The other day, we were walking home from the internet cafe. It's about a fifteen minute walk. No big deal. It was about 5:45, almost dinner time. Around this time, kids walk home from school. So, we're walking up the hill, to our house, and we see a HUGE mob of children yelling and gathering in front of the house next to ours. So much commotion. We obviously had to see what was going on since we live right next door. I asked a girl what was happening and she said they just caught a thief. He had been stealing livestock and other things around town. We couldn't see him because of the huge crowd of mostly children. But then they started cheering and they brought out the guy. His hands were tied, his face was all bloodied, his clothes were stained with blood. They brought him up to the church which is right up the hill, in front of our house. By this time, there were more adults on the scene. They started interrogating the poor kid, right on the steps of this gigantic cathedral of a church, where we have chapel every day. They kept asking him questions and would hit him with sticks every so often. Again, there was a huge crowd of children, watching all of this unfold, laughing and cheering. It was one of the most unsettling things I have ever witnessed. After they found stolen items on his person, the adults began chasing the kids away, so they could beat this young man even more. So the kids would be chased away, laughing, then run back up to the church, like it was all a game. I was so disturbed. I had to leave at one point because I did not at all want to see this poor man be beaten. At the same time though, I couldn't leave. I couldn't just let them beat him while I was sitting in my room. So I went back, and began praying. I prayed and prayed and prayed for God's deliverance and salvation. "Oh Lord have mercy on this man. Come down and deliver him from these people. Oh my God, have mercy." Over and over. I know they beat him some more, with sticks and branches they pulled from the trees. I know they did because I heard it. This all went on for some time until finally, they just let him go. Apparently, he said he was never going to steal again. So they let him go. No police were involved. No judge. No jury. Just a crowd of people who felt that after a good beating, justice had been served.
What in the world did I just witness?
I was baffled and disturbed.
I walked away, went home, just dumbfounded.
And grateful that the Lord spared his life.
And spared us from witnessing further brutality.
I began to think about God's grace, mercy and forgiveness.
I believe that Jesus Christ paid for the penalty of all sins on the cross and that when He said, "It is finished", He really meant it.
Because of His sacrifice, I believe His love and grace reaches everyone, everything.
And I believe He is fighting for His love to reach everyone, everything, everywhere.
I know that the people in this crowd were not all believers, if any.
And I know that culture here is different. This is just how Ugandans deal with thieves.
However, my God is bigger than that.
My God so loved the whole world….every person, including young men who steal hens and phones.
God's love is insane.
His grace makes no sense.
His forgiveness…mind boggling.
So, if Jesus, in all of His goodness, granted me all of these things and if I truly want to be like Him, how am I supposed to see people? How am I supposed to love them?
With the same love, same soul, same mind.
My life should be an outpour of grace, forgiveness, mercy, love even when it doesn't make sense.
Especially when it doesn't make sense.
So. What would have happened if I stepped in the middle of this scene?
What would have happened if Jesus stepped in the middle of this scene?
Jesus says, "The truth will set you free."
The truth of God, the truth of God's love, goodness, mercy and forgiveness sets free.
The thief, if he was forgiven, shown kindness and mercy, how would his life be different? He wouldn't just stop stealing. He would have experienced something so counter-cultural, so radical, that he wouldn't just stop stealing. He would be changed.
Set free.
The mob, if they witnessed mercy being shown, grace being given, forgiveness, how would they change? Would they put their sticks down? Would they view life in a different way?
I wonder.
I wonder at the love of God.
I marvel at His goodness.
I praise Him for Jesus.
I thank Him for the Spirit.
This kind of love, radical love, changes things.
This radical love, sets people free.
This love, true love, makes things right.
Radical love requires radical living.
I pray that the Spirit would burst out of me with bold love, bold faith, bold actions, bold words.
Just like Jesus.
