Rejoicing?

The Lord is...patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 NIV

I couldn’t believe it, but there it was in front of me. Images of people dancing in the streets, on the news of a woman’s death. Not Islamist militants in the far east, but in Glasgow and Brixton, it was an angry mob at its worst. I bear no allegiance to a political party, and am not a member of any, but I was disgusted at the behaviour of these UK residents. One celebrity politician from the strangely named ‘Respect’ political party said, ‘I hope she burns in hell’. This from a man who doesn’t believe in the place!

It is no secret that there is no love lost between the average Scot and Margaret Thatcher, and that is understandable. It is even allowed. Disagreement with others, whether in politics or religion happens, and will always be with us, but mob celebration? Such is the vitriol exhibited by some of the banner waving, drunken louts, many of whom would have been in nappies, or maybe hadn’t been born when Maggie was Prime Minister.

I am reminded of Rabbie Burns words, “... gathering brows like gathering storm, nursing her wrath to keep it warm”. Were these people waiting for her death so that they could party? Social media can be a good thing, but there are times when it is abused and misused in the hands of a bad lot. Martin Luther King also said, “... nobody should rejoice in the death and defeat of another human being”. Wise words from a man who knew real abuse, but wasted on the minds of a mob on a spineless rampage, looking for an excuse to riot, and trying to blame someone who has been out of politics for 30 years.

There was something else that disturbed me greatly today. The spiteful comments of professing and active ‘christians’ (small c) under the guise of social justice, who certainly didn’t sound or look like the Jesus they claim to follow. Our litmus test should be WWJD (What Would Jesus Do). For me, that was the biggest let down. Some of us should know better, especially when a living is made from the very Church that Jesus died for. Is it too much to ask for some dignity in our disagreements? Rant over!!

Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Romans 13:2-4 NIV