Today, in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Ashley Smith, the young lady who persuaded accused courthouse shooter Brian Nichols to turn himself in to police earlier this year was interviewed about the situation and a new book she has written.
In the interview, Ashley admits to giving illegal drugs to Brian Nichols that night.
Part of the AJC interview is as follows:
Q: Is there anything you wish you had done differently the night Brian Nichols held you captive?
A: I think everything I did was the way God wanted it to happen. Sometimes I think, when he was bringing those tools in [from the stolen truck], “Why didn’t you shut the door? You gave him drugs, Ashley.” I did what the Lord led me to do that night. God led me to do that.
Ashley claims that God led her to do all that she did that night, which included giving Mr. Nichols illegal drugs.
Certainly, much of what Ms. Smith did that night was admirable and I thank God for her safety during that tumultuous situation. But what is your reaction to this? What is the danger in saying that “God led me to do that”? What are other things that we could believe God led us to do?
Yikes! If she could have given him illegal drugs too bad she did not have some prescription drugs or poison to knock him out-kill him with and save herself. You agree that would have been OK to do? Now that would have been a blessing and I believe from God.
Do we know what these “illegal drugs” were? I assume pot since it must have mellowed him out and calmed him down. I know I heard he had the munchies really bad and at a lot.
I guess he could have just as easily killed her and taken the rest of these drugs.
Even so, she should not have had them, that is her own sin, but I guess God could still use them for good to mellow this guy out who was obviously high stressed and on the edge.
Kind of like having an illegal hand gun or illegal loaded rifle in the house. If you had one you would probably use it to defend yourself in your own home.
God used something intended for evil for good?
Just a thought.
In that regard the pot was kind of a weapon or defense against this guy.
This is another tough one for me. So should everyone now have some pot and Topps rolling paper (my brothers were big pot smokers in the 70s) handy in case a deranged murderer-escapee breaks into your home? You tell the guy “Mellow out dude and lets smoke a bowl together”. Whoa… ;0 God forbid!
C.A.:
According to Ms. Smith, it was meth.
In any event, I find that it is way too easy for people to do many kinds of things under the banner of “God led me”.
Subjective vs. objective truth. This often leads people to elevate personal experience over Biblical truth.
That is a disturbing trend in our post-modern world.
I agree. That is disturbing. I remember hearing a story years ago about someone that felt that God led him to leave his wife and family for another woman. Same kind of thing. Just sad.
I wonder what influence A Purpose Driven Life had on her meth use and subsequent offering to Mr. Nichols. Wasn’t she reading that book the night she was accosted?
Always thought it was funny that she was going out at 2 a.m. for cigarettes. I’ve known some chain smokers that never did that.
I’ve gone out at 1:30 a.m. to buy a pre-lit Christmas tree before but that’s another story.
As for the meth thing, you could say that she saw a need and she met it. :^)
I won’t judge her for giving him the drugs but it’s a sloppy use of words that sounds like she is giving God credit for her breaking laws – possession of an illegal substance, etc. – that are not against God’s law. I heard Rick Warren gave her some counseling and hopefully got her plugged into a body of believers that can hold her accountable and grow her in the scriptures. I wonder if she is still in Atlanta?
I guess I need to read the book but unforunately I think that it is probably more of an “inspirational product” than an accurate account of the event.
Kevin, at the risk of sounding like a heretic, do you mind if I put you on the spot?
Besides breaking cultural laws, how does giving someone drugs go against Biblical truth? (Especially someone that has taken you hostage and is asking for them.) If he asked her if she had any drugs and she said, ‘Yes’, wasn’t she telling the truth?
First off, I haven’t been following this story at all. I may be missing a lot.
The AJC article is pretty superficial, so it’s hard to draw any real conclusions.
Anyway, the drug stuff doesn’t trouble me so much. Taken at face value, she seems like she’s pretty spiritually immature, stumbling in her new life in Christ. I’m willing to give her the benefit of the doubt in that her direction, not her perfection, looks hopeful.
The last line is the important one for me (emphasis mine): “I don’t think anybody deserves anything, especially God’s love. We’re all sinners. I’m grateful for it. I’m humbled by it mostly.”
I also don’t trust the press… maybe I’m being too charitable, but it’s also a little ambiguous whether she’s assigning the drug episode in particular to God’s leading. The way the quote was published, it’s possible she meant the whole of what she did that night was God’s leading. But then, that includes drug use, so that may not help matters…
That said, I think it’s unfortunate that she’s ascribing anything to God’s leading in the mainstream media. It’s interesting that the AJC basically gave her a pass on it… I wonder what the tone of the article would have been if she had ascribed Hurricane Katrina to God’s work like this guy?
Hmm. That didn’t sound right. Let me clarify.
What I meant was that the drug stuff itself doesn’t trouble me so much as saying God led her to do it. If somebody’s coming out of a background with drugs into a new life in Christ, it’s not just going to go *poof* and be clean… hence I look at direction not perfection.
You wrote…
“Taken at face value, she seems like she’s pretty spiritually immature, stumbling in her new life in Christ. I’m willing to give her the benefit of the doubt in that her direction, not her perfection, looks hopeful.”
“it’s not just going to go *poof* and be clean… hence I look at direction not perfection”
I think you are on the right track here. After my own heart.
Some people might even just write her off as unsaved because of the drug use. Our recent discussions made me understand that others agree that there is that distinction of direction vs. perfection.
The media might have enjoyed the point of a professing Christian using drugs. That could be why it seems they gave her a pass on the rest.
They might love demonstrating the apparent contradiction in her life. The world does expect us to be perfect, but we know the reality of our continuing struggles with sin.
Thanks Hugh.
I certainly do not expect perfection…but, my concern is that many Biblical teachers today often use “personal experiences” as the highest form of knowing how God leads-often in ways that are contradictory to the Scriptures.
This leads people to say “God led me” or “God told me” in ways that are not Biblical.
I hope Ms. Smith is or will be involved in a God-centered church where she can grow and serve.
I see your point Kevin. Along your line of thinking, don’t be surprised to see this woman giving her testimony on the local mega-church circuit to help boost attendance, and held up with high esteem as a great champion of the faith with a “slight crystal meth problem”. I am sure this will get the folks all excited right before the offertory prayer and alter call. You heard it here first. 😉
To God be all the glory that she is safe, she was smart, and that others might have been saved because of her actions, but I don’t think God would lead someone to illegal drug use (especially meth) to accomplish His purposes. Maybe all the other parts, but not this item IMO. Too bad, because it is a great and even inspiring story without the drugs.
I don’t know if I’d trust the AJC or any news rag these days.
I did see a clip from her interview with Oprah (which is a whole ‘nother blog in it’s self). She seemed pretty freaked out that she had offered the dude some meth – and it looked like it affected her significantly. I hope that it was in a positive way.
I’m headin to the QT tonight about 1:45 for some tangerine sour Altoids – anyone wanna join me?
I’ll meet ya there after the I put the kids to bed. ;^)
With the chill in the air, it would be a great night/morning to roll down the windows, blast some Caedmons, drive downtown, and grab a bite at The Majestic while discussing the deeper things of life.
(Sigh) Maybe when the ladies return.
Ladies are out tonight! Lets put the kiddies in the back car seats to sleep and lets all par-tay.
I’m buying the Altoids!
Anybody ever read Judges 4:21 and 5:25-27???
🙂
Judges 4-5 (the account of Jael driving the peg into Sisera’s skull)
I note the smiley, so I realize it’s a lighthearted observation…
But just for clarity’s sake – I would have a big problem taking this passage as normative. It tells the story of something that happened – not something that should happen. 🙂