How Sound is “Hugs not Bullets”?

How Sound is “Hugs not Bullets”? Examines government’s soft on crime approach in light of what God says and mandates for government.

The former president of Mexico, Lopez Obrador, made famous his policy towards crime with the saying, “Abrazos no Balazos”, or hugs not bullet. But just how sound is that policy?

Crime, cartels, and organized crime, all crime at all levels is not our friend. This attitude tends to make criminals like a marginalized group, like blacks, or hispanics, or other people that supposedly “we should treat different from the rest, to accommodate them in life” somehow.

That Position is not what God Commands

Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Romans 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. Romans 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: Romans 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Romans 13:5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. Romans 13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

Government is not what man wants, but what God imposes on nations and their leaders. The real problem is when man ignores God and just does what he particularly wants to do. That is why we have the mess in nations that we do.

But let’s focus our attention for a moment on this comment in the Bible.

Romans 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

God’s command to mankind is that we are to submit to the powers of government because the government “polices” (corrects incorrect behavior) corruption in society.

The idea of “fear” (fobos) in Greek is to be afraid, to be exceedingly afraid. That means to avoid it, stay away from it, not participate in it. That is God’s mandate for government. It is totally the opposite of this mandate when a government (speaking of those leading government) to not pursue and persecute criminals. You cannot be friends with someone trying to take your life or your livelihood from you. This is common sense that is totally uncommon among leaders that take this attitude. It is stupid.

What are the Consequences?

We need to understand an underlying fact. God knows better than we do. People who are wicked and evil cannot be entertained as to their pleasures without it costing innocent people a lot. Within Mexico alone (I have lived in Mexico since 1986) we see the cartels blocking the streets by setting vehicles on fire, killing people, selling drugs that cause horrible consequences in those who use those drugs, and corruption everywhere.

All of this is bad for normal people. If you get caught up in some of that, just because you were walking down a street unknowingly where these horrible events take place, you could be hurt or lose your life.

But honesty is what God wants, and dishonesty is what criminals use as their way of life. When dishonesty is not pursued by government, i.e. criminals are persecuted, then they feel they have immunity in their crimes. Of course, these criminals are not stupid. They give money back to corrupt government officials when they take a soft attitude on crime.

In the United States, why does California have such a problem with crime? Police will not get involved if the robbery does involve more than $950. So now we need to take a calculator to add up when a thief steals in broad daylight to see if we can get the police involved? This is ludicrous, isn’t it? The issue should be black and white. If somebody takes something that is not their possession, without paying what the seller is asking, then it is robbery. They should go under the legal system and be punished. When government is soft on crime, the common people suffer. Politicians have bodyguards to keep criminals from harming them, but does each and every citizen need to do the same?

Love is being strong

Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

The way of sin causes harm in the end to the sinner himself in this life. In eternity, God will also judge the sinner.

But the point is that there is no love when you let people do whatever they want to do, and that is usually things that are against God’s principles.

Proverbs 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

Moreover, moving on further from no disciple is a manifestation of no love for the person, we must be strong to not “give in” to people crying about their suffering because of their own improper ways. When there is no moral strength in you or government towards criminal behavior, things that offend God like in the 10 commandments, eventually there is a reckoning. This “end of God’s patience” comes with God giving them over to their sins (see Romans 1) for utter destruction by God. This happened in the days of Noah and the ark, and again very strongly with Sodom and Gomorrah.

Neither scene is pretty. It is not specifically stated in the Bible as to the why, but Noah got drunk afterward. So did Lot. When a person sees the severity of God’s punishment on unbridled sin, it is hard for that person to handle it.

Lawlessness is a horrible state of affairs

James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

God condemns unbridledness. That is basically lawlessness. A person has no moral principles except whatever is his heart’s desires at the present moment. That as common in a society is a state of affairs that harms everyone. Government has the obligation from God to stop and oppose that. God has allowed and charged government to use force (the police, even the military if necessary) to stop crime.

Romans 13:4 “for he beareth not the sword in vain”. 

God has commanded government to have forces of enforcement of law. When government refuses to allow those forces to maintain order and peace, then that government is against God and His purposes. Nothing good can come of that situation. In is not “in vain” that God has allowed some men to occupy a position over others (we call that government) IN ORDER TO FULFILL GOD’S PURPOSES. They are not there to make money for themselves or to live in pleasure, but to fulfill God’s purposes. They are literally “ministers of God”, and that divine command, divine obligation really has no bearing on whether the person wants to obey God or not, the government official has that obligation to fulfill no matter what his attitude is. That is why we swear in people before allowing them to enter into a government position. They swear an oath to fulfil the law no matter what. That includes their own dislikes or likes.

Romans 13:4 “for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.“

Not Just Preventative, but Punishment

Modern day governmental types and philosophers want to take a position that jail is not punishment, but correction for re-entering life as a productive part of society. Why? Because God speaks of government’s job as being “a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” That means, it makes no difference if jail reforms the criminal or not. Jail should be fully justifiable in just being punishment. Moreover, the effect or consequence of being soft on crime affects others in society.

When a criminal does something wrong, and he is not punished, or lightly punished unjustifiably “let free” from his crimes, others who haven’t broken the law yet are eager to break the law, because they see the soft on crime stance of government. Ephesians 4:19

How Sound is “Hugs not Bullets”?