Technology and social networking never cease to amaze me. I learned from Twitter that the president was going to make a statement. Then, through Slingbox, I was able to watch CNN and find out that the president was going to announce that Osama bin Laden had been killed.
That information has left me conflicted. I don’t really know how I should respond.
As I’ve been processing bin Laden’s death, there have been some thoughts running through my mind.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how I felt on September 11, 2001.
I’ve been thinking a lot about our military and the exceptional work they do in defending our country.
I’ve been thinking that the operation against bin Laden must have been a lot like Call of Duty.
Mostly, though, I’ve been thinking about God’s justice and how Christians should respond to the death of bin Laden.
Amidst all the jokes and celebration of bin Laden’s death on Twitter, Michael Hyatt tweeted Proverbs 24:17.
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles.
There’s a disconnect between my brain and my heart. My brain understands that verse and knows what Jesus said about turning the other cheek. But in my heart there’s a strange mix of pride, patriotism, satisfaction, celebration and relief. My brain is telling me that death is never a good thing but my heart is telling me that bin Laden’s death might be an exception. Then guilt gets thrown into the emotional mix because there’s a part of me celebrating the death of another of God’s creations.
I feel like my brain is telling me I should grieve the loss of any human life but my heart is having a hard time grieving someone responsible for the loss of so much human life. Everyone has intrinsic value because they are created in the image of God but it’s a lot harder to see that in some than in others. I’m having a hard time seeing bin Laden’s intrinsic value because his actions were so far removed from the original image.
I’m not going to resolve this conflict between my brain and my heart. My brain will continue thinking one thing but my proud, patriotic, satisfied, celebrative and relieved heart will keep feeling what it’s feeling.
I wasn’t able to find any intrinsic value in bin Laden. But if I spent as much time trying to find value in that annoying guy at church, I would probably find some. Or if I looked as closely at the crazy lady who lives in the apartment above me as I did at bin Laden, I would definitely see some value.
Everyone has value. Every once in a while, in spite of our best efforts, it may be impossible to see that value. But for the most part, if we can’t find the value in another person, we’re not looking hard enough.
How did you respond to Osama bin Laden’s death?
The phrase ‘hate the sin, love the sinner’ often gets used in evangelical circles, and I think it’s an appropriate, approximate way that we can approach the issue that you bring up here. Though the latter half of the equation has no practical application in this case for most of us, since we’re talking about a reclusive individual who has tucked himself away in between mountains on the other side of the planet, and who is being hunted by our government for his crimes.
God’s second highest commandment is to love our neighbor. Our neighbor. The tangible human being who God brings into our lives. Not a murderous terrorist who none of us have met and who our only interaction with has been when he succeeded at inflicting death on our countrymen. IF you had ever met Osama bin Laden, if you maintain a residence in the hills of Pakistan, then it would be your duty.
Though I agree that we shouldn’t rejoice in his death as such, we should absolutely rejoice in the end of his ability to inflict pain and death on others.
Nathan, thanks for your comments. I agree that I had no practical opportunity to love bin Laden but that doesn’t diminish the intrinsic value he had as a bearer of the image of God. That intrinsic value should keep us from celebrating his death. We can find relief, though, that he’ll no longer be able to carry out any actions so diametrically opposed to that image.
Mostly I’m wrestling with God’s justice and what that looks like in a real world setting. Was God’s justice served through the Navy Seal team? Or is that simply a human solution, albeit a good one, that potentially made the world a safer place.
I feel like justice has been served for those who lost loved ones in any of the attacks bin Laden orchestrated. But I don’t necessarily think that’s God’s justice. So I’m really thinking about the value of justice in relation to God’s justice.
If you have any thoughts on that I’d love to hear them.
Hey Scott,
I did have thoughts on the matter, but not solely in response to your post. Since my rsponse would have been long, I turned it into a post of my own:
http://nateduffy.blogspot.com/2011/05/osama-and-death-celebration.html
i feel the same way scott, when i heard, it was suprised. i know that i am much younger than you, and that the events of 9/11 affected you in a much different way than it did me. i was in the fifth grade when it happened so i was young and maybe didnt understand everything that was happening. honestly i was consumed with the same anger potrayed by my father. but as i matured i started gaining my own morals, and i feel that his death is many things, and not just one. it was a symbol to americans, and a symbol to the men who followed Osama. i always assumed when he died that i would just be filled with the happiness of victory. but im torn just as you are. and it baffles me. im filled with worry about the possible retaliation, concern about my own governments inner workings (because im not entirely sure that we just “found” him all of the sudden). and i too am contemplating where I as a christian should stand. i do think Osmam should have been brought to justice, but i do not know if celibration is in order. another thing i think about, Osama is only one man, yes he leveled two huge building filled with innocent people, and we only got one guy. he is not worth what we lost.
In my reply to my cousin-in-law I wrote:
Osama’s death is of little real importance. He has not been in charge for quite some time and there are plenty to take his place. If he becomes a martyr, it may even make things more dangerous.
I plan on carrying on as usual. I worry about the vengeful nature of the American People. If I were God, I think I would be very upset with America, not just because of these recent example. I suspect that “American Pride” is becoming a major problem in the eyes of the Lord.
honestly Scott as you know from Sunday night i am in the same boat as you. ecpecially haveing family ties to 9/11 having a cousin that i was very close with lose his life just doing his job was really hard on me personally.i am still having trouble with this issue, yes what happend did bring some closure to me and my family but i just dont know if i should be happy that someone else was killed or not. honestly i can’t say that Bin Laden was evil since i didnt know him personally but we al.l know he did evil things. but because he did evil; things does that make him evil? so therefore i really am still wrestleing with how i should be reacting to what happend. i would love to talk more in person with you on this subject man you can get a hold of me on my cell @ (909)938-4660 either text or call me.
Good post Scott. I appreciate that you always think out and rationalize your position before posting.
I was just glad they got him. He is in hell where he will never be able to hurt another single human.
Unfortunately, you can’t say where he is now. Only God knows that.