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Thinking About Osama
May 02 | Pastor J.D. | 24 Comments |
I’ve been thinking today about what it means to love our enemies. Osama Bin Laden has been brought to justice, and for that we can and should be glad. At the same time, Proverbs tells us explicitly (24:17) to not rejoice when our enemy falls, unless the Lord’s displeasure turn from them and onto us. The prophet Ezekiel says that God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. If He does not, then neither should we.
That doesn’t mean that we can’t work for justice, or even support the execution of it by lethal force. Romans 13 says that God has appointed even secular powers for the preservation of justice, and their “sword” is His instrument. When they are acting within the principles of justice, they are doing His will. We can and should rejoice that a terrible wrong has been righted, justice has been served in the temporal realm, and the world is safer.
At the same time, a believer in Jesus can’t help in anyone’s death but think of how God has saved us from our own deserved death. Our sin made us no less deserving of eternal death (Romand 6:23), and the perfect Son of God absorbed it in our place. That means we ache for the soul of Osama bin Laden, and all of his misguided followers, praying that God will show them the same mercy He has shown to us, and plead that He, in His goodness, will bring them to the repentance and knowledge of the salvation that is in Jesus (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:1-4).
This is not meant to be a downer on what is a great day for justice. I just want you, Summit Church, to make sure you think about these things through the lens of the Gospel. Jesus said to love our enemies, and died for us when we were His enemies. Osama bin Laden’s passion was “serve God and kill.” Jesus’ passion was “serve God and die.” One took life; the other laid down His life. When we hate our enemies, we are more like Osama than we are Jesus. That’s why Paul told the Ephesians (4:32) to be kind and tenderhearted toward others for Christ’s sake, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven us.
Jesus loves the Muslim world, both the peaceful and non-peaceful elements of it. Let us pray and work for their salvation as He worked for ours.
I rejoice that justice has been done. I am grateful that he as brought to account for the thousands of innocent lives he took. I criticize neither the U.S. military for taking his life nor God for sentencing his soul. Both were right. But I regret is that I did not pray for Osama more while he was alive, and even more that there are still millions of lost headed to the same fate that he is.
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We should also pray for Christians in Muslim majority countries who might be targeted for reprisal attacks. Many in Pakistan consider US a Christian nation.
Thank you, J.D., for those much needed words of wisdom. In the past day it is clear that there seems to be some confusion in the Christian community on how this situation should be handled/celebrated. I completely agree with you.
Side-note: I love the services at the Summit and listening to you preach. Keep up the excellent work!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. My initial reaction to everything was “ok cool”, but I’m trying to “not conform to the pattern of this world” but instead “be transformed by the renewing of your(my) mind” (Romans 12:1) and think through this biblically. What does this “preservation of justice” in reference to Romans 13 look like in light of all justice being served on the cross? How is justice determined when we all deserved death and the punishment for all human kind’s sin was absorbed by Jesus? Later in Romans 12 it talks about not taking revenge, loving your enemy, and overcoming evil with good. How does all of this fit in with Romans 12? Just some thoughts.. feel free to share some perspective
**Correction that first reference is Romans 12:2, not 12:1
I was pondering all morning about the death of one without a saving, redeemed relationship with Jesus Christ. So tragic; it doesn’t feel right to rejoice. Thank you for your insight. “We fight not against flesh and blood” Eph 6:12 and yet even with justice served in this one instance, the battle is ever waging until Christ’s return.
Hey JD, thank you for your perspective. I am getting a little hung up on the idea of justice. In this operation was justice truly served? Doesn’t justice involve a criminal court with evidence and defense?
I could not rejoice in his death but thought about his soul. How that eternity is forever and where he will spend eternity. He was created by God as all men but thru religion, and bad choices he became the person he was.
Thank you JD. Although I felt it wrong at first to rejoice, I found myself making regretful comments as the day wore on. After reading this, I find myself reflecting on my conversations. Thanks, I needed the correction.
Beautifully articulated J.D. Thank you for leading our church to continually focus on Jesus in all things.
Amen and amen! I’ve been trying to say similar things to all who will listen (and a few who won’t)! I’ve taken the liberty of circulating your well-spoken thoughts here as widely as possible also.
