I felt rather torn last night and this morning. When I saw the line reading, "OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD" run across the screen last night, I wasn't sure what to feel.
Sure, this is a great victory for America. For ten years, we've been hunting a criminal, a murderer, a terrorist. Part of me wanted to be running in the streets of D.C., chanting "USA! USA!" But another part of me could not possibly rejoice at the death of a human being, one created in the image of God, just like me, who had died without knowing the love of Christ. After all, without the blood of Christ, I deserve the same fate as Osama bin Laden.
I've been looking into the scripture today to see what a Christ-follower's reaction to this should be. Here are some verses that come to mind:
"You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more." Psalm 10:17-18
"The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates. On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face." Psalm 11:5-6
The thing is, I do see David praising God for being just and protecting His people, but I don't think he is necessarily rejoicing at the death of the wicked. I think the Lord has protected the fatherless and the oppressed, those who lost loved ones on 9/11. I think he has brought justice to Osama bin Laden.
However, I do not think that God was pleased with the death of Osama bin Laden, and I don't think I can run in the streets and rejoice, either. Here's why:
"For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!" Ezekiel 18:32
"Say to them, '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..." Ezekiel 33:11
"Do not gloat when your enemy fails; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them." Proverbs 24:17-18
As an American, I am thankful for the men and women in our military. I am thankful that God has brought justice for those who are now fatherless, motherless, widowed, or outlived their children. I am thankful that God kept our Navy SEALS safe during their mission. I believe that the death of Osama bin Laden was necessary for the protection of the American people.
But as a believer, I cannot rejoice in his death.
