(Micah Fries, pastor of Frederick Boulevard Baptist Church in St. Joseph, MO, blogs at MicahFries.com.)
Osama Bin Laden is dead. After a decade of reining as the most well known face of terror and depravity, Bin Laden will no longer have the privilege of presiding over a culture of terror. As a result of his death, American’s have filled the streets of their respective cities, setting off fireworks and jubilant celebrations. As I think through the implications of Bin Laden’s death, particularly as I thought through how to explain it to my daughters this morning who never lived through 9/11, I wonder if this response is proper for the follower of Christ?
Make no mistake; Bin Laden received justice, which he deserved. The American government did exactly what they should have done and that is bring justice to the man responsible for leading a movement that has led to thousands of American deaths, not to mention a incredibly large number of deaths from many, many other countries around the world. One of the most significant purposes of a government is to exist for this very purpose. Romans 13:4 reminds us that this purpose is an extension of the justice of God. So when I wonder about the Christian response, I am not wondering if the American government’s response was appropriate – no, of that I am certain that it was both right and just.
Instead I am wondering how the Christian should respond to this act of justice? As I contemplate God’s word, I am convinced that our response should not, cannot, be one of jubilation. Proverbs 24:17 reminds us, Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,. This is a strong reminder that justice must be served in God’s economy, but that to rejoice in death – even the death of an enemy, is to celebrate the destruction of God’s intended plan for the world. Even in a belief system that celebrates life, there will be times when death is necessary – unfortunately – because of the presence of evil. However, as follower’s of Christ whose life’s calling is to lead people from death to life, it cannot be true of us that we celebrate the demise of any individual, no matter how heinous their crimes. Ezekiel 33:11 reminds us of the brevity of this situation, Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways” To celebrate Bin Laden’s demise is to somehow deny God’s word that reminds us that we are all equally guilty before God and that we all stand equally condemned as a result of our sin. Yes, Bin Laden’s sin was grievous. Yes, he deserved death. But make no mistake, so do you & I and every other person in the world. We cannot celebrate Bin Laden’s death because it represents another individual who died outside the grace of God and that is tragic.
When Christ came and offered Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity, He did so in an effort to craft a new humanity out of a fallen world. He is creating new hearts out of each follower of Christ, hearts that reflect His grace and hearts that honor His glory. When we celebrate the death of bin Laden with glad hearts we are celebrating that Bin Laden received punishment that he was due, which if we are not careful, means that we are embracing a spirit of revenge. God’s word is once again challenging to us at this point. Consider Matthew 5:43-48, 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. How do we respond to bin Laden in light of this passage? Is it ok to disregard it? Obscure it? Ignore it? Is it important to love our enemies, unless they are really, really bad, as in the case of bin Laden? Should we forgive them, unless they really, really hurt us, as in the case of bin Laden? Please no! If we cannot practice unexplainable forgiveness in the light of horrific tragedy, what kind of faith do we have?
This new humanity that God is creating must have a different response than the thousands that are dancing in jubilation today. We rejoice in justice, but we must do so with heavy hearts. We grieve the loss of life that Bin Laden caused. We grieve the sin that so saturated Bin Laden’s heart that led him down his descent to the grave. We grieve the eventual loss of even his life, as every life is precious in God’s eyes. There is no doubt that the death of Osama Bin Laden is just, but make no mistake it is equally a tragedy. As followers of Christ, particularly ones who live in America, let us be grateful that we live in a country where justice is served; let us be grateful that bin Laden cannot lead the killings of thousands around the world anymore. However, while we are grateful that justice is served, let us not joyfully dance on the grave of a man who is lost for eternity. Let us remember that vengeance is God’s, not ours.
Can’t disagree with this post. The saddest part of this is that a man will spend eternity in hell without any chance to experience hope, love, pleasure or anything else good.
The misery this man caused is hard to grasp, the misery he now experiences is impossible to grasp. I, personally, do not feel any elation whatsoever. It is truly, truly a sad, sad thing.
On a lighter note: the military operation that led to Osama’s demise is truly incredible. He was not “bombed into eternity” but taken out with a surgical strike at close range by one of the most elite (and secretive) fighting forces (perhaps THE elite fighting force) in the world — SEAL Team Six.
Thirty-six years ago I was invited to volunteer for Navy SEAL training. After seeing the video, I decided that Superman, himself, could not pass the training — and I was no Superman.
I have several nephews that are serving in the military and, while I am sad that any man would spend eternity in hell, I am proud that I live in a country that will never give in to terror, or give up on the chase.
