Jesus died for Joseph Kony

All the chatter about "Stop Kony" and "Stop at nothing" the last couple days and reading various opinions and blogs and thoughts has got me thinking about issues of mercy and grace and compassion. Reading this post this morning was convicting. In all my hesitation about the idea of "going after" Kony using the same methods that have been tried before, I failed to see the most
important issue.

Jesus died for Joseph Kony.

When you think about that and really start to chew on it, it's mind-blowing--but at the same time, it isn't, if you know the Lord. When villains such as Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Ladin and Moammar Ghaddafi died, I was sad. I wasn't sad that they were no longer present in body and able to cause harm to people; I was sad that they had died, in all likelihood, without knowledge of the Savior who loved them--in all their wickedness--enough to die for them. Last year I spent a good bit of time working towards forgiving someone who'd caused great harm to someone I loved; the realization that Jesus died for this individual I despised was a huge part of learning to forgive.

Jesus died for Joseph Kony.

Joseph Kony was created by God. God knows every whorl and line of his fingerprints. God knows every thought, however good or vile, that enters into his head. God knows exactly how many hairs are on that head. And God loves him dearly, even as Kony's actions clearly break God's heart. Joseph Kony has perpetrated unspeakable acts in the name of the Lord, and I am sure this makes Him angry. But God still loves him.

Jesus died for Joseph Kony.

Every atrocity, every hurt, every rape and murder and kidnap and theft that Joseph Kony is responsible for was covered by the blood of Jesus on the cross. If Joseph Kony seeks it, he will receive the same forgiveness extended to each individual on this earth because Jesus died for him. Just like he died for us.

Jesus died for Joseph Kony.

I can't believe that I missed the most important issue, the piece that should've been at the very root of everything I said and thought and wrote about the matter. As one whose life is surrendered to the One who gives life, my first thought should have been, "Forgiveness. Reconciliation." So thank you, Michele Perry, for reminding me what's most important.

Jesus died for Joseph Kony.

What right have I, whose life has never been directly touched by the man, and as one forgiven by the Savior, to hold on to any sort of anger or unforgiveness toward the man? Do I still want to see justice done? Sure, but more than earthly justice I want heavenly justice; I want Joseph Kony to know that if he chooses to receive the forgiveness extended to him by the cross, he is justified, and his sins are as they never were. We also need to remember that justice is not the same as revenge. Justice in the eyes of the Africans--in the eyes of those directly affected by the man and his actions--might look very different than what we Westerners think it should.

Perhaps this seems to make light of the pain the man has caused; that is certainly not my intent. But if the very individuals whose lives were turned upside down by the man can forgive him, surely so can we. I've still got a long way to go in the forgiveness department--part of me still would like to see violence done to him just as he's done it to so many. But my task as follower of the Lord Jesus Christ is to forgive this man, remembering that in spite of all he's done...

Jesus died for Joseph Kony.