No one mourns the wicked

Yes, that title is also the title to a song in a rather popular musical. And yes, it's been running through my head for the last week. And actually, it's made its way to my heart. And wrecked it. Funny how God works sometimes...

For those of you who don't know, "No one mourns the wicked" is a song from the musical Wicked. And for the record. It's a fantastic musical. It's the back-story of the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. It will change your perspective on the entire story. And the set and stage production are enough to make my jaw bleed from scraping the ground for so long.

But anyhow.

This song is one of the first sung in the musical. It's an ensemble piece right after the Wicked Witch is killed. Some of the lyrics say "No one mourns the wicked. No one cries 'They won't return!'... Goodness knows the wickeds' lives are lonely..." and so forth. Truth? Yes. Problem? Well, actually I think the problem is the answer to that question. Most would say no. But I think the answer should be a resounding yes. Since when did we get so cold and proud as to celebrate when the wicked die? When their lonely lives come to an abrupt, violent end? When their hearts are so desperately lonely and disappointed by the harsh judgment bestowed on them that they lash out and do the only thing they see fit?

Now just to be clear. I am not, by any means, justifying wicked acts. Sin is sin, and it must be dealt with. What I am saying is that maybe, just maybe, if we would reach out to the wicked in love and mercy, maybe they wouldn't see wickedness as their only means of escape. Ever heard the old adage, "love the sinner, hate the sin"? I think as Christians we've forgotten that. Jesus didn't come to the world to condemn it. He came to save it. Sin will be judged. Each one of us will be held accountable. But instead of celebrating when people like Saddam Hussein or Ted Bundy die, what if we actually heard, and felt, the heart of Jesus and wept over them? And what if we took it a step further and reached out before they got to that point?

Maybe if someone mourned the wicked, the wicked wouldn't be so wicked.