Of course, it’s not just bin Ladden that is suffering in hell. Every muslim who ever lived who did not personally, consciously trust in Christ to save them and repent of their sins is suffering the same terrible fate. Add to that the fact that every, single, solitary muslim person living right now won’t be shown an ounce of mercy by God when they die but will also go to hell no matter how sincere they were in following the “light” they had and no matter how kind, sweet, and nice they were to their neighbor.
No muslim will go to heaven. Every last one of them will be punished in hell for all eternity unless they repent and believe the gospel. I can’t think of a more important reason for us to preach the gospel as if lives depend on it, because they do.
So true Joe. If we are not careful our politically-correct niceness in regard to Islam may obscure the “only” hope (not “a” hope but “the” hope) for an entire mass of people.
Yep. I was thinking particularly of things I’ve heard people say to the effect of “If a muslim is nice, kind, and following his religion faithfully God will save him through Christ without them realzing it was Christ who saved them”. Of course, no Christian believes something like that but you hear people who claim to be Christians saying that.
Fact is, there are not going to be any muslims in heaven who are surprised because they thought they were praying to Allah but were saved by Christ without their knowledge.
Sometimes there is a difference in how we respond as a government and as patriotic citizens, and how we are to respond as individual Christians. For example, turning the other cheek may not be the wisest thing for a government at war to do.
Today I am proud to be an American. I am grateful to President Barack Obama and President George W. Bush. I’m grateful to our military and the other nations who have joined forces with us to fight terrorism.
I am glad that a terrorist leader and mass murderer has been stopped. The Scriptures given above should be tempered with such Scripture as listed below. I’m not dancing on anyone’s grave, but rejoicing that justice has been done. And I am rejoicing that God has blessed and protected America.
He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name. -Psalm 18:48-49
But You have saved us from our enemies, and have put to shame those who hated us. In God we boast all day long, and praise Your name forever. Selah -Psalm 44:7-8
It is a joy for the just to do justice, but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity. -Proverbs 24:17
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. -Proverbs 29:2
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation. -Proverbs 11:10
David R. Brumbelow
I am grateful to President Barack Obama and President George W. Bush. I’m grateful to our military . . .
well, I can agree that I am grateful to two out of three of the above.
Here’s why:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PGmnz5Ow-o&feature=related
Your attempt at slander using that sound byte is disgraceful. Every word was right on the mark.
I’m sure your slander made you feel better — it usually does. Sin always tastes sweet for a season. Just mark me down as unimpressed with your attempt at slander, though I’m not completely surprised.
Hi Frank L.
My goodness, do you think that he didn’t mean what he said ?
It’s possible. Or maybe he (what is the term) ‘mis-spoke’????
The shocker for me was that his ‘soundbite’, as you call it, was done only SIX MONTHS after 9/11.
At least it was another five years into his administration before this happened:
” the CIA unit composed of their special operations paramilitary forces dedicated to capturing Osama was shut down in late 2005. ”
Osama began to build his compound in Pakistan that was just raided in the year 2005.
Facts are stubborn things, Frank.
And uncomfortable. We all feel that way sometimes. But a ‘slander’ is not a case of showing someone speaking their own words. Now, if I were to say that Osama built his compound because Bush called off special ops, then THAT would be a slander, because I would have no way of knowing that, and it would be totally unfair to the former president to make assumption. I hope you see the difference. ???? Maybe not.
If not, at least there is this to think about: “The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.”
Flannery O’Connor
I told the truth when I said that I do not feel I can thank the former president for Osama’s capture. I was sincere.
Make of it what you will. Your opinion is important, too.
Christiane, when you spit your venom of contempt upon George Bush, try to keep in mind that because of what he put into place you were able to sleep for 10 long years without another terrorist attack.
Lean hard to the left, but without President Bush’s resolve, Obama wouldn’t have even had a game to play.
Not only is your venom distasteful, it shows how deluded you are about how our military works. To give any credit to either Bush or Obama, is ceremonial at best. Neither Bush nor Obama shed one drop of blood to bring Osama to justice.
Politicizing your comment as you did, simply politicizes the situation and trivializes the event.
Also, it was not the CIA that put Osama in the grave. I would guess (it is hard to know for sure) that shutting down that unit had little or no impact upon the search and destroy mission of finding and dispatching Osama.
Of course, I’m sure you have a much greater understanding of the CIA and American military than I do, so I am only giving my lay opinion.
Feel free to continue to politicize the event. And, by no means feel thankful to President Bush for the many good nights of safe sleep he gave you after 911.
