Today I find myself pondering the recent events in Seattle, WA surrounding the ambush of 4 police officers and the subsequent shooting of murderer.
I always hear the phrase “Violence breeds violence.” And in a way that cliche holds true in this situation as the violence of one man toward the police ended up in his violent death by the police. But I cannot forget that this man was the recipient of clemency for previous violent crimes…therefore leniency in this case also bred violence, though indirectly. And I also am acutely aware of the fact that the “violent” act of the police officer brought an abrupt end to the violence of the criminal and so to a degree violence bred peace.
All that to say that all of our nice and simple little cliche’s rarely do justice to reality. But at the end of the day in Seattle I am convinced that justice has been done…and even more sobering is the fact that the criminal is now facing the full force of God’s justice and from anything I can tell he is facing it alone…a fate we all deserve and therefore a fate that I wish upon no man. May Christians close to this weekends events be bold and tactful in proclaiming the Savior as the ultimate comfort and satisfaction in the face of death.
