. Swindoll
Take away the necessary constraints which Christ alone provides, and the raging beast of depravity within the human heart—no matter how intelligent the mind may be—will growl, crouch, claw, and occasionally attack.
Thus, when academic humanity and unrestrained depravity collide, depravity will win the battle.
Sometimes, the scene is shocking, as in the case of the “Honor Roll Murder” of Stuart Tay. Had it happened in some dark alley, it probably wouldn’t have made the evening news—at least not in more than a sentence or two. But this occurred among an upscale, financially prosperous, politically conservative, academically gifted group of young men.
Tough thugs did not kill Stuart Tay. He was murdered by youths headed for Princeton, Yale, and Harvard. Valedictorian types. Quick-minded, bright computer whizzes whom anyone would have picked for tomorrow’s leaders. These guys had academic knowledge in abundance. What they didn’t have was the ability to restrain the raging beast within.
As it was reported in Time, “the victim was brutally beaten with baseball bats before they poured rubbing alcohol down his throat and forced his mouth shut with duct tape. Tay died within minutes from his own vomit.”
Horrible. Yet, to be painfully honest, predictable in a sophisticated, politically correct society that idolizes knowledge while it ignores moral standards.
Truth minus Christ.
Reprinted by permission. Day by Day, Charles Swindoll, July 2005, Thomas Nelson, inc., Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Purchase "Day by Day" here.