Crime and punishment are in the news. Our lead writer, Carlos Wilton, refers to the case of the serial killer in Wichita; others might think of the U.S. Supreme Court decision to outlaw executions of juveniles. Although we Christians regularly confess our sins in public worship, we find it difficult or impossible to identify with the likes of Dennis Rader. There certainly are different levels of criminal behavior, and our law codes rightly try to fit the punishment to the crime. And yet we all need to wake up to the reality of the condition of sin and to the possibility of new life.
