| PASSION FOR REVENGE By Erwin Bourne—August 10, 2002 The dialogue that Friday morning was bitter. The hurled insults were cruel. From the onlookers, “Come down from the cross if you are the Son of God!” From the religious leaders, “He saved others but he can’t save himself.” From the soldiers, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” Hateful words. Irreverent. Acidic with sarcasm. Wasn’t it enough that He was being shamed as a criminal? Were the nails insufficient? Was the crown of thorns too soft? Was the flogging too short. When Bernhard Hugo Goetz, age 37, blasted four would-be muggers in a New York subway, he instantly became a hero. “Thug-buster” tee shirts began to appear on the streets of New York City. People gave and raised money to go toward his defense. Radio talk shows were deluged with callers. “They won’t let it go,” said one radio host. It’s not hard to see why. Bernhard Goetz was an American fantasy come true. He did what every citizen wants to do. He fought back. He “kicked the bully in the shins.” He “punched the villain in the nose.” He “clobbered evil over the head.” This unassuming hero embodied a nationwide—even worldwide—anger. People are mad. People are angry. There is a pent-up boiling rage that causes us to toast a man who fearlessly, (or fearfully) says, “I am taking it no longer.” And then comes out with a hot pistol in each hand. Walking revenge. Blind bitterness. Unharnessed rage. We trust no one and bare our teeth at anyone who gets near. Now is that anyway to live? What good has hatred ever brought? What hope has anger ever created? What problems have ever been resolved by revenge? No one can blame the American public for applauding the man who fought back. Yet, as the glamour fades on such acts, reality makes us ask the question: What good was done? Vigilantes are not the answer. We can’t keep ourselves out of war. Uncontrolled anger won’t better our world. Paul spoke for humanity when he confessed, “I do not know what I am doing.” Have we ever wondered how Jesus kept from retaliating? Have you ever asked how he kept his control? Here’s the answer. It’s the second part of this statement: “for they do not know what they are doing.” It’s as if Jesus considered the bloodthirsty, death-hungry crowd not as murderers but as victims. It’s as if he saw in their faces, not hatred, but confusion. They were a stir-crazy mob. Mad at something they couldn’t see, so they took it out on—of all people—God. But they didn’t know what they were doing. And for the most part, neither do we. We can’t answer our own questions about love and hurt. Once we see the world and ourselves for what we are, we can help. We look at the world, not with bitter frowns, but with extended hands. We realize that the lights are out and a lot of people are stumbling in the darkness. So we begin to light candles. There’s something about understanding the world that makes us want to save it, even to die for it. Anger? Anger never did anyone any good. Understanding? Well, the results are not as quick as the vigilante’s bullet, but they certainly are much more constructive. From NO WONDER THEY CALL HIM THE SAVIOR by Max Lucado—Edited by Erwin Bourne <Outreach_amazon@yahoo.com>
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