Rejoicing Over Osama's Demise

[Homer]

On today's program Steve was of the opinion we, as Christians, should feel no joy over Osama Bin Laden's death.
John Mark Hicks was of the same opinion on his blog where he wrote in part:

I have mixed feelings. “Justice has been done,” says our President. Maybe so. One function of government is to execute jusice. God uses governments for that purpose though not everything nations do is necessarily just.

On the other hand, the celebration, joy and partying that litters our television screens from around the nation disturb me. I could understand if peace had arrived, if the war was over. That would be something to celebrate. But that is not what happened.

In Ezekiel, God spoke into the evil of the world with justice, but yet also said “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (33:11).

Joy is not what I feel. I feel sad that the cycle of violence continues, and it will continue as violence breeds violence. I don’t feel like celebrating.

I feel like praying….

I must confess I felt good to hear of Osama's demise, but I can not disagree with Steve and John. But then did Moses and Israel sin when they sang praises of joy and exultation to God over the death of the Egyptians (See Exodus 15:1-21)? I would not have thought so.

In the case of Osama, he did nothing to me personally and I had nothing to forgive him for, but he was a wicked man.

Proverbs 11:10 (New King James Version)
10. When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.

[darinhouston]

I guess I have to distinguish between the joy I feel in justice being brought to him and the fact of his being killed. I don't rejoice in his death, and personally wish he'd been brought to justice over a long time and in a public way in this world. I'm very glad he was caught -- not so much that he was killed (at least in that way).

I guess I believe he did do something to each of us personally, though. We have all suffered from his actions.

[steve]

Not only did Israel sing and dance when the Sea closed in over Pharaoh's chariots (Ex.15), but also when David slew Goliath (1 Sam.18:6-7) and the inhabitants of heaven also rejoice at the destruction of Babylon, the mother of harlots, who was drunk with the blood of prophets and saints (Rev.17-19). However, as Hicks points out, the rejoicing was largely occasioned by the liberation of God's people from their persecutors (which happened to involve the deaths of their persecutors). I believe that their rejoicing would be as great if their enemies, rather than dying, would have simply had a change of heart or policy that freed God's people from persecution (as in the case of their release from the Babylonian/Persian empire—see Psalm 126:1-2/ Jer.31:13).

Bin Laden's death has not accomplished anything other than a just vengeance (a good thing in itself, but tragically so). It has not changed the fortunes of the world—and may even bring worse reprisals.

[darinhouston]

Here's a take from an open letter from my mother-in-law's Lutheran pastor:

My Beloved Concordia Family,

The death of Osama bin Laden was reported on Sunday evening, May 1, 2011. As news of his demise spread, people responded in different ways. Some responded with jubilation, happy to see an enemy of our country destroyed. Others felt sorrow: Bin Laden's death reopened painful scars from the events of 9/11 and losses suffered in our War on Terror. Still others responded with concern: For the evil in this world, ultimately, will not be defeated by human action, but by Christ alone. Perhaps you, like me, have experienced some of each.

As I have been sorting through my own personal response, there have been many from our beloved family of faith doing the same. How should a Christian respond to the death of Osama bin Laden? Hopefully this brief note, with some guidance from God's Word, will be helpful in your contemplation of that same question.

From the Bible we learn that death, even the death of the wicked, is not pleasing to God, nor is it part of His design. The prophet Ezekiel states it well: "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?" (Ezekiel 18:23) God's preference is always that the wicked - even Osama bin Laden - repent and be forgiven. This does not mean, however, that God won't execute His judgment on those who refuse to repent. In the very next verse, Ezekiel continues, "But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked man does, will he live? None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness he is guilty of and because of the sins he has committed, he will die." (Ezekiel 18:24) The apostle Paul affirms, "The wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23) God punishes evil.

We also know that God uses earthly governments to execute His judgment. Paul writes, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established...He is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He [the governmental authority] is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." (Romans 13:1, 4) We can conclude, in circumstances like this, God uses governments and militaries to bring judgment on criminals. We remain thankful for our troops and their service on behalf of our nation and respect their God-given vocation as governmental officials.

Finally, as Christians, our response to the death of the wicked should mirror God's Word. The wise man of Proverbs wrote: "Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice." (Proverbs 24:17) These words lead us to respond to this news without reckless jubilation, but with measured sobriety. We thank God for His judgment on wickedness. At the same time, we keep our hearts and minds humble, so we do not slip into arrogance and sin.

