“The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, 
begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. 
Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. 
Through violence you may murder the liar, 
but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. 
Through violence you may murder the hater, 
but you do not murder hate. 
In fact, violence merely increases hate. 
So it goes. 
Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, 
adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. 
Darkness cannot drive out darkness
only light can do that. 
Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” 
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In the wake of the Boston bombing, we will hear many cries for justice. But Sometimes I wonder if we confuse justice for vengeance. In the wake of every atrocity since 9/11, it seems as if our attitudes towards the perpetrators of evil acts has been to hang them or let them burn in hell. We want them to feel the weight of our pain and suffering. There is a desire for them to suffer as we have or worse.
There nothing wrong with a righteous anger, but when anger turns to rage, and grief to hatred the evil one as one.
“Justice is about harmony. Revenge is about you making yourself feel better”- David S. Goyer.
When faced with seemingly pure evil, we long to feel better, we long to go back to innocence. Innocent blood has been spilled, and yes, the blood on the ground cries out for justice and vengeance, but vengeance and retribution are not ours to administer. It is God’s and God’s alone (Psalm 94:1 Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19).
God does punish the wicked, yes. Within our justice system evil acts should be punished. But Jesus tells us to go beyond loving our neighbor as ourselves to loving our enemies just as God the father loves his enemies by giving sunlight to the evil and the good (Matthew 5:43-48). We’re called to love not hate. Jesus tells us that anger at someone is the same as murdering that person we hate (Matthew 5:22).
God’s heart is love and restoration for those who repent and believe.
God’s justice is harmony to restore relationships. For those who do not repent, who do not feel remorse for their sins, He does offer punishment and wrath.
So in the case the Boston marathon bombing, what should we do? We should pray for the victims and their families. Second, we should pray for the perpetrator(s). Pray that the Holy Spirit convicts their heart for their actions, pray the Father will heal the pain and lies that led them to commit evil. Pray that they will find the life that Christ offers and that they will be spared from the wrath that is offered for the unrepentant. Third, pray for the families of the perpetrator(s) that they would be spared from hate and violence from those demanding retribution. Fourth, we pray that all in America will see the love of God at work in this. Let Him redeem this act of evil and use it to show us his extravagant love. Pray that all can see that His love will overcome the freewill choice of the bomber(s).
