Bin Laden’s death captured the world’s attention, causing euphoria all over our country.  America’s reaction was predictable: "This man deserved to die.  He was a criminal.  What he did on 9/11 cries out to heaven."

A colleague told me that he lost a friend in the 9/11 attack.  He said he had strange feelings over the death of Bin Laden and asked, “Is it possible to believe in 'an eye for an eye' and still find a way to forgive?”  A good question!   God said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.”  I believe that the death of all who died on 9/11 will be avenged, not by our military, but by God.  Hatred and revenge only lead to more death and destruction.

When we forgive Bin Laden, we do him no favor.  The one we do a favor to is ourselves.  If we do not forgive, we will become bitter.  Bitterness is a cancer that will kill, just as surely as any bullet. When we forgive, we free ourselves and become the person God wants us to be.  When this happens, it has positive ripple effects over the whole world.  Forgiveness is the strongest weapon in our arsenal in the war against terror.  I ask my fellow Americans to find the strength to forgive Bin Laden, because I believe he will have his day in court, which will be God’s court, not ours.

Let us practice forgiveness like Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mandela.  Gandhi said, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”  When we forgive, we do a service to our country, to ourselves, and most of all to God.  Only the ability to forgive will bring true solace to the families of the victims and to us all.

 

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Your Turn. Tell us what you thought about this article:

Responses

1st Peter 2:13 Submit yourself to EVERY ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be to the king, as supreme (14) Or unto governors, as unto THEM THAT ARE SENT BY HIM FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF EVILDOERS (murderers) and for the PRAISE of them WHO DO WELL (work righteousness)..... It wasn't an eye for an eye, It was punishment for breaking a law called murder. We are a world full of laws and if you violate them BEWARE of the consequence, GOD's VENGENCE will hunt you down.

Chris
High Desert, CA

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One of my favorite quotes from gandhi and I have been questioning the same thing.  I trying to teaching my kids I know he did worse thing I can think off but we should never be happy when some one is killed.

dan
usa

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I have come to know the community while they were here in Washington DC, namely Joel and Marcella Zimmerman who have now relocated to their community in Rifton New York.
Their community in Washington Dc is and always will be an inspiration to all those people thay have touched in so many ways.
I truly believe what the you believe....forgiveness is way of Jesus....an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth is NOT the way of the Lord.....Bin Laden despite his earthly activity is forgiven...we have no right to take anyone's life.....God is the only judge.

Anthony Marinez MD...Washington DC

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I don't know what "to forgive " means, to me it is just a word.
What are the mechanics of how to forgive? Is it a matter of just putting some unpleasantness out of mind or is there some other tried and true method in learning the art of forgiveness?

redfa
australia

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I watched the Royal wedding reviews on TV. When William and Kate shared their love in front of the world, by bestowing the kiss of one another. The cheers of delight, we all wanted more ! We all yearn for the beauty, peace, co-operative feeling of love. As the cameras moved away from the two, I saw Princess Diane and Prince Charles being cleared and cleansed by this new love emerged through. The Love that was present in them both, purged through these children. The beauty of Diane's true heart was blessed through her children.
As the news came of Asama's death,  my heart was  confused, for I did not feel the celebration that others did, I knew it was our hands stained of blood. We, as a nation keep feeding the frenzy of fear.
My twelve year old son via face book, noted in an attempt of revenge towards his sister, Gandi : An eye for an eye, makes everyone blind. My prayers are towards this beautiful contrast of events, look with our eyes and choose what we want for our tomorrows. In this moment, choose peace.

Rdiva8

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Very good thoughts and perfectly true (I tried to say something similar the other day) and how desperately some need to hear them right now.

Another point we so soon forget, though we pray it every day, we will be forgiven AS we forgive others!  So your comment about who is most advantaged by forgiveness is spot-on correct!

Thank you for posting this and may God continue to bless you,

Derrick
Marçon, France

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YOUR ARTICLE IS SO TRUE, THE BIBLE SAY FORGIVE 70 TIMES 7 EACH DAY =490 TIMES PER DAY IF THEY ASK FOR FORGIVENESS. WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT ANY SIN IS SIN

JANICE HINDS
KINGSTON JAMAICA

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Its good approach to live life in a peaceful manner & let others to do the same but if we have Forgiveness in our lives.I approve whatever you have said because one can win over all the world while having love & forgiveness.You hit the bull's eye, really.

wilson
Pakistan