Now that the US is considering trying enemy combatants, or terrorists, in civilian courts, the question is being asked is "if a terrorist is captured would that person need to be read their Miranda rights by their US captors?"
"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense..."
Shouldn't that "right" be reserved for US citizens and be applied to those fighting against the US?
Or is that a God given right that should be applied to all people?
Wouldn't you like to know what happened to Tiger Woods? His name is probably at the top for recent internet searches. Some people say he needs to make a clear statement explaining and defending himself against all the accusations that are flying about. Mike Gallagher asked on his morning talk show something to the effect of (the following is paraphrased), "What about you? Should you have to reveal all the details about the latest fight that you had with someone close to you, or should you have to explain every detail about the last time you got into an accident?" Good point by Mr. Gallagher. Tiger woods has asked for privacy and that seems reasonable, but more and more people seem to be coming out of the wood work with stories. Seems to fit the following verse. Prov 16:20 "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth." No puns intended. People will keep on talking as long as there is fuel for the fire. That seems to suggest that something should be said to put the fire out. On the other hand, things said most often just add fuel to the fire. Accusers are not happy just knowing that something happened, they want to know exactly what happened and with who, and when, and where, and why, and how, and what you were thinking, and ... the list goes on.
Let's look at someone who didn't do anything wrong. That would be Jesus.
Luke 22:66-71 "And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth."
But wasn't Jesus silent before His accusers in fulfillment of prophecy Isaiah 53:7? Yes, Luke 23:9-10 "Then he [Herod] questioned with him [Jesus] in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him."
The point being that we are fallen and need to be discerning who we share with and what we share. There are those who want to help, and those that do not. Perhaps a question to ask, before we ask a question is, "Why do I want/need to know?" Is it so I can get the scoop or protect myself, or so that I can minister to the person? I think one leads to gossip and the other potentially leads to life.
Things we say and do can get us into "trouble," even if what we are doing is right. In fact, it is not only what we verbally communicate, it can be things we write, type., email, blog, video etc. I am sure you can think of some recent events that reputations have been ruined because of things written or videos made that were intended to be private, but end up being revealed. And now, with the internet, things can published world wide in an instant. That seems to fit Luke 12:2-3 "For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops."
In the above context, that seems to be somewhat terrifying, and maybe it should be. Here is what Google CEO said about privacy, "If you have something you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it." Problem is, I think that most people, including the Google CEO, have things that they would rather not be known. But according to Luke 12, everything will be known and it is impossible to take back words spoken. So, "Be afraid, be very afraid."
The parallel passage in Matthew 10 provided a different view point for me. Matthew 10:25-28 "It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
The difference is verse 27 "What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops." Remember this is Jesus speaking. So it is his words that will be preached upon the housetops. Comforting?
Heb 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." It is not just what we do that will be judged, but our thoughts and intent also." God's word judges not only our actions, but our "thoughts and intents." Read Matt 5:19-48 for a little more elaboration on this.
So you can remain silent, although in God's eyes nothing is hidden. In God's court, God is the judge, and if you accept Him, Christ is your attorney to defend you. And yes, Christ paid the price for you.
The good news is that God is the judge and not man. And that through His Son's works, He has provided the way of escape for His creation. That is why He is worthy of fear, glory, and worship.
Matthew 5:48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense..."
Shouldn't that "right" be reserved for US citizens and be applied to those fighting against the US?
Or is that a God given right that should be applied to all people?
Wouldn't you like to know what happened to Tiger Woods? His name is probably at the top for recent internet searches. Some people say he needs to make a clear statement explaining and defending himself against all the accusations that are flying about. Mike Gallagher asked on his morning talk show something to the effect of (the following is paraphrased), "What about you? Should you have to reveal all the details about the latest fight that you had with someone close to you, or should you have to explain every detail about the last time you got into an accident?" Good point by Mr. Gallagher. Tiger woods has asked for privacy and that seems reasonable, but more and more people seem to be coming out of the wood work with stories. Seems to fit the following verse. Prov 16:20 "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth." No puns intended. People will keep on talking as long as there is fuel for the fire. That seems to suggest that something should be said to put the fire out. On the other hand, things said most often just add fuel to the fire. Accusers are not happy just knowing that something happened, they want to know exactly what happened and with who, and when, and where, and why, and how, and what you were thinking, and ... the list goes on.
Let's look at someone who didn't do anything wrong. That would be Jesus.
Luke 22:66-71 "And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth."
But wasn't Jesus silent before His accusers in fulfillment of prophecy Isaiah 53:7? Yes, Luke 23:9-10 "Then he [Herod] questioned with him [Jesus] in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him."
The point being that we are fallen and need to be discerning who we share with and what we share. There are those who want to help, and those that do not. Perhaps a question to ask, before we ask a question is, "Why do I want/need to know?" Is it so I can get the scoop or protect myself, or so that I can minister to the person? I think one leads to gossip and the other potentially leads to life.
Things we say and do can get us into "trouble," even if what we are doing is right. In fact, it is not only what we verbally communicate, it can be things we write, type., email, blog, video etc. I am sure you can think of some recent events that reputations have been ruined because of things written or videos made that were intended to be private, but end up being revealed. And now, with the internet, things can published world wide in an instant. That seems to fit Luke 12:2-3 "For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops."
In the above context, that seems to be somewhat terrifying, and maybe it should be. Here is what Google CEO said about privacy, "If you have something you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it." Problem is, I think that most people, including the Google CEO, have things that they would rather not be known. But according to Luke 12, everything will be known and it is impossible to take back words spoken. So, "Be afraid, be very afraid."
The parallel passage in Matthew 10 provided a different view point for me. Matthew 10:25-28 "It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
The difference is verse 27 "What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops." Remember this is Jesus speaking. So it is his words that will be preached upon the housetops. Comforting?
Heb 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." It is not just what we do that will be judged, but our thoughts and intent also." God's word judges not only our actions, but our "thoughts and intents." Read Matt 5:19-48 for a little more elaboration on this.
So you can remain silent, although in God's eyes nothing is hidden. In God's court, God is the judge, and if you accept Him, Christ is your attorney to defend you. And yes, Christ paid the price for you.
The good news is that God is the judge and not man. And that through His Son's works, He has provided the way of escape for His creation. That is why He is worthy of fear, glory, and worship.
Matthew 5:48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
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