Revenge seems at many times to be a form of justice. Christian Bale as Batman struggled with revenge versus justice. Likewise, one of my favorite movies is the Count of Monte Cristo starring Jim Caviezel as Edmond Dantes (Jim Caviezel also played Jesus in The Passion of the Christ).

The main reason why I liked Edmond Dantes is because he realized all of his revenge on his enemies. The movie really delivered everything that you wanted for the hero. However, this is really shallow of me and not true justice nor very Christ like.

Some modern religious people incorrectly justify revenge or an unforgiving justice by quoting Leviticus 24:19-20.

If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he has injured the other, so he is to be injured.

However Jesus changed all of that in his amazing and radical way. Matthew 5:44-45

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.

This verse from Matthew goes back to Christians being the Light of the world for all people. To love our enemies, while difficult without praying, is a great way for us to share the joy of Christ’s peace and love.

So are we fighting George Bush's war of revenge in Iraq? I think so, yet he still trys to twist his motives into a somewhat religious duty of fighting our enemies abroad so we don't have to fight them here. Sorry Mr. President I'm not buying into it like so many of my fellow Christians.

Originally published at AdamParish.org.