When the news of Osama bin Laden's death hit, Twitter exploded with activity. The response of Christians was mixed. Christianity Today reports that among the most popular scriptures shared were Proverbs 24:17 "Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice." And also Proverbs 21:15 "When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers." So which is it?
Justin Taylor helpfully states that "it's appropriate for Christians to intermingle grieving and gratitude. Grief for a life made in the image of God but so destructive of human life and so dishonoring to God. And gratitude for justice being served as an instrument of God's wrath." Taylor quotes D.A. Carson who wrote on bin Laden in 2002:
He is an evil man, and he must be stopped, but he is a man, and we should take no pleasure in destroying him. Vengeance is the Lord's alone.Do not offer the alternative, "Should we weep for Osama bin Laden or hold him to account for his genocide and prevent him from carrying out his violent intentions?"
The right answer is yes.
Christopher Morgan makes a similar point in a post at The Gospel Coalition Voices. He writes, "I tend to think that we can rightly grieve that Osama bin Laden opposed the true and living God and will be punished accordingly. But we also can rightly rejoice in the defeat and judgment upon people who are evil-and he was clearly evil and deserving of every punishment earth can give. The dancing in the streets may not merely be American nationalism, but an appropriate response to the partial display of human justice as we await the final and perfect display of divine justice in the coming age."
For me, these momentous events are also a reminder to pray. For the families of victims of 9/11--bin Laden's death can't erase the grief of their loss. For our President and other government leaders who are making significant decisions daily. For members of our military who are putting themselves in harms way. For our nation which still faces the threat of terrorist attack. For the spread of the gospel in nations like Pakistan and Afghanistan. The greatest need of this world can't be met with military force or political reform but only in salvation through Jesus Christ.
18 Comments
When people started asking me what's my response to Bin Laden's death, I kept silent. In my mind i thought that I need to think first before I answer. I can't say be happy as it is killing a life and is against my christian faith but I can't also be sad as he "deserves" it somewhat. But after reading this post, you've given me the RIGHT perspective. sharing this one out...
Thank you for posting this, and leading me on the right path for this situation. I also kept silent, but now I know how to respond.
Thank you for writing this. :)
The point of those who post Proverbs 24:17, I imagine, is not to say anything contrary to rejoicing in justice, but that while we in fact do so we are not to dance over the grave of the guilty, laughing at them on the day of their shame—looking down our noses at them as if we were better or that we don't rightly deserve the same punishment for our own sins.
Thank you for your responsible, balanced, and biblical post.
Thank you for blogging about this! I heard many Christians saying that it was ungodly to be rejoicing about his death. I started to question where we served a God of justice. Thank you for clarifying it.
I quoted your statement, "The greatest need of this world can't be met with military force or political reform but only in salvation through Jesus Christ."
This is a great reminder, especially for people in power. We should only be dependent on one God.
@Liz -- I think, given Josh's post, and the quotes he brought to bear on the situation, that it WOULD be wrong to "rejoice" over his death. Rejoicing suggests taking great pleasure in something. Being grateful to God is absolutely appropriate, but all the while remembering that but for His grace, we would be no better.
As far as rejoicing over his death I feel no need. At the same time, I have no feeling of sadness for his eternal decision alone, but for all who reject God's saving grace here on earth. Just have a strong belief that God had the final say and has taken care of the matter.
This was my post of Facebook yesterday:
Regarding Bin Laden......God's love would not be perfect without His justice!!
Psalm 145:19-20 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. Actually, it applies to all who reject Jesus....that should be the message!
Does God use human elemnts to accomplish his Vengeance? Does God control the number of days of each person? Could God have stopped this action if he so willed?
Does God use human elements to accomplish his Vengeance? Does God control the number of days of each person? Could God have stopped this action if he so willed?
Let us also not forget the many civilians killed killed in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan since 2004. Their families deserve and need our prayer as well.
Joshua,
Thank you for posting your perspective on this. Monday was definitely a day of heart-searching as many attempted to find the balance between pride in our country and grief for the loss of a God-created soul. I had friends in Australia irrate that we Americans were rejoicing over the fact that a man was now, assumedly, in hell.
I was having a hard time finding words to explain to them that it isn't a rejoicing over the fact that he is spending an eternity without Christ. That is absolutely nothing to rejoice about but instead a relief that justice has been done and one of many evils has been laid to rest.
We have to keep that eternal focus. We can't just wish damnation on anyone who opposes our freedom. You've done a good job of communicating that. Well done.
I don't see the need for incredible care in how we think through this situation. We are fine to rejoice, while mourning his soul - as we would anyone elses. The government has the right to enact justice in a different way than do individual people.
Should we have been upset when Nero or Hitler or Stalin died? I am sorrowful for his eternal destiny being in hell, but I am not sorry that he was killed.
So well said. Thank you.
What part of
Thou shalt not kill
don't you understand?
I think, given Josh's post, and the quotes he brought to bear on the situation, that it WOULD be wrong to "rejoice" over his death.You've done a good job of communicating that. Well done.
This is a great reminder, especially for people in power. We should only be dependent on one God.
This is a great reminder, especially for people in power. We should only be dependent on one God.
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