Christianne, I must agree with Frank. Very distasteful on your part and though I don’t agree with your theology, you generally try to be agreeable and I appreciate that. But this was just plain mean.
If you knew anything about the military, you’d know that focusing on one thing, when many things are happening, only makes everything result in chaos. President Bush in this instance was not just the POTUS, he is the CINC of the military and he was being entirely appropriate. The facts are that no one knew if OBL was alive six months after 9/11. But we certainly knew that there was an entire network out in the world that had to be dealt with. Tunnel vision is never a good thing in military matters.
Stick to Catholicism. Military strategy isn’t your strong point.
Hi Chief Katie,
I gave an honest opinion. And showed the reason for it.
I stand by my opinion, as my own, without apology.
The funny part is, if it had been up to the guys on your side of the isle (you know, the bad guys, the ones who hate our country and want our enemies to defeat us) we would NEVER have responded to 9-11 (after all, we deserved it, we provoked them) and we wouldn’t have been over there hunting for bin Laden.
You see, unlike you, patriots love this country, want to defend this country, and will retaliate against this countriy’s enemies when we are attacked because, unlike you, they know we’re the ones wearing the white hats in this story.
Thanks, David. Good balance. Good insight.
Yes, vengeance is indeed the Lord’s. But I am rejoicing that vengeance was served on this evil man.
The difference between the dancing in the street last night in cities in the US and the dancing in the streets after 9-11 is that they were dancing because they murdered over 3,000 non-combatants (9-11, the USS Cole and the Embassy bombings). We are dancing because justice was served.
Perhaps the families of the 9-11 victims will now be able to find more closure. I don’t know that, but I am hopeful that they will.
C..there’s no such thing as closure.
You are right, Hariette.
Is now three years this past April since my father’s passing, and I still sometimes put a plate at his old table place, and then realizing, put it away.
I miss dear Pop so much that sometimes the tears will still come. Maybe it’s because he suffered so much at the end, and he was such a good person and didn’t deserve that suffering. It was so hard to see that, Hariette, and I can never get over the memory of it;
but I do find comfort that he no longer suffers. I know he is with Our Lord and that I shall see him again. I know this and have never doubted it. But he is dearly missed.
Translation “Maybe the families of the 9-11 attacks will quit their whining”.
On a day such as this, I’m so honored and priviledged to have been part of the Navy for over 20 years. I had many an opportunity to work with SEALS and they are every bit as good as they are portrayed to be. They have some special quality that surely God must bestow upon them.
Something you rarely hear about are the families of SEAL team members. Ladies, consider the thought of having your husband home whenever Uncle Sam decides he can be there, but always, always, always with his sea bag packed and ready to go at the front door. These women and children also contribute a great deal to the security of our country. They sacrifice tremendously. God Bless them all.
so true, Katie, never know when they’ll be called upon.
I think it’s important to realize that “we” (Christians) don’t have a military, unless one is thinking of Jesus and the angels who will return with him. The nation where we happen to live does, as do most nations of this present evil age. Additionally, we don’t have enemies except those enemies of the cross, who also happen to live alongside us in the nation where we happen to live, as well as the ones overseas. We love those enemies by sharing the gospel with them and leaving them in God’s hands.
Here’s an in depth article on this topic as food for thought.
http://networkedblogs.com/hm5Eh
I had a Navy Seal in my last pastorate along with a fellow who had been a member of the special forces. A fellow who had been in the army with the latter told me about his training. I dare say we would not believe the kind of training the members of those special units receive. I conducted the funeral of the member of the special forces. He had been exposed to agent orange in Vietnam and had had 10 major surgeries after he returned home. I was with him during one of those surgeries. He came to during the surgery – not a thing that surgeons like. They called me into the room right next to the surgery were they had taken him. Knowing the training he had had (compartmentalization and concentration stuff), I walked up to the bed and said, “Johnny, I want you to picture a beautiful sunshiny day, blue skies, fluffy white clouds, a nice fishing pond, and your going fishing.” His eyes were closed, but I knew he heard me. The monitor read 190 in one blink and in the next it read 170. A doctor was watching a monitor of the same vital signs on a wall unit nearby. He turned and said, “I don’t know what you are doing, but keep it up.” That individual in my church had the equivalent of five black belts, and I knew another member of th Armed forces who had seen him in Vietnam and knew of one action he in which he was a participant. I shudder, when I think of what we put soldiers through to bring them to the point where they quite literally are the equal of five average soldiers. I feel even worse, when I think of the results after the war in the misery and suffering that those men and their families and friends undergo for years until death comes.
