War without end or fighting evil with good
 Fighting terrorism and the killing of Osama Bin Laden was again highlighted in President Barak Obama's speech to the Houses of Parliament earlier this week. Rev Philip Young proposes the idea of combating evil with good.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is left feeling uncomfortable by the killing of Osama Bin Laden. I am also left feeling very uncomfortable and I am worried about the path those in power have chosen to combat terrorism.
The way that has been chosen to fight terrorism is by using means that are violent and evil. By choosing to bypass the process of law and justice we are choosing to combat evil with evil. It is plainly wrong to break into someone’s house and to shoot them in the head. This is the law of the jungle and makes our tactics the same as the terrorists, who care nothing for the sacredness of human life or the due process of the law.
By making a martyr of Osama Bin Laden we are almost bound to create more suicide bombers and so the vicious cycle of terrorism and killing continues. We are choosing the way of war without end, and by choosing to combat evil with evil, are creating a hell on earth, where no one can be safe.
 The only way to escape from this vicious circle is to choose to combat evil with good. An end to war is desirable, and to bring about the dream of a world at peace, then we simply have to choose peaceful ways. The lie that many people still believe is that by fighting the terrorists with bullets and bombs we can bring about peace.
Jesus teaches us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. To choose this way is to choose the way of life. This way is idealistic, but it is also realistic. How far do we have to go down the path of creating hell on earth before we realise that the idealism of Jesus is the only practical and realistic way to move away from the downward spiral of violence?
Love is the only way to overcome hate. Jesus has shown us this way by loving us even when he was hated and rejected by those around him. God is love and Jesus has shown us the way of love. It is love that will bring an end to war.
If we make the choice to love then we can move away from hell on earth and create, as co-workers with God, a new heaven and a new earth where war shall be no more.
God is love and love is the answer to all our problems.
Philip Young
Vicar of St. Thomas’ Heigham | 