Miami Horror

Like anyone who ran across the story I was shocked and horrified by the report of a naked man who ate the face of another man and was then shot by police. The follow up stories from Miami included mention of a current fad with a drug called "the new LSD" which apparently causes the body to overheat. This was menitoned as a possible chemical cause for the bizarre behavior. News accounts were able to provide some information about the assailant's last day. He was divorced, he had a car and he had a girlfriend whom he had seen that morning. No one has shared pulicly why after he went to a beach party and he then left his clothing strewn along his path, nor why he stopped over an elderly homeless man and began to strip him and devour his face.

The police officer who shot and killed the man claims that he growled at him. A doctor reported that the drug produces an increase in strength and it requires several people to hold a man down who has ingested it. The policeman's response has not come under media scrutiny. It was clearly disturbing and the officer needs our prayers.

As awful as the story is, it is really not the main concern I have. What I found more awful was the comment section under the initial story. I did not read all of them, only a dozen or so, but the ones I read were consistently crass and vulgar. There were assorted light hearted jokes of a sexual nature, diet jokes and assorted political comments. Everything seemed to meet with a approval of other commenters except for the guy who went religious.

I found myself wondering, 'what is wrong with us?' How is it that our public conversation around something so heinous is reduced to lame and inappropriate humor?

My assumption is that we will not hear of a rash of these kinds of attacks. I would think this will be an isolated case. However, the deeper sickness which grips us, the attitudes which abound among us is here to stay. I recently heard a discussion about a hot-button social issue. The supporters of this regularly claim that younger members of our society agree with them, that we who oppose them "are on the wrong side of history." This morning I pondered that. No doubt the beliefs of the wider society are changing. But based on internet comments sections, I am not sure that the "widely held beliefs" of our society are any measure of morality. Theologically, sin still rules until Jesus comes back. Let us pray Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!