Thanks!
Romans 12 is a good read. I’m still renewing my mind, probably will be working on that til the rapture of the church, but I like Romans 2 for this one. For wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. Why give a loophole to the enemy to set you up by judging anybody? We have freedom when we release the force of forgiveness to others and it is a mighty force that He (the righteous judge) provides when we do it in obedience. Spurgeon said, “I looked to him, he looked to me and we were one forever more” If we look to him he will give us the power to forgive which for some of us may be that “Isaac” seed.
The thought that keeps running thru my mind was the reaction of the citizens of Jerusalem when the two witnesses were killed as described in Revelation. Celebration in the streets, giving presents to each other. Kind of helps me visualize what John saw and how the scripture lives on today.
I do not attend Summit Church but a member of my extended family apparently does, so I learned of your excellent article through a Facebook link. Evidently the Holy Spirit has been working to bring these Scriptural truths to the minds of all in whom He indwells. I wondered at first if anyone else was even thinking of them, but am relieved to see even a small number of examples that others have. I choose, as I said, to take it as evidence of the Spirit’s wider working. While it is always His leading to glorify the Son and not Himself, I think it OK once in a while to praise and compliment the Spirit for work well done.
JD,
I strongly appreciate your comments.
I would also keep in mind Proverbs 11:10 “When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.”
It is always great to hear your perspective. I will say that I was very happy at first to learn that bin Laden had as I saw it at the time, gotten what he deserved. But after reading your post, I was wrong to rejoice and appreciate your words of wisdom. You are constantly preaching the Gospel and helping Christ Followers like me learn more about Jesus and I thank you for that.
JD…
I keep thinking about the amazing sermons you’ve given as of late; how Jesus invited sinners to his table. It is truly tragic that this man brought so much pain to so many people…and it is also tragic that he never knew God, knew the joy of baptism, or made reparations for his crimes against humanity.
I really appreciated your words of wisdom on the subject of “jubilation” and Bin Laden’s death. Whenever I watched the news this week, I kept seeing images of people rejoicing in the streets and I personally found that a bit hypocritical. I don’t want to rejoice in anyone else’s tragedy.
John Piper rightly said “In response to Osama bin Laden’s death, quite a few tweets and blogs have cited the biblical truth that ‘God does not delight in the death of the wicked.’ That is true. It is also true that God DOES delight in the death of the wicked. There are things about every death that God approves in themselves and things about every death that God disapproves in themselves.” Piper goes on to say “In one sense, human death is not God’s pleasure. In another sense, the death and judgment of the unrepentant is God’s pleasure.”
Piper goes on to quote several texts that demonstrate that not only does God rejoice over the demise of the wicked, but that He expects His people to rejoice as well. Piper’s comments are pertinent and helpful as we seek to understand and embrace all of God’s character.
There is NO moral equivalency between the celebrations of those who celebrated after 911 and the celebrations of those who celebrated after the death of bin Laden. 911 was an exceedingly heinous, sadistically wicked act. Any celebration of that act is sadistically wicked as well. The execution of bin Laden by U.S. military personnel was a righteous act. Celebration of that act is appropriate.
Arguably the single best commentary on the book of Proverbs that combines theological directive with pastoral counsel was written by Charles Bridges (mid 1800s). Commenting on Proverbs 11:10 “When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation”, Bridges said of the wicked “their perishing is a matter of present exultation. Such was the joy of Rome on the death of Nero, and the public rejoicings in the French Revolution at the death of Robespierre. The people of God unite in the shouting; not from any selfish feeling of revenge; much less from unfeeling hardness towards their fellow sinners. But when a hinderance to the good cause is removed; when the justice of God against sin, and His faithful preservation of His church, are displayed, ought not every feeling to be absorbed in a supreme interest in His glory? Ought they not to shout? The ‘Alleluia’ of heaven is an exulting testimony to the righteous judgments of the Lord our God, hastening forward His glorious kingdom.”
The level of hatred that Osama bin Laden had for Christ, for Christ’s church, and for Christ’s gospel had few rivals. His death is a cause for righteous rejoicing.
