I wrote this back in may and forgot to post it so here we go:

So lately I have had a huge list of articles in my “to-read” list as it was but it exploded when this Osama thing happened.

This topic has also been a huge topic on both Facebook and Twitter. I have been seeing responses both incredibly inspiring and …otherwise I wanted to post my response.

As many know because of my Christian faith I am pro-life in the fullest context, I am not only respectful of unborn lives, but also those already walking the earth, meaning I am Anti-War/ violence and murder in the form of assassinations/ Death Penalty executions or otherwise - Sanctity of human life means all human life to me.

That being said, I see many saying that this action by the Navy Seals will bring closure to the victims of 911. My point is not to denounce specific actions in this case alone, but to show that:
I yearn for a time when reconciliation, and not revenge, brings closure.

This part is a series of questions posed to my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ:

We have a Savior who died for those who rejected Him, Was His last prayer for angels to come and kill his persecutors? Or was it asking God for their forgiveness?(Luke 23:34)

Our Lord asks us not to return evil with evil(1pt3:9), to turn the other cheek(Mt 5:38-40), to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us(Mt 5:43-48). Then where did this idea that we can love our enemies while at the same time causing bodily harm or even killing them come from?

When Peter swung his sword at the soldier who was going to take away an innocent man(the only innocent man ever, Jesus) Did Jesus allow him to protect Him? Did He not Rebuke Simon Peter's act to defend Him saying "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword" ?(Mt 26 47-55)

I believe we should always protect the innocent, but does our Jesus not forbid us to use violent means of doing so, even when those against us use violent means?Where does Jesus ever speak of self defense, or keeping ourselves safe? On the contrary He tells his disciples “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”(Mt 10:16)

Is not trusting that Jesus' way can work forgetting what our resurrection holds? Would that not show that we value the protection of our own mortality over our Savior's promise of eternal life?

In Closing...

I am not calling for us to sit by and let atrocities happen, not at all, what I am pleading is that we use our creativity and the way Jesus embodied, not doing nothing, and also not resorting to evil acts, but should we not follow the Jesus who said:

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell."

We are not to conform to the patterns of this world which (successfully) tries to sell us the myth of redemptive violence. I want to offer some solutions here so we can constructively discuss this topic: “How does a Christian show the world that we are a people set apart, while addressing the violence and horrific acts those of the world choose to commit”.
Some of these were suggestions from facebook friends, and I believe they show that beauty can overcome darkness, you cant fight darkness with more darkness, you need to shine a light on it.

• Christians starting free schools in parts of the worlds where the youth are susceptible to joining violent militias due of their promise of wealth for their families who are desperately poor.
• Christians providing money for scholarships for those same youth.
• Providing Gospel based non-violence training in poor neighborhoods and villages everywhere.

The reason why all of these are addressed to Christians, is because I have a strong belief that the poor of the world are our responsibility as followers of Christ

His Kingdom is not of this world, and as Christians we are citizens of the Kingdom here and now, so should we continue to use this world's methods to solve our problems? Can violence solve our problems without perpetuating more violence?