The Silent Witnesses - John 3:19-20

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. - John 3:19-20

“Chicago Police are on the hunt for five or six men who live streamed on Facebook the sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl to an audience of at least 40 people — none of whom said a word to law enforcement, authorities said Tuesday”. - by Safia Samee Ali for NBC News, March 21, 2017

    The concepts of good and evil are as fixed and immovable as the stars set in the night sky. Their systematic immutability is fundamental to the correct understanding of the doctrine of salvation as taught by John in his Gospel. It is this understanding of the difference between good and evil that separates the lawful from the lawless, the citizen from the criminal, and right from wrong. There must be a foundation to build both a doctrine of redemption and a doctrine of salvation because without the former there can be no latter.  Without such a foundation we are adrift in a turbulent sea without headings, rudders or moorings . . . for all eternity.
    If the actions of men are not held to a standard of righteousness who then can condemn them or their behavior? There’s no standard; to each his own. “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 17:6. Are we still foolish enough to believe that the criminal mind is incapable of recognizing the difference between right and wrong? Can those of us who do nothing to prevent or stop wrongdoing excuse our actions with our indifference? Can we justify our inaction as we watch it unfold before us?
    There can only be one explanation for our participation in or silent assent of, in the face of iniquity and one warning - “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” - Isaiah 5:20. There is, as John boldly states, “condemnation” for these darkened souls. As for those who sit by indifferently and allow the unrighteousness to continue. It is as though they silently assented to the iniquity - they too are guilty!  “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” - Romans 1:28 -32.
    It makes no difference whether the criminal is a foreigner, a visitor, a sojourner, a neighbor or a family member; they are criminals! Do not be fooled. God will not be mocked and His eternal justice will prevail, over the perpetrator, their advocates, and those of us who remain silent in the face of iniquity.