by Mal Fletcher

Jesus knew about oppression. He was born into a nation that had been living under Roman occupation for many years. Many of his people were paying up to 80% of their income in taxes to a foreign power. The whole country was a hotbed of political unrest. As a man of extraordinary compassion, Jesus must have been keenly aware of the suffering all around him. That makes his words and actions all the more remarkable. Can you imagine how these oppressed people must have reacted when he told them to love their enemies? Jesus knew that people only ever really change when they choose to do so. Fear never brings about lasting solutions, only love can do that.

Jesus also confronted religious extremism. He had major problems with leaders of strict religious sects, because he was a man of grace. Extremism is built on legalism. It ties people down with strict rules that cover every detail of their lives. Most religious extremists have no interest in freeing people to live better lives; they want people doing what they're told. Jesus taught a different way. God's rules are important, but the best they can ever be is a means to an end. The end is grace.

So, what would Jesus say to a terrorist? He'd say, right up front, "God loves you. He's willing to forgive anyone who sincerely calls on his help."

If you've committed crimes, you will need to pay a penalty, to pay the price for your actions, your debt to society, but you can be made right with God.

Jesus would also say: If you look at the immorality, the greed and the oppression in this world and think 'This needs to change', you're absolutely right. But the world's problems begin in the human heart. As the prophet Jeremiah put it: "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Everyone on earth, irrespective of race or creed is a sinner before God and you can't mend broken hearts with violence.

Actions speak so much louder than words. Jesus spoke most eloquently to the propagators of fear when he allowed men to nail him to a Roman torture stick two thousand years ago.

On that cross, God didn't respond to our fall, our deficiencies, our rebellion and our failure with his hands raised in anger. Instead, he spread his arms wide open in love. Fear cannot produce lasting change, only compassion can achieve that.