Last Thursday, I was fortunate to be invited, along with other area clergy, to take in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot as presented by Road Less Traveled Productions. I, like everybody else in the audience, had no idea that the man behind the 9-11 attacks was about to die, but the questions raised by the play prepared us for the weekends events. The main one being: "Is any person beyond forgiveness?"
Now, it certainly is understandable to answer, in cases like Judas', or bin Laden's that some people are not (and will not be) forgiven. I have to admit that I smiled when I learned of bin Laden's death. The play, however, invites us to give the same benefit of the doubt to Judas that we might give to ourselves, and to see Judas through the eyes of the ones who loved him--including the one he betrayed, Jesus.
The question we eventually must face then is not whether or not we believe a person "deserves" forgiveness; forgiveness is never deserved. Rather, we must wrestle with this thought: How open are we to forgiveness?
Can we find forgiveness for ourselves if we cannot offer it others?
The Last Days of Judas Iscariot suggests that we can, by closing ourselves to grace, forfeit our own. In my reading, this is consistent with the teachings of Jesus, who instructed his followers to pray, "forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us."
Mike Huckabee, pastor and presidential candidate declared, upon bin Laden's death: "Welcome to hell." In doing so, Huckabee implied that he himself was speaking from Hell. Perhaps there was some truth in his gaffe. Could Huckabee, by imagining a world of vengeance be creating that same world for himself?
The recent publication of "Love Wins," by Rob Bell, pastor of an evangelical mega-church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has many people re-thinking the popular understanding of hell, heaven, and our futures beyond death. What we say about these important topics informs (or illustrates) what we think about justice, reward, punishment, and forgiveness.
Bell wrestles with heaven and hell as they are presented in scripture, and finds that the images many of us have been taught are lacking. Does this make him a heretic, as many have stated? Does this mean there is no punishment for those who do evil, such as bin Laden?
These are questions we need to ask, for if we simply dismiss people to hell, we're less likely to love them--or even tolerate them. On the other hand, people like bin Laden remind us that the world is still an unforgiving place.
I personally feel like I cannot say "I forgive bin Laden," because I did not lose a friend or family member due to his actions. My forgiveness can only be offered in a general sense, and I want to be sensitive to those who have been specifically hurt by him.
At the same time, I cannot, and will not, proclaim a world where justice comes through violence or revenge. I will live my life inspired not by the injustice done to me, but by the grace shown to me. If bin Laden is in hell, I don't want to be the one welcoming him.
Three quick plugs:
The Last Days of Judas Iscariot will make you think about these things, and it is well-rooted in sound theology and history. It runs until May 22.
To think further about these issues, and to make Mom happy, you are invited us to join us at 10am at Lafayette Ave Presbyterian Church. Vernice Turner will share a monologue from The Last Days of Judas Iscariot as Henrietta Iscariot, helping us reflect on violence and betrayal through a Mother's eyes.
Finally, for a full review and discussion of "Love Wins" join us on May 14 at 10am. Brunch will be involved. Tentatively scheduled to take place at Lafayette Church, we may relocate to a more accessible space. Please RSVP so that there is enough food and we can keep up updated on the location.
See review by BRO's Grant Golden
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Now, it certainly is understandable to answer, in cases like Judas', or bin Laden's that some people are not (and will not be) forgiven. I have to admit that I smiled when I learned of bin Laden's death. The play, however, invites us to give the same benefit of the doubt to Judas that we might give to ourselves, and to see Judas through the eyes of the ones who loved him--including the one he betrayed, Jesus.
The question we eventually must face then is not whether or not we believe a person "deserves" forgiveness; forgiveness is never deserved. Rather, we must wrestle with this thought: How open are we to forgiveness?
Can we find forgiveness for ourselves if we cannot offer it others?
The Last Days of Judas Iscariot suggests that we can, by closing ourselves to grace, forfeit our own. In my reading, this is consistent with the teachings of Jesus, who instructed his followers to pray, "forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us."
Mike Huckabee, pastor and presidential candidate declared, upon bin Laden's death: "Welcome to hell." In doing so, Huckabee implied that he himself was speaking from Hell. Perhaps there was some truth in his gaffe. Could Huckabee, by imagining a world of vengeance be creating that same world for himself?
The recent publication of "Love Wins," by Rob Bell, pastor of an evangelical mega-church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has many people re-thinking the popular understanding of hell, heaven, and our futures beyond death. What we say about these important topics informs (or illustrates) what we think about justice, reward, punishment, and forgiveness.
Bell wrestles with heaven and hell as they are presented in scripture, and finds that the images many of us have been taught are lacking. Does this make him a heretic, as many have stated? Does this mean there is no punishment for those who do evil, such as bin Laden?
These are questions we need to ask, for if we simply dismiss people to hell, we're less likely to love them--or even tolerate them. On the other hand, people like bin Laden remind us that the world is still an unforgiving place.
