Child Rape, the Justice of God & Grace

This previous Wednesday a judge in Vermont handed Mark Hulett, 34, a prison sentence of sixty days. The crime? Hulett confessed to repeatedly raping a young girl over the span of about four years beginning when she was only seven years old. Judge Edward Cashman argued that punishment no longer works and what is needed, particularly in the case of sex offenders, is rehabilitation. Because Hullet is considered a low-level repeat offender he does not qualify for in prison treatment. Therefore, in order to receive the proper rehabilitation treatment Hulett received a scanty jail sentence with the requirement of receiving treatment after serving time.

Referring to the punishment, Cashman said, "I discovered it accomplishes nothing of value; it doesn't make anything better; it costs us a lot of money; we create a lot of expectation, and we feed on anger.” He continued by stating, "The one message I want to get through is that anger doesn't solve anything. It just corrodes your soul.” Never-mind the agony and misery which this little girl went through and which will haunt her for the rest of her life; never-mind a sense of justice being carried out; never-mind that a repeating sex offender (his abuse did cover numerous years) will be out on the loose in a matter of months.

Hearing stories like this enrage me. I am consumed with emotions and anger. If I were his judge I would have him slowly and painfully castrated and then I would introduce him to Bubba his new roommate and boyfriend, courtesy of the state penitentiary. Then after years of this child rapist suffering abuse, rape and disgrace in prison I would put him to death. Even with all of that, in my opinion, the punishment would still not be enough to fit the crime.

But I am not his judge (1 Cor. 5:13 & Heb. 10:30 - although I wish I had the honor). Vengeance is not mine. The Lord will judge those outside of his Church. In light of this I never fully realized what a consolation Hell is. Yes, it is a place of endless torment and punishment for those who have rejected Christ, but it is also a place of justice – a final court where all injustice is vanquished. We cry out with the Psalmist: “Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous - you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God!” (Psalm 7:9). The Word of the Lord continues:

God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow; he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts. Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends. I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High. (Psa. 7:11-17)

Even when it feels like justice has been miscarried the Lord will have his recompense. Because of God’s absolute righteousness even the minutest sin cannot enter his presence. Judgment and punishment is due for sin to all sinners. Our holy God is indignant every day due to the radical depravity within human hearts. And he is ready to strike. His sword is un-sheathed, his bow is ready and he waits the final day when “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might (2 Thess. 1:7-9).

The justice of God is not harsh, awful or mean. It is righteous, holy and good. Every sinner (i.e., every human) deserves the wrath of God to rest upon them. We are a repugnant stench in the angry nostrils of a mighty and righteous God. In the case of Mark Hulett I look forward to the justice of God. Since Hulett will not receive his just due on this earth it will take eternity to reconcile this injustice. What is even more amazing and radical is that both child rapists and “normal” people have this in common: all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 6:23). And the wages of sin is death and eternal separation from our Creator God. This is the good, right and true justice of God. It is what we deserve and God is perfectly just in handing it out.

Yet, herein lies the scandal of the cross. Hypothetically, Mark Hulett runs into a Christian working with Chuck Colson’s Prison Ministry Fellowship. During his miniscule sixty day prison sentence the child rapist comes to saving faith in Jesus Christ. A sick and depraved sinner deserving the full wrath of God to be rushed out on him is now safe in the arms of Christ. The amazing thing, the truth that I cannot comprehend and which sometimes enrages me, is that the Kingdom of God is reserved for sinners (1 Cor. 6:9). Christ came, not seeking those who were well, but those who were lost, sick and depraved. I am left in wonder and amazement. The words which were once welling up inside of me have dried up with reverence and awe to our Creator and Redeemer. I can say nothing more but echo the Apostle Paul:

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen (Romans 11:33-36).