There is a lot of celebration today, as if something good has happened. That depends on what your definition of good is.
Phillip Yancy in his book,
What's so Amazing About Grace? used the terms 'grace' and 'ungrace' to define actions in the world. He argued that grace was the only thing that could bring redemption and end bloodshed. Grace does not guarantee peace (in the short term) but is the only way to get to true peace between hearts. Ungrace, he argues, only breeds ungrace.
Today was the closing of one chapter and the opening of another. Stocks went up accross the world as people believed the world is now a safer place. I hate to be a downer, but I believe wood has only been added to the fire.
A good friend of mine like's to blame every Historical event in Europe up till World War II on the power vacuum left after the fall of Rome. While it's a bit tongue in cheek, every military conflict can be traced to another military conflict. Ungrace breeds ungrace.
I've been watching the conversation develop on Facebook and via NPR. Many are celebrating the death of a deadly man. I don't blame them. This man has brought a lot of pain, chaos, and fear to the world. His actions will continue to be felt for years to come. But today is a reminder of the upside down kingdom I am called to.
Jesus said difficult things like
love your enemies, or
do good to those who would falsely accuse you or persecute you. I've heard a lot of qualifiers for why as a follower of Jesus I should be fine with killing certain people under certain circumstances, but I can't seem to find how that logic fits in with the way that Jesus talked about his kingdom. I'm not writing this post or even this blog to prove some point, or make a theological argument that I hope you'll adopt, I'm saying this so you'll understand what today is about from my perspective. If you're getting ready to refute my claims, you aren't listening.... put down the Bible Everything will be ok we can talk about it another time.
Today I'm reminded that the kingdom I'm living in is about grace and redemption, making new the things that are broken and disgusting, and leaving behind all the things we have the 'right' to hold on to. Paul, the man who ended up writing most of the New Testament was a religious fanatic, whose goal was to silence or kill the early church. Sound familiar? It's easy to forget that. It's easy for me to read about the untrusting early Christian's, "Excuse me, who did you say wants to come preach next Sunday?" and laugh at them for not believing in God's redemptive power. I'm sure many of those believers knew people Paul had killed, they still had a load to bear (or give to God), while Paul experienced the joy of salvation, even in the midst of his cries that he was 'the worst of all sinners.' Bin-Laden didn't claim Jesus as Lord. I doubt he thought of it in his final moments. He didn't dedicate his life to sharing the love that was so freely given to him. In that sense, he and Paul were entirely different. But until a life is ended, as a follower of Christ, the more my heart is formed to His, the more I will see his burning passion to change hearts like the one in Bin-Laden, and the more a day like this should bring tears of loss not joy to my eyes.
I want to qualify this post with all sorts of things, but I won't. Just understand that this is my slice of the pie right now.
Ezekiel 33:11
"As surely as I live, declares the sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die oh people of Israel!"
