Its just not another bad news story...

Perhaps you were like me and riveted to the events that unfolded on April 15, 2013 at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. As the news of the terrorist style attacks became known, major news agencies focused all their programing to cover the events in Boston. I found myself watching the news as if it were a TV crime drama or a made for TV movie and I fully expected that the bad guys would be caught before the end of the program.

It is only in the days since the attacks that we have seen the devastating affects of the bombings - lives lost, horrific injuries and individuals whose lives will never be the same. We also have had an ongoing commentary about the suspects and their lives - who they are, where they are from, did they have help and are there more bombings still to come. The number one question on everyone's mind is, "Why?" Why did these men do this?

On Thursday, April 18 the news was awash with the headline "Bombing Suspect Killed in Shootout" and my Facebook and Twitter feeds said "One down, one to go." TMZ tweeted, "Dead bombing suspect heavy into hip hop." I'm not sure if that is relevant news but it was reported on. Then on Friday we watched as the second suspect was caught after a day that saw all of Boston shut down. The end of another bad news story.

But this is more than just another bad news story because it should cause us to think about the issues surrounding the story. Those who call themselves followers of Christ should examine their attitudes about terrorist acts and the people who perpetuate terrorism. How many Christians felt bad for the victims of the bombing and then wanted revenge on the perpetrators? Is wanting revenge right? How many Christians rejoiced when one of the attackers was killed in a shootout with police? Should we rejoice over the death of an individual, especially the death of someone Christ himself died for?

One author I read a lot of (and I would encourage you to do the same) is Miroslav Volf. Dr. Volf is a theology professor at Yale and in his recent book, A Public Faith, he has this to say about Christianity and violence,

"Thin" but zealous practice of the Christian faith is likely to foster violence; "thick" and committed practice will help generate and sustain a culture of peace.
(p. 40)

A thin faith, according to Volf, is a faith that serves primarily to energize, heal and give meaning to the business of life for the believer whereas a thick faith maps the way of life of the believer based on strong ties to the ongoing tradition of faith and clear cognitive and moral content. Thin faith is self centered while thick faith is other centered.

There are no irredeemable people in the world and no one has the right to close the path of redemption on another.

Blessings.