SCRIPTURE: Galatians 3:11     Clearly no one is justified before God by the law because, “The righteous will live by faith.”  (NI)

REFLECTION: Our world has been turned upside down. Signs should be posted. AFFECTION BANNED: YIELD TO EFFECTS OF DANGEROUS PEOPLE.

That is, do not hug children---you must yield to the effects of child molesters. Any physical show of affection is risky and can result in child abuse charges.

This paranoia is fed by media emphasis on abusive behavior. Although the education for protection from abuse is good, the resultant mis-application of rules appears to me to be Pharasitic in nature.

A kindergarten child kissing another child’s cheek is deemed “sexual harassment;” child care workers fear hugging their little charges can result in child molestation charges; a student offering a friend an aspirin for a headache is suspended; a senior is prevented from participating in her graduation ceremonies because a kitchen knife fell unknowingly into her car during a family move. And more recently Roman Catholic bishops attending a conference wouldn’t endorse the common practice of holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer. Church leaders are concerned about “inappropriate touching.”

When Jesus came to turn the world upside down, I don’t think it meant to go for zero-tolerance and toss out common sense and good judgment. Rather, he spoke against Pharisitic legalism. He promoted the great commandment: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all your heart soul and mind and your neighbor as yourself.

Is it truly loving to withhold love from a child and to discard compassion mercy and common sense from normal human interactions? Where does one draw the line to protect the vulnerable in our midst and still allow the healing of love to be present?

Actual abuse incidents, especially those in schools and churches, raise this question daily. We as Christians must struggle for answers to difficult issues in our search for compassion, mercy, protection and justice.

Would you dare to hug a hurt child in your Sunday school class or would you withhold the comfort out of fear of lawsuit charges and/or legal consequences? Where do you draw the line?