Sunday, 01 May 2011
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The Death of Osama Bin Laden and the Christian Reaction
As I write this the twitterverse, facebook, news stations, and general U.S. public is buzzing about the reported death of a well known terrorist named Osama Bin Laden. To many this death means justice is being served, that the United states is the hero of the world, and/or that the war on terrorism is a good idea. I'd disagree with about all of these things. However, I'm not writing this to debate those issues. I have one simple message right now for Christians.We are to be a people of love who imitate Jesus Christ. Jesus loved all people so much that he died for all of them, wiping away their sins, calling them his children. He forgave all evildoers as they tortured and killed him. During the greatest of injustices he suffered and exampled perfect love, asking God to forgive those evildoers. In his teachings he told us to emulate our Father in heaven who is faithful to the wicked and the righteous, causing his rain and sun to fall upon both. He sent his son for all the sinners of the world. The public sinners, the private sinners, the violent sinners, the sexual sinners, the mental sinners. He did this in an effort to bring all people to him. He wanted all people, all sinners, all wicked men and women, to repent and join his kingdom. He gave us Jesus, the "Way", so that we would have unity with him.
That is what love looks like. In the book of Ezekiel God speaks to his people and twice makes it clear that he does not delight int he death of the wicked because his true desire is for them to change their ways and join him in his way. Ezekiel 18:23, 33:11. The second states, "...As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!..." Jesus commands us to forgive others nonstop. Paul instructs the Romans to never seek or invest in revenge but to be people of love who bless others and do good to their enemies. THIS is a huge aspect of the Christian life. The Christian is defined by love.
So when men like Osama Bin Laden die we should not celebrate their death (or killing/murder/whatever) but mourn for someone died without repentance (as far as we know). That is worth our mourning. That is worth sadness. If we are people of love then someone dying outside of love should touch us deeply and not cause us to throw our arms in the air rejoicing. The fact that people, even Christians, rejoice in the death of other men proves that this world is broken, sinful, fallen, and in need of true redemption. We know that God will judge all and justice will come to pass but right now, for us, mercy, compassion, grace, forgiveness, blessings, and love are our focus, duty, and supreme pleasure. Let us not get caught up in the "victory" of the United States (which is no victory at all to those of us who know the love and salvation of God, the meaningless of nations and the value of every human being who is created int he image of God) but let us mourn the sadness that penetrates the kingdom of heaven as a brother sleeps in sin and may not enjoy eternity with us and with God. How could we celebrate such a tragedy? Let us not think that bombs have brought redemption and justice but instead let us remember that redemption and justice was already brought in the greatest of ways through Jesus Christ dying on the cross, as a weak and seemingly defeated criminal. Violence is not the hero. Christ is the hero. Love wins, it never fails.
This death is not the depiction of God's justice. The cross is that portrait. This death will unite us in mourning and love or in revenge and hate. We can not be a people who support endeavors which consist of top priorities such as killing a particular man. We must support evangelistic and gospel-oriented endeavors that have goals of converting men into repentance. Our military belongs to heaven and not a specific nation. The terrorism we stand against is not made of flesh and blood but of powers and principalities. We must have a gospel based view of reality and no lesser view.
Therefore, let us invest in love, mourning this day, not celebrating the ways of violence and shallow justice. Let us align ourselves with the God who does not delight in the death of wicked men but desires that all men come to him and may he be a part of drawing others near. Today we can do that with how we approach this popular death. We can pray for the middle east and what may come as a result of this death. We can pray for all the people in various militaries that they find safety. We can set an example by mourning and speaking love. We can do many things to distance ourselves from hate, revenge, nationalism, and all the evil things that are floating around in our society at this very moment. It was once said that Christians are the reason the good flows on in this world. Let us live in such a way that this may still be true even if we are accused of loving too much.
Proverbs 24:17, "Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice"
How do you feel about the death of Osama Bin Ladin? Do you think God is happy that he is dead? How should Christians react to this moment in a way that will accurately reflect the love, compassion and message of Jesus Christ?
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Comments (147)
Wow, Revelife is on it!
WOW. That was FAST.
Some things just can't wait until the morning.
I just finished a very similar blog.
I agree with all of this. I just caution all of us to also be loving and understanding toward Christians who are just reacting in a "knee jerk" fashion. This is a great chance to teach good doctrine not to condemn. Not that your guilty of these things in this post.
