The "Affluenza" Defense

Does anyone remember the 1978 shootings of SF Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk?  In a controversial verdict, Dan White was convicted of manslaughter (not murder) due to what became known as the “Twinkie” defense. His lawyer convinced a jury that he suffered diminished capacity by depression that was worsened by eating too much sugar, including Twinkies.

Last month, a 16-year-old boy from Texas who killed a family of four in a drunken car crash, was convicted of manslaughter, but got no jail time—probation only—due to the expert witness of a psychologist who persuaded a jury that the boy, from a wealthy family, had a feeling of privilege, called “affluenza,” which diminished his capacity for judgment, and was deserving of a lighter sentence.

Perhaps the precursor to this “I-can't-be-blamed; I-have-a-disorder” cop out was the 1970's expression made famous by Flip Wilson, “The devil made me do it.” As a psychologist, I know there are legitimate disorders, but this “blame-it-on-someone-else” excuse is as old as Adam’s “she-gave-it-to-me” defense in the Garden. Might this be one way the spirit of lawlessness (2 Thess. 2:6-7) is manifesting itself today?

Fatal Mistakes

James said “We all make many mistakes” (3:2). Al Franken said “Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way, unless it's a fatal mistake, which, at least, others can learn from.”

When I reflected on Al Franken’s words, it dawned on me that the phrase “fatal mistake” is a spiritual paradox. Hurtful mistakes are a catalyst for radical change: “I’ll never do that again,” we say.  In a real sense then, mistakes should be fatal errors—painful actions that result in the death of bad behavior or attitude. 

Jesus also affirmed the value of mistakes when He said to Peter (who was about to make the biggest mistake of his life), “I have pleaded in prayer for you that your faith should not fail; so when you have repented and turned to me again [you will be able to] strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:32 edited). Peter's mistake made him aware of his horrible pride, and only afterward, was he fully useful to Jesus ("Feed My sheep").  A fatal mistake is one that kills you—“putting to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you” (Colossians 3:5).