A Moment With Pastor Fred

Susan and I listened to a podcast by Ken Ham regarding the Lindsey Clancey case. How should Christians respond?  Let me summarize his comments with my own.

Lindsey acknowledges she strangled her 3 children in January 2023. She then attempted to take her own life by jumping from a window leaving her paralyzed. Her defense argued she was suffering from postpartum psychosis therefore lacked criminal responsibility. Defense argued she planned the killings – she knew right from wrong. After a lengthy trial the jury couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict so the judge declared a mistrial. This public case has provoked strong reactions – people have made excuses for Lindsey. But compassion must never be used as an excuse for evil. Toxic empathy. Mental illness does not automatically remove personal responsibility. Medicine and depression can sear the conscience but that doesn’t negate our actions. Only God knows Lindsey’s heart and mental state perfectly. We must call her act evil – she murdered her children.  So, we must demand justice but that doesn’t mean we must also abandon compassion. Remember our brains have been impacted by the fall. Disease affects us, but that isn’t an excuse. Postpartum depression is a reality. Some are frightened by it. Families must take warning signs seriously. Here I want to highlight our counseling ministry.

Cora, Dawson and Callan were not incidental characters in a debate about mental illness or medication. Each was a unique human being made in the image of God. What happened to them was horrific. They are the true victims of this tragic story.