Monday, May 2, 2011

On the Passing of Osama bin Laden

Osama's dead. US forces found and killed him. The crowds are going wild. Many Christians are too.

I'm not.

I'm caught between satisfaction — even gladness — that justice has been done and the recognition that a human being died and went to hell.

An enemy of Christianity and western civilization, one who orchestrated the murder of thousands, is gone. That's a good thing.

The truth is, he deserved what he got and what he's now getting. And so do I. So do you.

That's why it says,
"Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord."
So don't crow. Don't gloat. Don't celebrate. A son of Adam and of Abraham is gone. It was necessary. It was just. But it was not good.

12 comments:

4R Press said...

Amen. When I heard the news, this verse immediately came to mind, "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..." Ezekiel 33:11. So while we may rejoice in justice being done, we should also soberly recognize that a soul has been eternally lost. And I think, too, that this distinction is a key difference between Christianity and Islam.

Vinny said...

I'm glad they got him, but I have no idea where he is now. Maybe he had the right magic book and he is currently enjoying his 72 virgins.

Anonymous said...

Wow man I am right there with you ....a life is not ours to take...but yet we have to believe in a Sovereign God...I felt no joy over his death but thought about his eternal life and I thought about the movie, The End of the Spear and how those missionarys would not kill but yet be killed b/c they were ready for Heaven..those that kill them were not

Patsy said...

True that, bro.

Karen Beth said...

Very well stated! I, like you had very mixed emotions about this news. I DO know that he deserved it, I do realize that many lives were lost becasue of this one man, but I can not even begin to imagine the wrath that man is enduring now...

abdulbaseer said...

Being a Muslim I've some reservation on talking about any person killed in the name of terrorism as defined by politicians. I'll not defend Laden here but ask you to think if the 'justice' for the victims of 9/11 is killing a person called Osama Bin Laden then what would it mean for killing over a million innocent civilians in Iraq? My Christian readers, We have faith in what has been revealed towards us and revealed towards you, our God and your God is one, and to Him we have submitted.

abdulbaseer said...

I'm a Muslim. And I sense that Media/Movies cannot serve as good sources to know Islam. But that's where many innocent minds are going, while the actual source of Islam is Quran. 24/7 diplomatic abuse of Islam carried by media may actually make people Islamophobes. Unchecked exposure to printed-darkness and tele-gloom can even lead you to outright Islamhate.
My Christian readers, we have faith in what has been revealed towards us and revealed towards you, our God and your God is one, and to Him we have submitted.

abdulbaseer said...

I'm a Muslim. We have faith in what has been revealed towards us and revealed towards you, our God and your God is one, and to Him we have submitted.

ChrisB said...

"if the 'justice' for the victims of 9/11 is killing a person called Osama Bin Laden then what would it mean for killing over a million innocent civilians in Iraq?"

The death of Saddam Hussein.

Ruthy said...

Couldn't agree more

Ruth said...

thank you for posting this...I've been very conflicted about the subject myself. My friend posted this quote by MLK Jr.

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

Thanks again:)

EL said...

As Ruthy says i couldn't agree more with this! some of the comments people were coming out with when they heard of his death shocked me. Some people call it justice, but was that not for god to decide?