There is no way to accept the grace of God, which is shown through Jesus Christ dying for us who were his enemies, while we are willing to call for, support, or be indifferent towards the killing of our "enemies" even when done by the state. Forgiveness is lived out with merciful action or it is no forgiveness at all. Either we value the mercy and love of God shown in Christ and imitate it as we live in a world with fellow wretched sinners or we don't. Either we value life or we don't. We don't get to be rescued from debt and demand others pay up for their debts to us and still be in good standing with the righteous Judge of all. Jesus took the place of the murderer Barabbas on the cross. That's the living gospel. Death penalty? Not if we're trying to imitate Christ. Revenge is not justice. Justice is not tit for tat. Not really. Not in the Gospel. Maybe the authorities have the right to kill but even if they do Christians have the obligation to not kill and to show the same mercy to all others that they were shown through Christ. We do not correct through violence! Love does not harm it's neighbor. Everyone is a neighbor. Love to enemies means nurturing life in them and not killing them. If it were otherwise Jesus would not have ended up on that cross. We would. We NEED this love. All of us. We need to accept it and we need to give it. I am convinced of this. God, if I'm wrong tell me who Jesus would kill. I've yet to meet 'em. But I've met a lot of folks he'd rather die for so that he could POSSIBLY save them (the whole world).
No comments:
Post a Comment