An Eye For An Eye......

This was not like something out of a Hollywood blockbuster movie - this was far worse. The mindless, brutal, evil attack on an innocent soldier in Woolwich on Wednesday has left me feeling quite disturbed.  What I am still trying to comprehend is how people in the streets, could clearly see a man with bloodied hands holding a massive machete, and yet they were able to calmly walk past as if nothing had happened, they were able to film with their mobile phones and one brave woman who has been hailed a hero was even able to have a conversation with the murderer asking him what he was trying to achieve!

If this had been a movie, the bystanders would have been fleeing the scene screaming hysterically and causing chaos as they fled.  I wonder why the people there didn't feel in danger that they might be next in line for attack? Where did they find the courage to view what was unfolding before them and even talk to the terrorists?   It has emerged one lady was a Catholic and her faith gave her that courage.


The attacker boldly and deliberately stood in front a camera to tell the world he swore by almighty Allah, and that this would continue to happen because it's what our soldiers are doing to Muslims in their countries, he said it was an "eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth".
I don't know an awful lot about Islam and what it means to be a Muslim, but I'm thinking right now  it must be pretty hard.  I do not believe for one second that man represented what Muslims want  or believe, any more than Westboro Baptist represent true Christianity!
Jesus spoke to people about the old law:


Matthew 5:38-42
38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 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. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you".

The law was originally given for the punishment to fit the crime, not to get involved in tit for tat payback retribution. It is not for us to take justice into our own hands, God will be the ultimate judge when every single one of us gives an account of ourselves before Him on the day of judgement 

Romans 14:12

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

When retribution is taken into our own hands and we think it is ok to pay someone back for the hurt they've caused us, it can only cause our world to become more and more dark, not just on the large scale with a individual nutters intent on murderous payback but even in the little things; like the thoughtless comment that we won't let go and insist to ourselves next time we will say something twice as cruel, or the person who carves us up in traffic who we race to the next light determined to overtake, and countless other offences that we become obsessed with taking revenge on every day, this only serves to make us bitter and angry inside and this is not the way God wants us to be, He wants us to be able to love and forgive and let him take care of the misdeeds and injustices.

Imagine how different the world would be, or your town or even your own home, if we learnt to let go of the misdemeanors done against us and take our hurt to God and ask him to give us the strength to forgive.

Colossians 3:12-13

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another,forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.