High School: Clear Backpacks, Lockdowns and Zero Tolerance

All I needed to know about life I learned from Converse Judson High School. 

1. The easiest way to prevent weapons on campus is to require the student body to carry clear backpacks.

2. The easiest way to prevent fights is to hire a former NFL player to handle discipline. 

3. The easiest way to prevent misconduct in general is to have a lockdown procedure akin to a jail.

I, Wesley Faulk, survived Converse Judson High School. My school proudly held to a zero tolerance policy. The policy was simple -- if you mess up, you pay the price. On the other hand if you are good, you survive. My high school is the ultimate example of justice, punishment for misconduct, and privilege for upstanding behavior.

I am glad that God does not work with a zero tolerance policy. Justice for any man is punishment for we all have rejected Him in both our actions and hearts.

 This week in church we will be looking at Thomas. Thomas was the disciple who did not believe in resurrection. In fact he emphatically told his fellow disciples “I will never believe.” Thomas got his chance; justice for him would be the end of his words, death and hell. I am glad that God does not work with a zero tolerance policy.

Upon Thomas’ sad declaration, Jesus comes to him and gives him a second chance.  Jesus moves to Thomas in grace and gives him every bit of proof he needs to believe. Jesus shows that He is a God of second chances.

Every person at some point rejects God. We do it by either intellectually denying him or by denying him through our sin and actions. Jesus is the God of second chances. He comes to us, knowing our rejection, and gives us all we need to believe.