3. What About The Bad Guys?
Aim
To enable young people to apply biblical principles to justice issues; to see situations as God would have us see them: “For man sees the outward appearance, but God sees the heart.” (1 Sam 16: 7)
Preparation
Sets of cards with “A” and “B” information on (see Case Study); Bibles; stationery; football; referee; space to play football; goals; blindfolds for half the group.
Main Bulk of the Meeting
Case Study
Divide the young people into two groups, “A” and “B”.
Provide Group A with the following information:
“A 15 year old youth has pleaded guilty to stealing four cars during the month of February 2009. He has been convicted twice before for doing the same thing and also has been caught on four occasions for shoplifting when he was aged between 12 - 14.”
Provide Group B with the following information:
“Ben, who is 15 years old, has pleaded guilty to stealing four cars during the month of February 2009. He has been convicted twice before for doing the same thing and also has been caught on four occasions for shoplifting when he was aged between 12 - 14.
Ben’s mother died when he was 12 years old and has been living with his father ever since. His father is abusive and is a “career criminal”, training Ben in how to steal. If Ben refuses to work with his Dad, then his Dad beats him up . Ben has no other family and does not know who to turn to for help. He has been taught by his Dad not to trust the Police.”
Ask the groups to imagine that they need to punish “the youth” for his crimes. What punishment will each group pass? Have the groups differed in their suggestions?
Teaching Point: The anticipation is that Group B will not sentence Ben as harshly as Group A. Group B has more information and can see a background to his life.
Question: What does this show us in making judgments about people?
Explain:
God is a God of perfect Justice. He knows everyone completely, inside & out. He hates sin, and longs to protect victims. However, He also loves people and is prepared to forgive those who are truly sorry.
As Christians / the Church, we have a responsibility to victims but also those who have been accused of / are responsible for crimes.
Discussion Questions
A. What was Jesus/God’s response in the Bible to those who did wrong?
Divide the group again into groups. Ask each group to look at one story each and then feed back at the end:
- Story of Zaccheus (Luke 19);
- David having affair with Bathsheba leading to Uriah’s death (2 Samuel 11 & 2 Samuel 23 v 1-5);
- Story of Adulterous Woman (John 8: 1-11);
Ask each group to read the stories and summarise them for the rest of the groups.
Consider:
- What does the Bible tell us about how God / Jesus felt about each person?
- What did Zaccheus, David and the adulterous woman need to do to change? (i.e. seek forgiveness from God; turn away from their old lives).
- What is God’s reaction to true repentance? (Luke 15:11 - 32). How does the story of The Prodigal Son make us feel - grateful, like the son, or bitter, like the elder brother (this may be a point for reflection rather than sharing as a group)
- Can God redeem i.e. change absolutely anyone’s life?
B. Mention Paul, the apostle.
How he had been responsible for arresting and persecuting Christians (which we would consider to be against the law) in The Early Church and then had an encounter on the Road to Damascus? (Acts 9)
With that in mind, how should we treat those who have done wrong?
Game
Objective: to show that life can be unfair, but at the end, fairness will be restored
Divide group into two teams.
- The teams will play football, but all of Team A bar one player is blindfolded. None of Team B are blindfolded.
- More football; Team A is still blindfolded bar one player, but all of Team B have to play like crabs (hands and feet on floor, backs facing floor).
- More football; neither team blindfolded and can play normally.
Should show different situations where there is unfairness and struggles for some more than others.
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