I just saw a movie called “Acts of Violence”. I thought it was a decent movie, but it really got me thinking.
How would I react if a loved one were ever hurt? Do I have the strength to resist the temptation to go out and destroy those that have hurt some one that I love? I really have no idea.
God has said that vengeance is His and I pray that I would leave it to Him to handle, but I also know myself. My wife has said that she does not want me to act on if she is ever hurt by anyone, but will my flesh take over or will my love for God.
I bring all this up, because as a father of a daughter who is very pretty, my concern is that someone will try to take advantage of her. As a dad what would you do? My first instinct will not be to comfort, that is the wife, but rather I would want to destroy whatever caused the harm.
I realize that is vigilantism and is against the law, but I am not sure I will care. It reminds me of all the movies with Charles Bronson called “Death Wish”.
The justice system in this country sucks. Sure it is better than others, but it seems like money makes all the difference. The system is based off of humans and as such they are corruptible. All it takes is a bribe of some sort be it money or the protection of a loved one or the keeping of someone’s secrets. Then you have a guilty person that goes free.
Now like I said, vengeance is the Lords so they do not really go free and God does not forget. God may forgive, but He does not forget. and in fact it is said that God will hold us accountable:
Romans 14:12 New International Version (NIV)
12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
Then I have to ask myself what would Jesus do? He would say pray for your enemies and believe me, if a person hurt someone that I loved, they would be an enemy. My instinct as said above would be not to pray for them, but rather destroy them so they could no longer hurt another.
God has instructed us to forgive others as He has forgiven us. The question is would you forgive? I am not sure that I would, but I will rely upon the Lord to help me through these difficult times.
The question is what would you do if a loved one were hurt by another? Would you leave it in the hands of the Lord? Would you pray for them? Will you forgive them? Will you pray that they accept Jesus and become saved so they can enter Heaven?
These are difficult questions to answer.