In Memorian 30 Ethiopian Christians

Today the internet brought news that 30 Ethiopian Christians were murdered in Libya by people I refuse to name because I don't want to give them any power or credibility. Today, I refuse to call it terrorism or an execution. I cannot call it war, though those who perpetrated it do so. It is murder. Today, I'm putting ashes on my head and tearing my clothing for my brothers and sisters who have given their lives for Christ. Today, the Spirit calls me once again to follow the Crucified and Risen One, just as they have done, all the way to the end. Surely the enemy is not so much the murderers - they are no more nor less human than we are, despite their actions. The enemy is the spirit of evil that causes humans to take up the sword against each other, to see others as objects to be manipulated rather than as kindred to be respected. This unclean spirit is neither unique nor limited to those nameless murderers. We have known it, and by we I mean US Americans and Christians. We must not forget how easy it is to hate and to kill the objects of our hatred. Today, I'm wondering if it's possible that we could beat our swords into plowshares, if it's possible for us who have been commanded to love our enemy and pray for our persecutors to actually do what our Christ told us to do. It's hard for us to see them as human. We'd rather shoot them, most of us, if truth be told. I know I would. Put a stop to it. Just shoot them down, bomb them, destroy them. As if they are 'its' and not people. That's only fair, right? I want to riot in the streets, just as they are in Libya. It's a lot easier to pray "O that you would kill the wicked, O God, and that the bloodthirsty would depart from me*" than "Father, forgive them, they don't know what they are doing.**" I know, that's Jesus, not us, but didn't he ask us to follow him? And what does that mean if not "go where I go, do what I do, love who I love?" Tomorrow, we baptize Brandon, a young man who comes of his own volition to join with us at Grace Church. We receive 6 other adults into membership. We must tell them that they are in danger. That following Jesus is the hardest thing they will ever do. They will have to die to their desires to get even, to hate, to refuse forgiveness, to every natural impulse that says the answer to violence is violence. They must learn to see 'family' in people of all nations, ages, races and classes. They will be challenged to love their neighbors and their enemies. They will be called to forgive when they'd rather retaliate. They will be asked to see others as human beings, even when they are not granted the same courtesy. They may even be killed for their refusal to give up this way of grace, mercy and peace in a world of hate, revenge and violence. It goes against so much of our natural inclination to follow Jesus. Frankly, I can't see how it's possible for anyone. Is it possible for God? I would list the names of our Ethiopian Christian brothers and sisters. I can't find them. But their witness is powerful today. May God use their deaths to bring what their lives could not - an end to fratricide, which is, after all, what murder really is. Let those of us who live half a world away offer some act of love, forgiveness, or charity in their memory. *Psalm 139:19 **Luke 23:34