We have lived in Martinsburg for over fifteen
years. We find many things about this community to be truly wonderful.
Everything is convenient. We have a good hospital and ample supply
of capable doctors. For the most part, our community is peaceful
and quiet, even though very busy. There are some things that happen
here, though, that give one concern.
First, our community is in an uproar just now
because of an extreme act of animal cruelty. It seems that a man
tied his dog to a railroad track to be killed by a train. His
case will soon be turned over to the grand jury for possible indictment.
Emotions are running high. The small courtroom was filled to the
point of needing more chairs. A candlelight vigil has been held
in memory of the dog. Meanwhile, the perpetrator is cooling his
heels in jail under a $40,000 cash only bail. He faces one to
three years in prison and as much as a $5,000 fine if convicted.
We call him an abuser of an animal.
Second, not too many years ago, a man was sent
to prison for murdering his niece. Her abused body was found after
many days of searching. Other examples of the taking of human
life are all too numerous. We will not tolerate such. We will
do everything we can to bring the guilty to justice. We call them
murderers.
Third, every once in a while a story makes the
headlines that tells that some child in our community has been
horrifically treated. Again, when that happens, the community
gets into an uproar, and rightly so. We simply cannot allow such
actions to go on unpunished. We call those who do such things
child abusers.
Fourth, more often than imaginable, someone gets
into an automobile after drinking alcohol. The next thing you
know, he or she has caused the loss of human life and thousands
of dollars in property damage. Although, in my view, we are too
tolerant of such actions, we still seek some form of justice.
We call them drunkards.
Fifth, a man can take an instrument and insert
it into the womb of a woman in our community. With that instrument
he can destroy human life that is forming therein in a horrible
procedure we call abortion. He is a destroyer of the life of the
unborn. Many times the woman's life is all but destroyed, emotionally,
for as long as she lives. This man lives in a nice house, eats
the best of foods, wears nice clothes, and drives a fancy automobile.
We call him a doctor.
Solomon was right! The legs of the lame are not
equal (Proverbs 26:7). To be sure, I am not in favor of animal
cruelty. I am convinced that those who do such things should be
punished to the full extent of the law. However, I cannot understand
why we do not feel the same outrage when a precious little life
is snuffed out in every bit as cruel a way - or worse. May God
have mercy.
It also concerns me that souls are going into
eternity unprepared to meet God every day in your community and
mine. They are facing a fate worse than anything mentioned above.
We are doing far less than we could and should to reach these
people. We teach too little, pray too little, and give too little.
Yet, we dress ourselves up on Sunday and make the weekly trek
to worship. Monday through Saturday it is business as usual. We
call ourselves Christians. Central Church of Christ, 90 Waverly
Court, Martinsburg, WV 25401. Wfkenney@ix.netcom.com