In these times, it seems certain there will be more terrorist plots. We must pray for these evil efforts to be confounded, for evil men to be brought to justice, and for peace and security to be reestablished. However, when we pray for peace, it is with the knowledge that our hope comes from the Lord.

Abraham Lincoln, in his second inaugural address, describes the Christian's hope for peace, even in the midst of war, like this: "With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations." May this be the prayer of us all.

God Bless You!

[steve]

Well-put!

[schoel]

Perhaps we should be hesitant to assume that in bin Laden's death, complete justice has been done.

Some questions to ponder -

- Why wasn't he captured, and held on trial for his alleged crimes? As a Christian, I object to our government's decision to execute bin Laden without giving him the opportunity to speak in his defense.
- Since the US military has killed innocent people as well during various wars, don't many of our leaders, in the military and political arenas, deserve the same treatment?
- While I abhor the death of anyone, civilian or soldier, could US foreign policy have created an environment of injustice that contributed to a hatred of the US? While terrorists carried out the murder of 9/11, would our leadership share responsibility as well?

Perhaps our government's assessment of the righteous parties (the USA) and the wicked parties (terrorists, "them") in this case is clouded to obscure our government's guilt to bear.

Personally I mourn bin Laden's death as another victim of sin and evil.
I cannot conclude that he alone was responsible for the various crimes that have been assigned him.
May God have mercy on him in His infinite love.

A final thought:

We thank God for His judgment on wickedness. At the same time, we keep our hearts and minds humble, so we do not slip into arrogance and sin.

Wickedness is universal and infects the United States (especially the state) as well. Our humility should include the realization of our sin and the impending judgement of God on the wickedness of the state here.

[steve7150]

Why wasn't he captured, and held on trial for his alleged crimes? As a Christian, I object to our government's decision to execute bin Laden without giving him the opportunity to speak in his defense.








Bin Laden acknowledged he was responsible for 911 and constantly threatened to kill civilians whether Americans or even fellow muslims.
His innocense is a non-starter. As to whether he should have been killed or not? He said he would never be taken alive , and we don't know exactly what happened so i'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt to our military.
Obviously the joy people felt is a mixed bag as in Revelation the martyers cried out for justice to be done yet Jesus emphasized mercy and compassion and love of enemy. I see the joy was pretty much done in a couple of days so i actually think it has been pretty low key and humble in general.
America is a pretty godless country but then again the world in general is too. The kingdom of God in this age truly is a little flock.

[schoel]

Bin Laden acknowledged he was responsible for 911 and constantly threatened to kill civilians whether Americans or even fellow muslims.
His innocense is a non-starter. As to whether he should have been killed or not? He said he would never be taken alive , and we don't know exactly what happened so i'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt to our military.

Our "wise", state overlords have changed the story of OBL demise now that reveals that he wasn't armed (therefore no firefight) and that he may have been executed after he was captured.
I guess I'm hesitant to support an execution of a person when the facts of his guilt have not been presented.

It is quite possible true that OBL bears responsibility for 9/11 and other such activities where people were murdered. However, giving him a trial would only prove his guilt by bringing the evidence to light and treat him as a person, albeit a fallen one.

[steve7150]

I guess I'm hesitant to support an execution of a person when the facts of his guilt have not been presented.






The facts of his guilt? Have you seen his videos threatening mass violence over and over again? You do know the manifesto of the group he leads i presume.

[schoel]

The facts of his guilt? Have you seen his videos threatening mass violence over and over again? You do know the manifesto of the group he leads i presume.

Making videos threatening violence against others or leading a group with a stated purpose of violence against others are not direct evidence that proves that OBL was directly or indirectly responsible for the deaths of others.

While OBL is probably guilty of murder, I believe justice calls for the facts and evidence of guilt to be presented, with the allowance of the accused to speak in his defense. A secret execution is not just.

I've learned to treat every common sentiment (i.e. " Everyone knows that...") and official government communique with a large dose of healthy skepticism.
Remember, common sentiment in 1st century Rome under Nero was that the Christians started the fire that razed much of Rome. This lead to severe torture and execution of Christians, including Paul and Peter. Historical evidence tells us otherwise.