The best way to handle such things, if it can be done, is to disarm people like Osama before he declares war on us. Arrogant policies of greed and corruption on the international scene are reasons for such evils. Even so we still have to have such people as there are those who do not need a reason for their hatred and murderous intentions.
It seems to me that we ought not rejoice in the death of a sinner, but in the fact that he will not be able to hurt anyone else.
On the other hand, its hard not to be happy he’s taking a dirt nap.
That whole spirit vs. flesh thing.
A dirt nap. So you believe in soul sleep?
If my allergies don’t get back under control, I might find out soon!
Maybe in this case, a water nap! 🙂
Unless someone can walk on water they will have a hard time dancing on OBL’s grave.
Having said that, I have peed in the ocean on numerous occasions and do not regret it.
Stan McCullars is my hero.He should be the next president of the SBC.
David R. Brumbelow – You captured my feelings exactly! Good Words!
Christiane:
You usually say some interesting things.
What you said about Bush makes you out to be a partisan hack.
Chief Katie is right on the mark.
I, too, am thankful for Bush’s leadership and the impact it had on our ability to get this guy. I am grateful for Obama’s leadership here.
This is not the time for partisanship, especially misplaced partisanship.
I agree with David.
I also believe that the execution of judgment against evil is something that glorifies God.
If I had been in D.C. or New York, I would have joined in the street celebrations, just as I would have when Germany and Japan surrendered.
My celebrations, however, would be tempered upon the reflection of the death of others and the eternal consequences, and the fact that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven.
Hey:
Since Osama was claiming to be sincerely following his religion as he understands it, does this mean Rob Bell and those of a similar theological persuasion believe that Jesus’ love and sacrifice will cover OBL’s sins and grant him a home in heaven in the afterlife?
This is a serious question.
What happens to sincere believers of other religions according to Bell and those with similar beliefs?
Well, as I understand it, Bell and moderate baptist chiristians believe that all religions lead to the same place and that as long as someone is sincere and follows the light they had, then they’re in heaven.
Wanna know what the saddest part of this whole thing is? There are still people, muslims, who have not and would not participate in terrorist activities, are good citizens and are nice to people, but have not heard the gospel or have heard it and have not repented and trusted Christ. These nice people are a heartbeat away from hell and moderate baptists and some other people claim that they don’t need to consciously trust Christ to save them–that their “nicey-ness” proves that even though they don’t realize it that they have a relationship with God through Christ and they’ll go to heaven.
What the death of that evil man bin Laden should remind us is that while he is burning in hell that these nice muslims are on their way to hell and need the gospel, not they lies they are told by people who claim that all religions lead to the same destination.
Dancing on OBL’s grave is far, far short of putting a bullet between his eyes; and we have a lot of people that are willing to do just that and they consider themselves not only Christians , but doers not talkers. Or is it O.K. if somebody else does it and you don’t have to look. Grow up and join the real world and bring your religion with you. Have to run.
Jack, I get the spirit of your post and agree we should all feel a bit of remorse for Osama. I’m sure that statement makes Joe spit out his coffee!
However, it was the government that wielded the sword (Glock) and that’s as it should be according to the Word (Rom 13). I don’t think I am in anyway culpable for the just actions of the government.
Jack, I get the spirit of your post and agree we should all feel a bit of remorse for Osama. I’m sure that statement makes Joe spit out his coffee!
One, that’d be Diet Dr Pepper.
Two, I agree that we should have remorse for him because he has lost any chance to repent and trust Christ to save him. Even with all the horrible, evil things he did I wish he had repented of his sin, renounced the satanic religion that is Islam, and trusted Christ to save him.
Joe, Thanks for taking it easy on me. I was prepared in the event that you might think I was going soft on Islam, because I had remorse over the death of a Muslim.
you and I are on the same page in that regard.
I admittedly have a hard time not dancing on Osama Bin Laden’s grave. I admittedly still have a hard time not dancing on Tim McVey’s grave either. I admit as a Christian there are some people who I want to go to hell. Is it right? I don’t know, but I am not feeling anything less than elation that both are dead. I also admit to having a hard time not dancing on my daughter’s molesters grave.
I admit I am also so proud of Bush and Obama, along with our soldiers I could bust. This is my honest feeling as of right now. Is it right? Again, I don’t know. But I felt vengeance when all the above happened and I feel justice has been served. I admittedly am flying pretty high. I don’t think I am alone in this. And that should be molester’s grave.
Debbie:
I think that what you have expressed is appropriate.
To do otherwise is to ignore reality.