To constitute depraved indifference, the defendant’s conduct must be ‘so wanton, so deficient in a moral sense of concern, so lacking in regard for the life or lives of others, and so blameworthy as to warrant the same criminal liability as that which the law imposes upon a person who intentionally causes a crime.’ Depraved indifference focuses on the risk created by the defendant’s conduct, not the injuries actually resulting.
In many jurisdictions such as California, malice may be found if gross negligence amounts to willful or depraved indifference to human life. In such a case, the wrongdoer may be guilty of second degree murder.
Kids are dying at the rate of 18,000 per day from malnutrition in the world. And, quite frankly, we suffer from depraved indifference.
Oh, ok, i’ll take responsibility…. i don’t really give a rip. Yeah, i give my monthly gift to the right charities, volunteer down at the food-sending agency, and am even soon going onto the mission field full-time to enter this battle. But do i really care? Sometimes. But not all the time… Not as long as i’ve got my belly full, clothes on my back, a good job, and nice place to sleep. That’s all i really care about. Do any of us see something wrong with this picture?
Beloved, i’m not being hard on myself (or you!), or playing out some shame-based guilt-trip. Life for me is truly wonderful. i am beyond thankful for His Grace and provision in my life. i’m just being realistic. i do not yet have the heart of Christ on matters like this. Do you?
Francois Fenelon said: The Apostle Paul speaks of Christians as dead. ” You are dead,” he says, “and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3). These expressions will apply, in their full import, only to those Christians who are in the state of unselfish or pure love. Their death is a death to selfishness. They are dead to pride and jealousy, self-seeking and envy, to malice, inordinate love of their own reputation, anything and every-thing which constitutes the fallen and vitiated life of nature. They have a new life, which is “hid with Christ in God.”
That death to self. It is a good death. May we die it daily, and deny that dead man any digging up, attention, analysis, validation, recognition, sustenance, encouragement, financing, or friends.
Rather, that we would be crucified with Christ, then live in the Spirit by faith (Galatians 2:20) so as to walk in His victory and freedom. That, in Him, we would live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). That, in Him, we would be empowered to fully love Him – and honestly love other people.
SDG,
scot
