I had a post prepared to publish today, a nice cheerful slightly jokey post, the type I like, but somehow after last night it just doesn't seem appropriate anymore.
Last night I was on a Daughter Date, the only type, but also definitely the best type, of date I get these days. We had a pizza and then went see Wonder Woman, we both enjoyed the film, despite some slightly dodgy accents and some serious racial stereotyping it was a fun film, with some serious underlying points on equality, the nature of good and evil, and individual responsibility. All this along with some "Kick Ass" moves, great special effects, and more than enough eye candy to satisfy everybody.
Then after getting home I switched on the telly while I had a quick night cap to be confronted by the awful news London.
Once again I was confronted by the nature of good and evil, man's inhumanity to man, and even some racial stereotyping. Only this time it was not part of a knock about fantasy, this was real, a few men so corrupted in their believes that they felt obliged to go out to kill and maim others, others whom they had no previous contact or knowledge of.
I cannot begin to understand what makes a man hate so much that they will undertake this sort of action, what drives people to declare war on whole civilisations, but to effect that war on individual civilians. What I do understand is that this is a war that cannot be won with violence and counter terror activities alone. I do not know how an ideology can be defeated, but I do know that as a Christian I have to start, and end with forgiveness.
Forgiveness is not to say the offence did not happen, it is not to say that the offence did not matter, and it is certainly not to say that the offence did not hurt and it is not to deny that the offense deserves punishment. Forgiveness is to acknowledge the hurt and the pain, it is to recognise the offence, but to not hate the offender, indeed as Christians we are to show our enemies love. At times like this it can be really hard, it would be so much easier to be like Wonder Woman and go out and kick some ass, but that is not Christ's way, we must show love to the offender as well as the victim ~ after all Christ defeated death and sin through love, not with a sword, but on a cross.
Then after getting home I switched on the telly while I had a quick night cap to be confronted by the awful news London.
Once again I was confronted by the nature of good and evil, man's inhumanity to man, and even some racial stereotyping. Only this time it was not part of a knock about fantasy, this was real, a few men so corrupted in their believes that they felt obliged to go out to kill and maim others, others whom they had no previous contact or knowledge of.
I cannot begin to understand what makes a man hate so much that they will undertake this sort of action, what drives people to declare war on whole civilisations, but to effect that war on individual civilians. What I do understand is that this is a war that cannot be won with violence and counter terror activities alone. I do not know how an ideology can be defeated, but I do know that as a Christian I have to start, and end with forgiveness.
Forgiveness is not to say the offence did not happen, it is not to say that the offence did not matter, and it is certainly not to say that the offence did not hurt and it is not to deny that the offense deserves punishment. Forgiveness is to acknowledge the hurt and the pain, it is to recognise the offence, but to not hate the offender, indeed as Christians we are to show our enemies love. At times like this it can be really hard, it would be so much easier to be like Wonder Woman and go out and kick some ass, but that is not Christ's way, we must show love to the offender as well as the victim ~ after all Christ defeated death and sin through love, not with a sword, but on a cross.
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