Why was I so disturbed when I saw the final moment of Gadhafi’s death? He was a hated dictator who killed many of his own people. He was as ruthless as those who caught him. Eye for an eye, as they say.
Yet, I have been struggling to figure out what I might have done if I were in that crowd who caught this horrible man. Why should I care? Why would I be concerned with an event that took place across the Atlantic?
Only way I am able to answer is, “Because I am a Christian!” Because I am a Christian who takes the Bible seriously I cannot escape from Matthew 5:43-48,
- ‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
In a way I am wrestling with this passage because according to this passage, I have no escape when it comes to loving my enemies. Either I follow what Christ asks of me or I am not a follower. I cannot be a Christian and ignore some parts of Jesus’ teachings.
What would be a Christian response for me if I am in a situation where I have more power than my most dreaded enemy? What is an appropriate response to the most hated enemy who unleashed evil on so many including me when I have him trembling before me? What would it mean for me to love the mortal enemy when all my anger explodes into my brain at his sight?
Would God not excuse me or forgive me for killing the one whose death would bring relief to so many? Would God not bring justice through God’s own servants in this crooked world?
Yet, there comes the voice that calls my attention, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord” (Romans 12:9).
Christians throughout centuries died praying for those who were persecuting and killing them instead of calling all Christians to rise up in holy war against God's enemies. Should I do any less?
One thing that distinguishes Christians is our insistence of loving our enemies. Here we are talking about loving enemies actively, not passively. We are not to be doormats but those with Christ's love sharing life even with our mortal enemies.
So I ponder about killing of Gadhafi and what my sharing of love might have been if I were one of those who caught him.
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