Walk Away: On Moral Embarrassment, Alabama & Kenny Smith

Walk Away: On Moral Embarrassment, Alabama & Kenny Smith

Earlier today I came across the following headline,

“The Alabama Supreme Court has officially given the order to carry out the nation’s first nitrogen hypoxia execution.”

The article contained the following announcement,

“Starting at 12 a.m. on the 25th, the Alabama Department of Corrections will have 30 hours to execute Smith with nitrogen gas. The order expires at 6 a.m. on Jan. 26. If successful, Smith will be the nation’s first execution by nitrogen hypoxia.”

When the Pharisees caught a woman in adultery, they sent out a similar order.  I can just imagine,

“Religious leaders officially give out order for woman caught in adultery to be stoned!”

The article might have given a place,

“The Temple courts…”

There are assumptions contained in both announcements.

The Alabama Supreme Court thinks that it has the moral authority to set the time and place of the murder of someone.  The religious leaders in Jesus’ day did too.

The Alabama Supreme Court thinks that it has the moral authority to set the method to kill someone.  The religious leaders of Jesus’ day did too.

If this execution goes forward, Kenneth Smith will be drug into Alabama’s execution chamber as a guilty man.  No one disputes that he committed a horrible crime.  The Pharisees dragged the adulterous woman to her execution as someone who was guilty.  No one disputed it.

When the rocks were about to start flying, Jesus defiantly declared, “Let you who are without sin cast the first stone.”  I have no doubt that Jesus is saying the same thing to all who think they have the moral authority to kill Kenneth Smith, “Let you who are without sin cast the first nitrogen hypoxia.”

After hearing the convicting words of Jesus, one by one the religious leaders walked away in embarrassment.  In the coming weeks, as I and many others campaign to remind people that Kenneth Smith is a person both made in the image of God and deeply loved by God.  I hope that all officials involved with this horrific moment in Alabama will have the same moral embarrassment that the religious leaders did.  I hope they will consider the magnitude of their own sins…and simply walk away.