After some extensive conversations with my brother, and hearing from others on the most wonderful FB, however, my thoughts are changing. Perhaps he should not be allowed to go free, and should be required to serve his life sentence because he is living under the laws of the world. Honestly, my opinion on whether or not he goes free doesn't too much matter, seeing as he probably is and there's not much any one can do about it.
However, this did bring up the question of compassion and love for our enemies, which is some thing that I think is hard to grasp. Romans 12:17-21 was brought up, which
ends with "Do not be overcome by evil, but repay evil with good."
Also Matthew 15:43-48, which speaks about loving our enemies.
Although it may not be the governments place to do this...i don't know what i think about that...it is most definitely ours. This man has killed 270 people, he is a convicted terrorist. And according to the word of God, We are called to love him. not because he is dying of a terrible disease, but because he a creation of our perfect God. He has done nothing to deserve the compassion of our hearts, or the compassion and mercy of our father, but neither have we.
Loving your enemy is never easy, but as we live in this world of sin,
where everyday another senseless death occurs, we should remember that "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (ro
mans 5:8)
We are called to love the people the world tells us to hate. the people who have sinned against us and our God, because Christ has also died for them.
2 comments:
Right on. That is probably one of the biggest reasons I have problems with the death penalty. Especially as it is implemented in our country. And you are right that it is certainly not easy to do nor to understand.
I'm glad that you're so apt to show the love of Christ to everyone- truly!
I do disagree with your theology, however. For instance, when we learn that as Christians we're to "turn the other cheek" or "give him your cloak also", a study of Jewish culture will tell you that by doing those things you're causing the person who is "persecuting you" to get in trouble. It would be giving the person more than they asked for, and by doing so would bring punishment upon them. By that same token, one who kills 270 people might as well want them all killed. If he is in prison, it is just as if he did kill all other people. Such would fit within those cultural constraints of interpretating "enemy" verses.
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