Gang Founder Claimed Innocence Until the End

By KIM CURTIS (Edited By PSC)

SAN QUENTIN, Calif. (AP) - Stanley Tookie Williams maintained his innocence right up until his death, even when an admission of guilt may have spared him execution...

Williams, the Crips gang co-founder whose case stirred a national debate about capital punishment versus the possibility of redemption, was executed Tuesday morning for killing four people in 1979.

Williams, 51, died at 12:35 a.m. Officials at San Quentin State Prison seemed to have trouble injecting the lethal mixture into his muscular arm. As they struggled to find a vein, Williams looked up repeatedly and appeared frustrated, shaking his head at supporters and other witnesses...

Williams' case became one of the nation's biggest death-row cause celebres in decades, with Hollywood stars and capital punishment foes arguing that Williams' sentence should be commuted to life in prison because he had made amends by writing children's books about the dangers of gangs and violence.

In the days leading up to the execution, state and federal courts refused to reopen his case. Monday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger denied Williams' request for clemency, suggesting that his supposed change of heart was not genuine because he had not shown any real remorse for the killings committed by the Crips.

"Is Williams' redemption complete and sincere, or is it just a hollow promise?" Schwarzenegger wrote. "Without an apology and atonement for these senseless and brutal killings, there can be no redemption."

Pastor Steve's Thoughts:

It seem that in America today if someone will just say "SORRY" then all is forgiven. However, from a Biblical perspective there is far more involved in the seeking of forgiveness. One must take responsibility for their actions, it is not just enough to say your sorry but you must bring forth the works of repentance.

Did Mr. Williams ever admit that he was wrong? Did he ever admit to doing anything as a founder/member of the Crips? Did he ever ask anyone for forgiveness? Did he ever ask God for forgiveness? The answer to these questions is that we do not know, and we may never know. However, this we do know, Mr. Williams was defiant to the very end. After being found GUILTY in a court of law, he to his death refused to admit any wrong doing. He did write some children's books about the dangers of gangs and so on but that hardly shows a repentant heart.

Let's say for the sake of argument that Mr. Williams had said that he was sorry, does that really relinquish him from the penalty of his crime? I think not! No matter what anyone has done God stands ready to forgive if they will recognize their sin as an offence to a Holy God, confess that sin and receive the gift of God's salvation through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Romans 10:9-10 tells us: "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." We know that salvation and forgiveness are offered and can be obtained from God, however, that in no way removes every consequence of our sin.

For example, a teenage girl gets pregnant, if she as for God forgiveness we know that God forgives sin. 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Does that make her any less pregnant? The answer in NO!

Mr. Williams committed murder and was found guilty in a court of law. For those crimes he was sentenced to death by lethal injection by the State of California. That sentence was carried out very early this morning. Thus closing the final chapter in this sad story. The government doing what they were ordained to do by God himself. Romans 13:1-5: "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake."

Agree or disagree, that is the way I see it,

I remain,
Pastor Steve