Even the most creative punishments can’t produce true heart change, but I still applaud a judge who’s giving it a try.
I recently read a short newspaper article about this judge and if you missed it, here’s a recap: A Missouri man was arrested for leading a band of poachers who were illegally killing deer at night, selling their trophy-worthy heads and leaving the carcasses to waste. Not just a few deer, but hundreds.
That’s definitely worth a hearty “yuck,” I think. And the judge thought so, too, as he sentenced the poacher to, among other things, pay a hefty fine, spend a year in jail and—get this—watch “Bambi,” the Disney classic, once a month while he’s in the slammer.
I love that last bit because it’s such a wonderful little nugget of judicial wisdom, even if the poacher doesn’t have a change of heart after repeatedly watching Bambi grieve over his slain mother. I’m guessing that after the 12th viewing, this guy will say he would’ve preferred waterboarding. I’ve certainly heard many good parents say almost the same thing after being forced by their kids to watch a Disney movie over … and over … and over.
It occurred to me that this judge’s creative sentencing may have other applications. For example, I think reporters who knowingly skew or misreport facts simply because they personally dislike our president should be sentenced to a week of watching his inauguration speech for eight hours a day. I know it probably wouldn’t be rehabilitative, but it certainly would be punitive.
Politicians or judges who sabotage legislation, appointments or policies that might actually benefit our nation should be sentenced to a week of listening to the U.S. Constitution being read aloud for eight hours a day, as well as a daily viewing of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”
Hollywood moguls and celebrities who live in an immoral echo chamber and seem determined to try to drag the rest of us into it should be sentenced to listen to one Billy Graham sermon every single day for a year. It might also be prudent to force them to live in a Midwestern or Southern community with a population of less than 50,000 for that year.
Yes, I think this judge has hit upon something and I applaud him, but I also know that watching “Bambi,” even a dozen times, probably won’t change the poacher’s heart.
Why? Because only God can truly change a heart.
Remember the Biblical account of the prophet Nathan confronting King David about his sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12)? Nathan didn’t do what I probably would’ve done: unload with both barrels on the guilty king. Instead, the prophet told a poignant story about a lamb. How better to pry open the heart of a former shepherd boy?
But although Nathan’s inspired parable seemed to deeply touch and convict the king, a repentant David still begged God (Psalm 51) to create in him a “clean heart” because he knew only God could do that.
In Ezekiel 11:19 and 36:26, we’re told God can change a heart of “stone” to a heart of “flesh.” It’s a supernatural thing, just as the Apostle Paul teaches when he writes that we can become “new creations” in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Laws, movies, sermons, conversations, Bible verses, books and reprimands may change our behavior, but only God can change our core.
And know this: when God softens a stony heart, that heart isn’t made weak, but strong, compassionate, loving, truthful and steadfast. Like the heart of Jesus.
If we’re looking for a prayer God is sure to answer, we should pray, as David did, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)”