One
of the gray areas of the Christian life is whether it’s wrong to regularly
watch shows like Fox’s 24. This article
isn’t about that. For anyone interested
in reading I take the stand that if you choose not to watch this show, that is
your conviction and I understand. This
article is in reference to the show and those familiar with this season. This
article contains spoilers from the May 10th, 2010 episode.
Monday night I watched with hands over half open eyes the torturous scene the
character Jack Bauer inflicted on the villain of the episode. The bad guy was a Russian terrorist involved
with the murder of Jack’s love interest and colleague, Renee Walker. If I had been watching the episode in a movie
theater, I’m pretty sure it would have been Rated “R”. It was a gruesome and difficult scene.
During
the climax of the scene, Jack needs a SD card that the terrorist
swallowed. In what appeared to be a
psychotic rage, the episode ends with a very dead terrorist and Jack holding
the card. As this took place, the effect
multiplied with the music backdrop, God downloaded something to my heart:
This is what unforgiveness looks like.
The
best definition I’ve heard on forgiveness came from mentor and author Joy
Chickonoski who said, “Forgiveness is letting go of the fact the other person
didn’t meet your expectations.” Looking
at that, it’s easy to conclude unforgiveness is rejecting that definition. The unforgiving one can’t let go of the fact
that expectations weren’t met and often unforgiveness festers.
Although
24 is entertainment, the episode gave
me a visual take away. Only a couple
episodes remain in the series. Jack has a short list of who is going to pay for
taking away the only person that gave Jack even a glimpse of hope in his lonely
and patriotic life. I’m pretty sure the
carnage count on that show isn’t finished and most likely the unforgiveness and
revenge will move onto the big screen where 24
is headed.
When
the bodies are counted and the weapons put away, Renee Walker is still dead and
now, so are a lot of other people. Each
piece of closure Jack receives isn’t enough.
With unforgiveness, there is no closure. Like a cancer of the soul, the hate
spreads. When the credits rolled, I had
a profound thought:
The
most tortured person in that episode wasn’t the terrorist.
It
was Jack.
How
about you? Is there a person that you
believe you’re holding prisoner with unforgiveness? Are you able to separate the fact that
forgiving them doesn’t mean what they did was right, but means you’re willing
to let go of the fact that person didn’t meet your expectations. Few marriages expect adultery or addiction
nor do employees expect layoffs. Parents
don’t expect rebellious children and children don’t expect neglectful
parents. All of these scenarios happen,
often. Holding hate and seeking
revenge, even in minor levels, doesn’t bring closure.
Years
ago Clint Eastwood made a movie called Unforgiven. A friend watched it and told me not to bother
because it was “too dark and without hope.”
That’s unforgiveness. There is no
hope with an unforgiving heart.
What 24 fans saw in the torture scene very
well could be a reflection of our own heart.
If pondering Jack’s actions against this article has you thinking, I
challenge you to drop your unforgiving weapons and stop the torture.
Your own.
Father, you know my hurts and you know
_____________ didn’t meet my
expectations. When I think about this
person, I relate to the revenge Jack Bauer is after. But I don’t want to be the tortured one. I need Your help and I know Your Son is the
one with the key to unlock me from my own prison. Help me forgive the person, even if I don’t
talk to them again. Heal my heart—show
me others who could counsel me or resources that would give me hope in
Christ. I’m done torturing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading …
About Julie Arduini
Julie Arduini is a writer and public speaker residing in NE Ohio. Her heart is to encourage others to find freedom through surrender. She knows it has to start with her, so she’s surrendering the good, the bad, and—maybe one day— the chocolate.To learn more about her writing, speaking and other resources please visit her website.
- Web
- More Posts (87)
|
|
Posted in 
Add to Google
Revenge and retribution are close to each other in the dictionary and have nearly the same definition. The only difference being that in the latter case an authority person or organization gives their blessing to process and outcome, while retaining a chosen level of deniability. The Russian terrorist was collateral damage in the process of obtaining the information, which was a legitimate objective. Over the years Jack has not indiscriminately killed or tortured, but has kept sufficiently focused on the objective to evaluate an enemy’s value. However, Jack has never subscribed to the author’s asymmetrical definitions of sweetness and light, which allow good people to become perpetual victims. The author should try reading about Dietrich Bonheoffer sometime.