On March 22, 2016, Brussels, Belgium, was attacked. Two men were willing to give up their lives, as long as they could take out many more.
Fifteen people died, plus the two bombers. One of these suicidal men was only twenty-four.
As of March 26, 2016, nine men had been arrested in connection with this attack. One of them admits to accompanying the bombers into the airport and walking away unscathed afterwards.
What should be done with these men? Families are angry. Authorities are livid. It’s easy to let ourselves be filled with hate.
Let’s see what the Bible says:
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1.
Self-control will help us communicate better with these incarcerated men, even though we’re filled with anger.
“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.” James 4:1-2.
We need to uncover the motivations behind these men’s action, so that we can endeavor to prevent its reoccurrence.
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” Matthew 18:15-17.
In Jewish culture, gentiles and tax collectors were pariahs. No one wanted anything to do with them. There comes a time to lock the door and throw away the key.
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
Love endures all things, but it doesn’t make itself a doormat. (See the previous three verses.) What love does is work toward a peaceful resolution.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Matthew 5:38-39.
Our Biblical examples are Jesus and Paul, who protested personal abuse against themselves (Paul quite vehemently) but refused to take private revenge. They invoked the authority of a higher power, God and Rome, respectively.
“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Ephesians 4:26.
We should be filled with righteous anger at what happened in Belgium, yet it can consume us if we aren’t careful.
“Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.” Proverbs 25:26.
If we give in to terrorists and respond in kind, our principles have been fouled by their footprint.
“A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:8.
There comes a moment when we must step up to the plate and take our position in God’s army. He has a job for each of us to do.
Remember that doormat? Even Jesus overturned the moneychangers’ table when the house of God was violated. Love is about “turning the other cheek,” certainly. That means we exercise self-control in agitated situations, work to resolve conflicts to the best for all parties, and refuse to take personal retaliation. It also means we work to intervene for a righteous cause. Even Jesus did that.
Showing love means setting limits to what we will tolerate, in addition to being kind and filled with the grace of the Father.
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Code: FGO.D.10.16.vp.esv