My first reaction was cynical. I thought, "Meh. Someone just as bad will take his place...or someone worse." Honestly, I do fear retaliation by Al Quada. Not for my own life, but I fear the tragedy that comes with terrorism.
Then the Tweets and Facebook updates started. "God bless America!" "Go America!" "USA!"
For some reason, I just didn't feel right about that. Then Dan Haseltine, lead singer of Jars of Clay, began posing some great questions on Twitter:
"Society would have us celebrate the death of Bin Laden as if it wasn't the death of a person. Cheer for revenge? Love our enemies?...."
"Does the death of 1 atone for the many? Does it justify the affects of the war? Does it change a terrorists convictions? What does it mean?"
The truth is that only one death atones for all-that is the death of Jesus Christ. So, Dan is right-what does Osama's death really mean? It doesn't bring back the hundreds who died on 9/11. It doesn't even make it better-there is still pain and injustice surrounding terrorism that Osama's death cannot cover or stop.
So should we be rejoicing?
Osama commited a lot of heinous crimes, but he was a person-a person with a soul. He is a person with a soul who died without knowing Christ. Should we be happy that he is entering into eternal death? Should we rejoice in him burning in hell?
"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."
Romans 12:19
It would be easy to argue that vengeance is good-afterall, God allowed many Old Testament characters to enact it right? If we go back and read those accounts, I think we will find that God's motive was JUSTICE and not REVENGE.
Killing Osama was an act of justice, no? Maybe-maybe we can rejoice in the fact that justice has been done as long as our hearts are not soaked in revenge, hate, pride, and celebration of death.
But still, I wish justice had been enacted a different way. I wish Osama had come to know Christ (that would've been radical, I know, kinda like when Saul turned to Christ)- that Christ's blood had covered his henious sins. That would've been justice too-a better justice, for Christ's blood is powerful enough to cover even the "worst" of us.
But that was not God's plan. Still, I cannot bring myself to rejoice over the loss of a life and a soul for I do not see my Saviour rejoicing over the loss of souls. Though He is sovereign and has a special love for His elect, I do not believe he laughs when souls are consumed in hell. (EZEKIEL 18:23)
We as a nation need to check our hearts. As one tweeter put it, "It breaks my heart that the death of one man can cause so much national joy, but the death millions causes such little national grief."
Once I heard the news that Bin Laden was killed, one of the first thoughts that entered my mind was the inevitable blog posts and debates that would be popping up over the issue. As you mentioned, it's a shame that justice had to come in the form of death in this case, and it would have been wonderful if he had turned to Christ and received salvation. But even though his death does not bring back the thousands of life that he's taken of the last two decades, it will no doubt save many more lives that would've been lost under his reign of terror and evil. That is why I rejoice.
ReplyDeleteIn Christ,
Dakota
Stumbled on your blog accidentally.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, I'm glad that not everyone is as narrow minded as I thought when it came to this topic.
However, some of the religiously inclined observations and gestures you made didn't sit to well. My apologies, I know this is a religious blog but just thought I'd say it, hope I haven't offended.
Cheers.
No offense taken-I realize some people do not see things the way Christians do and that it doesn't sit well with them!
ReplyDelete