There was another terrorist attack today. This time in Brussels. How many will die? Why did this happen? Where and when will the next one take place? Will it be closer, too close, to us?
How are we to respond?
There are likely many “right” ways as well as “wrong” ways to respond to these types of attacks. There is the obvious need to care for those involved. There is the need to pray. There is the need, yes, to seek justice.
There may even be the need to see “them” and to see “us”, to name them as an enemy. However, I am reminded this week, this Holy Week, what God did for His enemies.
6 While we were still weak, at the right moment, Christ died for ungodly people. 7 It isn’t often that someone will die for a righteous person, though maybe someone might dare to die for a good person. 8 But God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us. 9 So, now that we have been made righteous by his blood, we can be even more certain that we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. 10 If we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son while we were still enemies, now that we have been reconciled, how much more certain is it that we will be saved by his life? (Romans 5)
Even as sinners, as His enemies, Jesus chose to die for us. Sinners include you and me as well as our enemies, and when Jesus saw us as His enemies…He chose a way to love.
I am not seeking to tell you how to respond to the attacks today. I am asking you to consider how Jesus responded. Please know that I wrestle with His response a lot too. It feels at times inadequate or even the opposite of what is needed, and yet, without His response, you and I would not have any way to be reconciled to God.
Especially this week, when you see the images of Jesus on the cross and remember His death, remember it was for you and me, His enemies.
Blessings,
Pastor Matt
(All scripture cited above from Common English Bible Copyright © 2011)