Random notes on the execution
So they killed Saddam Hussein. More of the left v. right spin on events, more vitriol spewing in the blogosphere. The cultural war enters 2007 as an ongoing concern. I wouldn't call it gathering force, but I'd say it's still going strong. there is extraordinary contempt in some corners of the blogosphere for others.
But we were talking about the public hanging of a man: I'm reminded that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but seeks each soul to come to him. Saddam Hussein died praying. Was it enough? As Christians, we are called to suspend judgment on someone's soul, and remember that one day we too will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and remember that the measure we give will be the measure we get.
And if the measure is "God have mercy on all us sinners, and save all, even those most in need of your divine mercy," I think we have a better chance than, "Damn the genocidal bastard." Perhaps I'm superstitious ... but I believe that asking for divine justice, as opposed to divine mercy, is a dangerous thing.
If you hate Saddam Hussein, pray for his soul. If you hate Osama Bin Laden, pray for him. If you hate your brother on the right or on the left, pray for him. Pray for our enemies. As Christians, we can cut through the gorgian knot of justice in this world by praying for all to come to Christ, that we may all be One in Christ.
As for killing Saddam Hussein, while I think it was the right thing to do (because Saddam was an ongoing threat), I have some bad news. I quote Ephesians, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the principalities, the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places."
The spiritual evil that Saddam Hussein allowed himself to be controlled by — those spirits still go back and forth on the earth. They don't go to the judgment with him. They now search the individuals of the world, and look for another tyrant to raise up and commit new atrocities to destroy men and turn their hearts from God. Pray that they don't succeed.
In the end, mankind will have peace not when this or that candidate is elected (not that we should stop trying), or when we win this or that war (ditto), but when all human hearts have been purified through Christ and these evil spirits have no legal grounds to oppress anyone, that is, the Holy Spirit rules each human heart. Let's not forget that this is a spiritual battle, and each of us has a front within our own hearts.
Pax Christi.
