Scot Free

Certainly we can be concerned in the incidences of lawlessness that we see all around us. One of the truly disappointing developments over the past few years is the reduction of sentences for those convicted of criminal behavior.  Or, the decriminalization of behavior that is detrimental to a functioning society.  We should look to the authority of Scripture to point us to the Biblical mandate for human government, which we find in Romans 13 (ESV):
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,
4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

We are surrounded, it seems, by lawless behavior.  And, what God considers to be lawless and sinful is sometimes treated as no big deal.  Take, for instance, the unfortunate case in which a known sex offender was not charged for a series of actions, according to The Christian Post, which reported:

Virginia's attorney general has accused a prosecutor of neglect, as a male sex offender who claimed to identify as female to enter women's locker rooms faces no charges in Fairfax County despite allegations that he exposed himself to little girls and kept child pornography, as well as a schedule of children's swimming schedules on his phone.

The man who allegedly committed these heinous acts is 58 years old, and named Richard Cox.  Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, who was defeated in his re-election bid by a man who had expressed a desire that a political opponent be shot and killed, called out Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano, stating: "Let's be clear — Richard Cox was hunting little girls in Fairfax County...What is it going to take for Descano to do his job?"

He went on to say: "Justice isn't optional, and our laws are not suggestions. Fairfax Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano has betrayed the rule of law and the very people he swore to protect, turning prosecutorial discretion into deliberate, weaponized incompetence," adding, "The oath prosecutors take to uphold the law and protect victims is sacred. It demands courage, integrity, and perseverance in the pursuit of justice."  The Christian Post also reported, "The police in Fairfax County have not charged the sex offender in connection with his visits to three Fairfax County recreation centers, where he allegedly exposed himself in front of women and girls," stating that there was "no probable cause to support charges in Fairfax County at this time."

Nearby Arlington County, though, is pursuing charges against Cox, according to WJLA Television.  The Christian Post article states that "Cox reportedly exposed himself to women and girls at two high schools and an Arlington recreation center, with prosecutors arguing in court last week that the sex offender tracked children in Arlington County and Fairfax County."

WJLA Television reported, regarding Cox:

7News has also learned that Cox, who also goes by “Riki Cox,” emailed Arlington School Board member Kathleen Clark when he was visiting schools.

Cox told Clark he was offended by Washington Liberty High School pool staff because Cox said they directed other patrons to use the individual changing rooms while he was in the women’s locker room.

“This is again sending the message that a transgender person is a freak and I guess not normal and beautiful like everyone else,” Cox told Clark.

So, not only is this man a registered sex offender, he also claims to be transgender, providing cover for his criminal behavior.  This is a great example of what happens when you twist the law to satisfy an agenda, resulting in the presence of men in women's private spaces.  

And, in Fairfax County, Virginia, it appears that he has gotten away with this abhorrent behavior - an example of a culture in which people call evil good and good evil.  A culture where people do what is right in their own eyes.

This is why we need the absolute influence of Scripture and the power and presence of Almighty God.  We are not being intolerant when we pray against and speak up in accordance with God's perspective on sexuality.  When we talk about matters of right and wrong.  The Bible tells us there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it is the way of death.  We cannot leave decisions to our own human devices - the stakes are too high, and people are being corrupted by the enemy's schemes.  We should always consider what the Scriptures have to say about the choices we make.