May 2, 2011
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RIP Osama Bin Laden???
“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles…” ~ Proverbs 24:17
This is the verse that came to mind when my husband told me about OBL this morning. I’ve seen quite a few pacifists decrying the response of other Christians since the news has been released. They have a point to an extent but I really don’t feel the freedom to judge other Believers on this matter.
Before their own master they stand or fall. ~Romans 14
However, I do have a problem with the contortion of Christ that takes place when events like this happen. People begin to present a very monolithic God-man. A one dimensional Messiah that seems completely foreign to the context and entirety of both scripture and the nature of who God is…..
We should remember that Jesus was not a messianic Abby Hoffman. In other words, He was not an anarchist when it came to matters of jurisprudence. While we can personally forgive offenses when they are committed against ourselves in a social setting, it would be immoral for the state or a nation to excuse or “forgive” an individual when mass murders have been purposefully committed against innocents. Jesus’s exhortation to turn the other cheek must be taken in the context it was delivered. We are to deal with our neighbors in this way. Willing to extend forgiveness when personally offended. This verse however does not inoculate an international criminal from the consequences of his actions.
In this way we can be grateful for God’s justice…. We certainly don’t rejoice in the death of the wicked but let’s not issue epitaph’s in order to promote an image of Christ that is completely inconsistent with the Scriptures.
Comments (25)
Preservation of the innocent > letting a mass murderer go free. It becomes a matter of social justice at that point.
@QuantumStorm - It does, and U.S. soldiers serve (for the most part) with that motivate in mind.
amen! well said, beth. shayne and i were just talking along these lines this morning..
Hey, looks like we’re in agreement here. I knew it was bound to happen someday.
I would nuance the second to last paragraph slightly differently, though. It’s not that Christians are only to forgive personal offenses, in the sense that rudeness at a party is to be forgiven but the killing of a son is not. Rather, Christians (and not nations, of course) are to forgive all offenses against them, even where the nation-state must do its thing. So, for instance, this is a prime example of Christian forgiveness.
I’ve been thinking the same thing. I do think that the jubilation over a man who died without knowing Jesus Christ is unseemly. But Scripture also promotes the idea that we should derive some satisfaction from knowing that the wicked will not escape God’s judgment. The true “Biblical” reaction is actually more complicated that a lot of people are saying.
@SirNickDon - Yes, I agree even with the ultimate offense of killing a loved one. We can personally forgive the murderer of our child and be satisfied as the State exacts justice on the same criminal.
This is one of the reasons I have a problem with Christian politicians providing clemency and pardon on the basis of personal faith & repentance. It is irrelevant to the crime and the necessary punishment.
As my husband often says, “There are worse things than death.”
This is true. The fact that a criminal has sincerely repented of his wickedness and is in a right relationship with his creator is wonderful but has no bearing on the State’s actions.
I’ve said it since I heard this last night. I do not rejoice that a man has been killed or that he is most likely spending eternity in Hell. However, I’m very glad that justice has been served and a man who murdered thousands in cold blood & brought devastating hurt & pain to thousands more can no longer hurt anyone else.
I also hope & pray that any of his top men have also been killed so that hopefully Al Qaeda can soon crumble with lack of organization. I’m not naive enough to believe this will happen soon if at all, but I’m praying for the end of this terrorist group someday.
Terrorism will continue…sin abounds in this world, and we are part of it. Christ gave Himself to die for our sin and restore our fellowship with Him and the Father. Yet, even as this chapter seems to be closing and justice has been served on the killer of innocents, we know that God’s purpose is now, always has been, and forever shall be served – even by His/our enemies.
Oneof the many minds with evil imaginations has left the scene, but even as we breathe a sigh of relief, we know that others have been waiting to take his place.
@quest4god@revelife - Indeed! One of the many examples of how tiring the struggle against sin truly is…
Well said Beth!
AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!!!!!!!!! Could NOT have said it better myself.
I find David’s writing in the Psalms very interesting on the matter. He prays for the destruction of his enemies and of evil men, but in other Psalms he acknowledges the evil in his own heart. It is enlightening to see the confliction in the heart of a man who is described as a “man after God’s own heart”.
I appreciated your teaching on this subject. It was never clear to me.
frank
Very good blog.
someone has to do the right thing.. good must prevail over evil for he world to be a good place to live in..
@bakersdozen2 - But I take all that in a different direction. If Christians are called to forgive, and the state to exercise God’s wrath (Rom 13), then that makes Christian participation in the state more problematic, not less. A Christian can’t cease acting like a Christian while on the job.
@SirNickDon - The problem with your perspective is that you’re attempting to compel the conscience of others. If you can not point to a specific scriptural proscription or prohibition then you have only the force of your own conviction. I respect your belief more than you could know, but it is YOUR conviction.
Romans 14. Trust me. I have no interest in messing with your/our Master.
Christians must wrestle with how they work out their faith in every area of their walk in this world. It doesn’t matter what your vocation is… you will be confronted with decisions that will test your faith and how your love for Christ will play out to the public.
If you can’t provide chapter and verse IN context, you can’t bring the weight of God’s authority to the argument.
I did not jump for joy in his death but feel a bit safer with him not on this planet. A bit like the death of Hitler which another xangan just noted they announced Hitlers death on May 1,1945. He died the 30th of April. How weird is that?
This is absolutely correct. Wringing one’s hands about not trying bin-Laden in the Hague is a hideous waste of time.
I have to say, I am glad to see justice served. At the same time, I do not celebrate that a man has died to spend eternity in hell.
Call me crazy, but I have even felt empathy for men like Hitler. Not because I think they did no wrong or that they are more important than the innocent people they murdered… Only in the sense that I try to have Christ’s heart in wanting none to perish. What a sad waste of a life…to have caused only destruction and pain…and then an eternity burning in hell. I would not wish that on anyone.
I agree, although I am not sure I believe that he was just now executed. This could be another Obama lie. But anyway, I think it’s horrible that so many people have been cheering about this.
@Richgem - I think it depends why they’re cheering. If it’s for the death of a man, then it is wrong. If they cheer for the justice that has been served, then cheer away. (Would there be less cheering had he been captured alive?)
Hmmm, captured alive, less cheering…probably. Those people began to gather even before the news came out. Were they planted by Mr. O’s people?
Such a wonderfully balanced post.
love the new header. yay for spring. yay for life!!