Road Rage & The Birmingham Murder I suppose that by now we all have heard how Mrs. Shirley Henson pulled a .38 caliber handgun on Mrs. Gena Foster last Monday (Nov. 8), shooting and killing her on an interstate off-ramp of I-65 in Alabaster. Reports stated that Mrs. Foster died from one shot to the head that entered through her left cheek. Of course this made national news. From the November 10, 1999 issue of The Birmingham News: "Shelby county District Attorney Robby Owens attributed the killing to 'road rage.' Witness Jim Hardy of Pelham said Monday that Ms. Foster had cut in front of Mrs. Henson on the interstate. Mrs. Henson then began riding the bumper of Ms. Foster's Pontiac Grand Prix, Hardy said. "When the two exited the interstate, they pulled to the edge of the off-ramp, he said. Ms. Foster, a stout redhead, got out of her car and approached the truck. Ms. Foster was unarmed, 'but she was mad,' Hardy said. "Mrs. Henson fired out the window of her 4-Runner, Rigney said." "Rage" is "a furious, uncontrolled anger; especially a brief spell of raving fury."(Webster) Jesus dealt with this in the Sermon on the Mount. "Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment...If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."(Matt. 5:21-24) The Birmingham News gave some tips to avoid road rage from AAA Foundation of America. These included: 1. Change your schedule to avoid the worst congestion. Allow time so that you do not have to speed, run red lights or roll through stop signs." (In other words, give yourself enough time so as not to violate other laws, thus exacerbating the problem by provoking yourself. -- p.a.o.) 2. Improve the comfort of your vehicle... 3. Concentrate on being relaxed. Don't clench your teeth. Loosen your grip on the wheel. Take a deep breath... If you're involved in a road-rage confrontation, the News article continued:
1. Get out of the way; let the angry person have the road. 2. Don't challenge the angry person. 3. Ignore gestures from the other driver. 4. Avoid eye contact. It can be seen as a challenge. You may wonder, How does this help me spiritually? The last four tips on what to do if involved in "road-rage" are simple applications of a number of Bible passages. 1. Get out of the way, let the angry person have the road. The truth is, you and I can make driving mistakes which irritate others. We can be in the wrong. Jesus said, "Agree with thine adversary quickly..."(Matt. 5:25) Pictured is one (the "adversary") who has a legitimate complaint against you. Rather than retaliate, try to reconcile. This principle is universal in application. Relative to the Birmingham shooting, it was reported that what precipitated the murder was Mrs. Foster's cutting in front of Mrs. Henson. Yes, we all have had that done where it would seem someone wants to show us in a challenging way he will "get ahead" of us. "Just try to stop me" is the meaning. The one who "cut in front" at best wasn't courteous. While Mrs. Henson's "riding the bumper of Mrs. Foster's" car didn't help matters, if Mrs. Foster had followed Jesus' teaching, had agreed with her adversary quickly, I'm convinced she would be alive today. Most important, failure to follow these words of Jesus is a sin.2. Don't challenge the angry person. What good will it do? Paul said, "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."(Rom. 12:21) Further, "If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men."(Rom. 12:18) Too often we think we will be seen as a "weakling" if we back away from angry and violent people. This does not mean people in the church who are bent on having their way must be coddled and cajoled. Paul said, "For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped."(Tit. 1:10-11) Physical violence however is not how "mouths must be stopped!" "The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"(Eph. 6:17) is our weapon on such occasions. "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control."(Prov. 29:11, NIV) "A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult."(Prov. 12:16) Always remember, our duty is to try to draw people to God, not repel them from Him; to encourage people to do right, not provoke them further to more sin! We should want every individual on earth saved, even the one who cuts us off while driving, or rides our bumper. Remember, Jesus died for such individuals!3. Ignore gestures from the other driver. The above passages from Proverbs equally apply here. After all has been said and done, what harm has come your way after anyone makes an obscene gesture? 4. Avoid eye contact. It can be seen as a challenge. Again, our obligation is to attempt reconciliation, to make peace(Matt. 5:9), not provoke another to further sin. The News reported that road rage nationwide has increased 59 percent from 1990 to 1996. Is there a correlation between that and less respect for the Bible? You be the judge. What would happen to road rage if everyone practiced principles set forth in the following passages: "All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets."(Matt. 7:12) "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you."(Eph. 4:32) Certainly, one woman would not have been shot and killed and another charged with murder had these verses been applied in their lives! Not only is this the best policy for human relationships, anything other than this is sinful! -- p.a.o. * * * * * * * * * * * One Church by James M Thomas There are literally hundreds of churches in the world, maybe even thousands, each with a peculiar slant on salvation, worship, the Godhead, eternal life, and other important doctrines. What hope does a person have in finding the true church of the Lord? Immediately, some would say that all churches belong to God and that He is the Father of them all. The only problem with that idea is it is contrary to Bible teaching. God does not receive all religions, nor does He respect all who claim to love and follow Him. Consider what Jesus taught while He was on earth -- "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." (Matthew 7:21) Notice He didn't say this to people who had no interest in living for God. The people He was referring to were those who "cast out demons, and performed many wonders" in His name (vs. 22). Yet they were rejected by God for not following all of His will in love and humility. They were only righteous enough to win the approval of others. People may claim to have a devotion to God while practicing denominational doctrines, but if they are diligent students of the Bible, and genuine seekers of truth, there is no way they can say they are obeying all of God's will. The Bible doesn't teach the modern philosophies of salvation apart from water baptism, a universal bishop, church-sponsored recreation, the sponsoring church arrangement, divorce and remarriage apart from adultery, women preaching before men, infant baptism, instrumental music, and so on. These are not taught in the New Testament. I am not suggesting that all who practice these things are dishonest hypocrites who have no love for the Lord. I cannot read people's minds. But what I am saying is they are not practicing the Father's will as stated in the Bible, and are in jeopardy of missing out on eternal life with God. Remember, Jesus said salvation is not in what we claim before men (calling Him, Lord, Lord), but in seeking and applying the will of God. This is true whether we accept it or not. If every church would seek the pattern found in the New Testament, we would all have unity in matters of faith; that is, we'd believe alike on salvation, worship, eternal life, God, etc. The reason I know this is so is because the Bible only teaches one faith for the Christian age.(Eph. 4:1-4) This is why God can ask and demand that we all practice the same thing in religion.(1 Cor. 1:10; Phil. 1:27) We can have unity because only one pattern for Christianity was revealed (Jude 3), the pattern that God, Jesus, and the Spirit believe in.(Jn. 17:20,21) Are you honestly seeking, or are you dishonestly satisfied? * * * * * * * * * * * * Eternity...Will that be smoking or non-smoking? |