Parakalein

At the heart of our nation is the goal to create a world in which there is freedom and justice.

When President Obama announced that bin Laden was dead, he laos sated that justice had been served.
In the sense that the many people who died in 9/11 and in the war in Afghanistan in the decade to follow were victims of war, their deaths were avenged.  But that is vengeance not justice.  There is a sense that injustice was done.

What if the president had said, "Today a great justice was done"  in the name of all the victims of Bin Ladden's attacks, at the same time a great injustice was done.  The injustice was to humanity, as no one can take another persons life and not diminish that persons sense of the global family of humanity.

We are a nation based on Christian principles. One of those principles that have to do with "freedom and justice" is the assurance of trial by peers.  Another is to "love our enemies" unless killing them is our only alternative.

The Christian Principe of "unmerited favor" that is a working definition of grace is half the story at best.  Another half of the story is that while I am freely given grace by God even though nothing I have done deserves it,   It is a willful discipline of the heart that trusts.  When I know God looks at me and sees who I am a with eyes of grace.  When I look at my enemies, do they see grace.  It is one thing as a Christian to receive the unmerited favor of God in the grace that sets us free from bondage while here on earth and preparing us us for heaven.  The other side of grace is that I as a Christian and recipient of grace need to also extend "unmerited favor" to all those who sin against me, including bin Laden.  Grace is not just about getting us to heaven it is also about getting heaven to come to earth in the form of love and grace.

Extending unmerited favor to others is a sign that true redemption of our hearts has happened.

It is when we are free of our thirst for vengeance that our hearts that have a story of love and grace can send the message to all people everywhere.  Then there will delivery and justice for all as all will be treated with grace and respect.  Peace will come in that day.