Grace and peace!
Ezekiel 18:23, 33:11
Awesome.
Great post. Thank you.
An early church father named Athenagoras once stated, "To be just alone is not enough because to be just means to repay like for like, but we have been commanded to far beyond this, to be kind and patient"He also stated, "We cannot bear to see a man or woman put to death, even justly!"
I don't think Bin Laden was behind 9/11, and seriously wonder if this particular terrorist ever really existed the way he has been presented. He is just a face they put on something much deeper. And now they bring out his death to boost ratings for Obama to rerun next year. That is all this is really about.
Very good points.
What a great message! No victory or celebration is appropiate in one man's demise. As one Christian to another we must mourn the loss of a evil mastermind, and forgive our tresspassers. Victory belongs to Christ and his death on the cross. If we live by the sword so shall we die by the sword. Jesus will bring justice, not the U.S. government. Michael
That's all I'm going to say on the topic. Shame on you, America.
Honestly, as I've been watching crowds gather and cheer his death, I've been reminded of how repulsed the American people were by Arabs celebrating death in the US at 9/11. I realize it's not exactly the same thing, but it's similar enough. I fully appreciate the closure that this might bring to those who lost loved ones. But I do believe that God's heart is grieved about Osama bin Laden - his life AND his death.
i can't believe people still think that it was an inside job.
first of all, the taliban/al queda were "celebrating" 9/11, not all of the arabs. correct me if i'm wrong. (gently, please)
second of all, i dont believe we are celebrating his death so much as celebrating that he can no longer hurt people. what do you think would happen if he was merely captured? we'd still be "celebrating."
yes, it is sad that he has died without knowing Christ. that's always sad when something like that happens. And God is the ultimate judge. but i am just hoping that his death has prevented more unnecessary deaths.
like i said, we'd be celebrating even if he was captured.
i dont mean to say we should celebrate him being dead. it is very sad that he has died without knowing God. But, we should celebrate that now there is closure for the families who lost loved ones on 9/11. and we should celebrate that we don't have to worry about what he's going to do next.
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices: and when the wicked
perish, there is shouting. - {Proverbs 11:10}
@ swim4sharks:
What do you mean by closure?We are called to forgive those who have wronged us. The murder of Osama was a blatant act of revenge, not forgiveness.Also, could not the US have put him in prison for life? How is his death a solution? Al Qaeda still exists, sin still exists. There will always be a "what ___'s doing next", until Christ comes back again.
We just celebrated the resurrection last Sunday. I wish there was just as must celebration about that. What a fallen world we live in.
@asower11 - One proverb commands and one observes. Both live together. I'm glad scripture is honest about reality.
@t_sheffield@xanga - FWIW, 2000 years from now, we will not be celebrating the death of Bin Laden.
Yesterday was the anniversary of the death of Hitler. No one put on their best clothes to celebrate. No one gave cards commemorating the day. And yet, there was much celebration about Hitler's death. (See Time Magazine)Yeah...the resurrection of our Savior is a bigger deal than the death of a murderer.
311 Likes. Oh snap!
@Romans_837@xanga - That's definitely a good point. However, I'm still sickened by it all. I definitely have mixed emotions and don't think that this is a day to celebrate.
Is it bad that I spent most of my time after reading your comment trying to figure out what FWIW meant?
LOL.
@t_sheffield@xanga - I went through a range of emotions/thought.
Excitement. (Ding dong the witch is dead)Contemplation. (OK, Bin Laden's dead, who takes over)Religious contemplation. (Am I allowed to rejoice over the death of the wicked)Geopolitical contemplation. (Is Al-Qaida strong enough to avenge Bin Laden's death?)Social contemplation. (Wow, watch FB/Twitter/Xanga go off the charts)Cynical contemplation. (Bin Laden's dead. So what?)At this point, I'm contemplating that i'm up too late.
I rejoice over justice, because what you reap is what you sow. If you are not with God and not in the love of God, you are in His wrath. I rejoice because God is a God of justice AND sometimes that judgment is met out through the hands of other men.
It is what it is and I praise God for justice!
@seattlepam - Revenge does not equal justice. Only God can give justice. Bin Laden's death still does not make up for the lives that were lost on 9/11.