I have to agree with Pat Sawyer. Osama displayed no remorse over his evil deeds and delighted in killing innocents.
in response to the two comments above.
i think what jd was saying IS to rejoice is righteousness, but NOT to rejoice in a soul condemned to hell. the death of an unbeliever ought to resonate with us to some extent since we deserve the same punishment…except for the fact that we have accepted Christ’s sacrifice and substitution.
yes, rejoicing in righteousness is great, rejoicing in the loss of another unsaved soul is not.
is it not hypocritical/oxymoronic to live for the Gospel and to rejoice in a soul lost to an eternity in hell?
I cannot help but conclude that when I and Osama bin Laden stand before God I am no more deserving to merit the favor of God than Osama is. I am a fallen and wretched creature (an enemy of God from birth) who has no authority of my own to stand before a righteous and Holy God. How then, can I rejoice at an individual that as far as we know died without Christ, when it is only by His grace that I can abide in His peace and rest through the glorious resurrection of Christ! I fully understand that God is a just God, and justice is good. However, it will never be my authority to judge. Nor do I see anything Biblical that gives me this authority. When the early church was being unjustly persecuted, Christ as well…I cannot recall anything that gives us authority to triumph at the downfall of anyone.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, [fn] let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 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. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, [fn] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
I do not claim to fully understand scripture, but nothing in this seems to excuse my rejoicing at the downfall of an enemy. Furthermore, there is nothing about being a Christian that allows me to place myself above anyone else. I am a ‘bondservant’ of Christ. The lowliest of the low, who is only able to stand in the triumphant resurrection.
Since this story was first trumpeted by the news media and literally by students on campus, this has been the conviction of my heart, and it perplexes me, because it is completely contradictory to my nature as a person.
JD, thank you for this statement. Your words mimic those by the Vatican on this topic (for anyone interested):
“Osama bin Laden, as we all know, bore the most serious responsibility for spreading divisions and hatred among populations, causing the deaths of innumerable people, and manipulating religions to this end.
In the face of a man’s death, a Christian never rejoices, but reflects on the serious responsibilities of each person before God and before men, and hopes and works so that every event may be the occasion for the further growth of peace and not of hatred.”
If anything, bin Laden’s death reminds us of the consequences of sin and reality of hell. God never delights in this kind of separation. For life is God’s creation, a unique gift of himself only.
We delight in justice, we delight in peace, we delight in an end to hatred and terror. If anything, we rejoice in the fact that a group of brave men risked their own lives to further these causes. We rejoice in their efforts and selfless mission as they put their lives on the line.
Now we pray for his soul and all his followers who think they are doing good for the world. I have been as lacking as any in this area, but this is our call as Christians, correct.
Comments 19 and 20, particulary comment 20, are off topic relative to my comments. Even a less than careful reading of my comments shows this. My comments mean only what they actually say, nothing more. As I said in comment 14, I strongly appreciate JD’s post. In addition, I also strongly appreciate texts like Proverbs 11:10 because a) they are pertinent to this topic, and b) they are GOD’S WORD.
The more we equate Jesus and America, the further we get from the Gospel. America killed Bin Laden because it was in America’s best interest. All further rationalizations of the killing, especially when human judgments are cast and assumptions are made, to be troubling and unsettling. We, the United States, do not get to be the self-proclaimed arbiters of earthly justice just because we say we are.
Jihadists may wage war and incite terror against the West in part because of religious fervor, but they — at least some, if not many of them — also do it because they are sick of us attacking their countries and killing THEIR innocents. Our government may do this under the guise of some “just war” mentality, but our actions quite often manifest as not unsimilar to those of terrorists: innocent, uninvolved people die.
This “resolution” could very well perpetrate further violence. It is the work of a government, not of the Gospel. Christ called us to be peacemakers and reconcilers and, as JD mentioned, to die for one another, even for those we would judge as more wretched than ourselves.
Before we rejoice, even before we say that a “wrong has been righted” here, we must be careful to examine both what instigated the attacks ten years ago and how the imitator of Christ responds to wrongs against him/herself.
(That first paragraph should read, “I find all further…”)