I personally feel like I cannot say "I forgive bin Laden," because I did not lose a friend or family member due to his actions. My forgiveness can only be offered in a general sense, and I want to be sensitive to those who have been specifically hurt by him.
At the same time, I cannot, and will not, proclaim a world where justice comes through violence or revenge. I will live my life inspired not by the injustice done to me, but by the grace shown to me. If bin Laden is in hell, I don't want to be the one welcoming him.
Three quick plugs:
The Last Days of Judas Iscariot will make you think about these things, and it is well-rooted in sound theology and history. It runs until May 22.
To think further about these issues, and to make Mom happy, you are invited us to join us at 10am at Lafayette Ave Presbyterian Church. Vernice Turner will share a monologue from The Last Days of Judas Iscariot as Henrietta Iscariot, helping us reflect on violence and betrayal through a Mother's eyes.
Finally, for a full review and discussion of "Love Wins" join us on May 14 at 10am. Brunch will be involved. Tentatively scheduled to take place at Lafayette Church, we may relocate to a more accessible space. Please RSVP so that there is enough food and we can keep up updated on the location.
See review by BRO's Grant Golden
Osama Bin Laden was not behind the attacks in the US on 9/11.
here's a link to the FBI's most wanted; http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten/usama-bin-laden
not once are the 9/11 attacks mentioned by the FBI. the FBI had no evidence linking him to the attacks in this country.
please get your facts straight before posting.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/Terrorism/story?id=1995630&page=1
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16990-2004Nov1.html
from the link provided;
Rex Tomb, Chief of Investigative Publicity for the FBI responded, “The reason why 9/11 is not mentioned on Osama bin Laden’s Most Wanted page is because the FBI has no hard evidence connecting bin Laden to 9/11.” Tomb continued, “Bin Laden has not been formally charged in connection to 9/11.” Asked to explain the process, Tomb responded, “The FBI gathers evidence. Once evidence is gathered, it is turned over to the Department of Justice. The Department of Justice then decides whether it has enough evidence to present to a federal grand jury. In the case of the 1998 United States Embassies being bombed, bin Laden has been formally indicted and charged by a grand jury. He has not been formally indicted and charged in connection with 9/11 because the FBI has no hard evidence connecting bin Laden to 9/11.”
http://www.projectcensored.org/top-stories/articles/16-no-hard-evidence-connecting-bin-laden-to-9-11/
folks, believe me i'm not defending bin Laden here. it's just that I find it extremely discomforting that there is this conflict of information.
Also from the links provided, from Osama himself:
"The truth is that he has no connection whatsoever with the events of September 11th, and I am certain of what I say, because I was responsible for entrusting the 19 brothers -- Allah have mercy upon them -- with those raids, and I did not assign brother Zacarias to be with them on that mission. And his confession that he was assigned to participate in those raids is a false confession which no intelligent person doubts is a result of the pressure put upon him for the past four and a half years."
this article you provided is dated 2006. that gave the intelligence agencies 5 years to follow up on that statement. if there was something solid to that statement and the intelligence agencies had concrete evidence against him, don't you think we would hear about it? as in, the Justice Dept. has issued a warrant for bin Ladens arrest for connection in the 911 attacks. there was nothing... very disturbing as it raises some serious moral and ethical questions.
Well there is a lot of evidence that contradicts your point.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/al-qaeda/8489866/WikiLeaks-Bin-Ladens-courier-trained-911-hijack-team.html
where in the article you provided does it link bin Laden w/ the 911 attacks?
it has this sentence; 'Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the September 11 attacks'
but nothing on bin Laden.
Seriously, you have to be kidding me. The guy was Bin Ladens personal courrier who had been with him since Tora Bora. He also bought the house Osama was living in. And if the CIA had plastered what they knew about it all over the place as you say, how long do you think Bin Laden would have stayed there.
Plus how do you point to Carters reference and say well that was 2006, but somehow you have an excuse why your reference was last updated in 2001.
Johnny
could you please point out how having a courier connects bin Laden to the 911 attacks.
I've been talking about the FBI, not the CIA. bin Laden knew he was a wanted man for the attacks in Africa, as posted per the FBI wanted poster. doubtful there would be any inside info spilled if another case was brought against regarding the 911 attacks.
Carter posted an article that claims bin Laden says he told the hijackers to go ahead with their mission. my point was that being it was dated from 2006, that gave the intelligence agencies several years to follow up on that lead. obviously nothing came out of it because, yet again, there's no solid evidence that would allow the FBI and Justice Dept. to proceed forward w/ prosecution.
as for the FBI not updating the bin Laden wanted poster since 2001 I gave a possible reason for them not updating it and that would be lack of evidence.
By the way, that wanted poster was last revised in 2001 , i.e. more than 10 years ago.
the fact that the site hasn't been updated may suggest that there has been no additional info/evidence forthcoming linking bin Laden to the attacks. I would think if the intelligence agencies had anything on him they would put it up on the site as well as plaster the media w/ headlines.