Banning the Bikies

The response of the NSW Government in enacting new legislation to dismantle ‘outlaw’ bikie gangs is an interesting commentary on human nature.

These measures follow the horrific death of a bikie member at Sydney Airport a few weeks ago where rival gang members fought in full public view.

Bikies usually settle their scores in private or at least through home invasions or drive by’s late at night. The Airport incident however was in front of adults and children minding their own business and waiting to catch a plane.

We know that government is a minister for good and does not ‘bear the sword in vain’ (Romans 3). We should be grateful for the proactive and speedy response from our elected officials.

Yet this legislative attempt to outlaw bikie gangs will be about as successful as Emporer Nero was in trying to outlaw believers! The gangs will either go underground, interstate or overseas.

There are plenty of laws against assault and murder, conspiracy to commit numerous criminal enterprises that already apply to what happened at the Airport and at most ‘meetings’ of illicit enterprises, whether or not the members ride Harley Davidson’s.

Adding more laws might appease some voters but may not be as effective as we would like. While the new laws may make it unlawful for bikies to wear their club ‘colours’ in public, no amount of legislation can change the ‘colour’ (read: character), of a person’s heart.

The fact is there aren’t enough police to catch every law breaker, nor enough child protection workers to rescue abused kids, nor enough customs officials to intercept the next ‘shipment’.

While this is sobering for a believer, let’s not be discouraged. It is only the transforming power of the Gospel that can redeem and transform lives under the hideous bondage of sin.

While more government is always better than no government, only the Cross can conquer the human heart and turn rebels into saints. The saving of the repentant thief at the eleventh hour should give us all hope in the grace of God.

The other thing that needs to be said is that there is coming a day when Christ will rule the nations with a rod of iron (Revelation 2:27). No lawbreaker of any description will be safe then. Nations will be punished for simply refusing to worship let alone to break the criminal law (Zechariah 14:16-21).

So let’s follow His rule now as He leads us through his Word.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13

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