innate human value

I mentioned the term "innate human value" to my roommate last night as a reason why I can't let this JN situation just pass by me. He's a fellow son of God. He said if that's what I believe, then I should go for it.

He casually mentioned how that was something he struggled with. How can remorseless serial killers and rapist...how can you attribute that "innate human value?" He stopped it at that because he realized that was a whole other subject matter, and we were talking about JN...and JN didn't fit in either of those categories.

But it's an interesting question. Can you forgive someone who doesn't even feel bad about it? If I had a daughter, and someone raped and killed her, I would buy a gun and kill that person. Maybe that's a bold statement. I probably don't have those balls, but if I did, I would. It's not my thought that that person's innate human value give to him by God...that's not what would stop me. Hell, even if it was a little sister I cared for, I would hopefully show a piece of my mind to that person.

But no, we are called to forgive because we are forgiven. It's when a Christian community forgives a killer that people realize that Christians are different. That we don't value this Earth, that we value our "reward in heaven a THOUSAND times more than we value our lives...our wives..our kids...(John Piper quote)."

Sigh, I have much to learn then.