Carrying Anger, or not

“If our social justice is guided by retribution, we will simply perpetuate the use and abuse of power to inflict violence.”

                                                   Jamie Arpin-Ricci

“By making God more monstrous than us, we circumvent the need for redemption.”

                                                   Jamie Arpin-Ricci

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Retribution

Revenge

it looks like men fired from their jobs for telling the truth

it looks like a post, underneath a meme about Speaker Pelosi

stating simply

hang the bitch

it looks like a woman

gunned down by her abusive husband

for daring to leave

It looks like a leader

Suggesting that Jesus was wrong

When he said, “forgive your enemies”

and then discounting the faith of others

we seem to be a world

wallowing in resentment

and retribution seems to be our response of choice

Ah the thirst to get back at those

who ‘done us wrong”

we want to make them pay

and so we turn bitter

and cruel

and soon there is nothing

but rage

and its consequences

and we justify it

by insisting our violence

has God’s stamp of approval

we bully

we intimidate

we reject

we harm

in God’s name

I have been there

too often

I am there

too often

this thirst for vengeance

sneaks up on me when I least expect it

and suddenly there I am

caught up in anger

and hate

and wishing someone harm

and thinking

Surely, God must agree

Surely God must see this person as I do

Surely God will approve my vengeance

Surely God doesn’t

If ever we would doubt

That God thinks our vengeance is wrong

All we have to do is go to the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5)

“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 (Raca is an Aramaic word of contempt.  Think… idiot, thug, think ethnic slur) is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”

The way of God is clear

We are not to “carry anger”

We are not to live out our anger

In case there was any doubt, Jesus takes it further

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of God.”

The fact is what starts as name called

Escalates to something far more destructive and evil

The path of resentment and retribution

Leads to something far darker and more sinister

We cannot walk that path

We cannot support that path

We cannot

If we do we are lost

If we do hate will lead to more hate

And violence to more violence

And we will have violated

Profoundly

The way of the one

Who beaten, and torn

And hanging from a cross

Said “God, forgive them”