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capitalism, disconnect, enemies, forgiveness, grace, healing, jake kaufman, justice, loving enemies, overcoming, revenge
USA! USA! USA!
Such were the chants that filled the background noise, as reporters standing on the White House lawn shouted the news that Osama bin Laden had been killed. Twitter was obliterated with the news as well … complete with pastors and theologians weighing in their thoughts and reactions. Facebook statuses were posted, including mine … and “liked” many times over. A nation which has suffered multiple setbacks, negative projections, and much tragedy for a decade … suddenly was given permission to rejoice.
I want to be clear: I am on the side of justice winning. My celebration is rooted in the final chapter of an oppressive leader whom manipulated thousands, and used a religion to slaughter innocent women, children, and men. I rejoice the system he has created has now suffered a significant loss. I rejoice that Muslims have been given a glimmer of hope at the oust of this man. I’m thankful for the men and women who have suffered much pain, much loss … and have witnessed many unspeakable and haunting images and realities. Because of their sacrifices, their courage, and their commitment … a hate-filled, violence-oriented, oppressive and tyrannical system has suffered a crushing blow.
But, there was something deeply unsettling to me about celebrating death. Something eery about waving flags and singing “God bless America” in the aftermath of a terrorists death. Has God blessed America? What leads us to that conclusion? Are we blessed because we have two story homes, and full-time jobs? Because we don’t live in abject poverty … have a sustainable infrastructure … have a democratic government … have the most advanced and resourced army on the planet?
Sometimes, for Americans, it’s possible to confuse capitalism with blessings.
Anyway, I digress on the patriotism. The death of Bin Laden has me thinking … how seriously do we take the words of Jesus; the words that yearn for us to love our enemies? War is filled with injustice and tragedy regardless of the side you choose. It is a glaring, sobering reminder of the ability we possess to annihilate, destroy, and de-humanize each other. Our cause may be just, but the lines can quickly blur and atrocities can be committed on the side of good as easily as the side of bad. What if we believed Jesus’ teachings enough to live them? What if we extended grace and kindness toward those who’ve wronged and hurt us? Could that alone change the world?
What if our nations were more concerned with healing than retribution?
That’s not to say that justice isn’t important and necessary. I believe in those things. I just find myself conflicted on weeks like today. On one hand, I’m thankful for justice coming to fruition. I’m thankful that an oppressive leader no longer has influence … and can no longer manipulate and coerce people into ways of violence in the name of holy religion. And on the other hand, I’m struggling to know what it means to love my enemies … to respond to hate with love … to overcome darkness with light … and to extend grace where hostility once ruled.
Does anyone else feel conflicted at the news and reactions to Bin Laden’s death?
jake kaufman stories 
I believe there is a difference between loving our enemy and God serving out justice. God as we have seen many times in the Bible is a firm supporter of capital punishment. I see this event as being nothing more than God serving out the wages of sin to a hardened heart.
I believe this also to be true (though I have no proof to back it up) that when God says love your enemy that there are different types of enemies. Satan for example is an enemy, should we love him? No. In the old testament when God led nations to war, at the end of the battle they celebrated the victory. The victory brought about unfortunately by the death of others but God still allowed the celebration and didn’t tell them you should have love your enemy that was trying to kill you.
I’m not God, but I feel when he said that he didn’t mean it in the sense you might be meaning it. If so then why should we ever go to war, fight and kill?
Through Jesus, God is doing something new.
He’s revealing a new kingdom … not built by violence, military rule, or governmental action (as the Jews were hopeful for) … but built on peace, love, hope, and vision.
In this understanding, we find Jesus telling us to “turn cheeks, forgive those who’ve wronged you, and love enemies.” It’s counter-intuitive, odd, and at first offensive. But … I believe it’s the only way the world could ever be rid of violence, oppression, and evil.
I’ll leave war decisions to the leaders of our country, and I will always respect and honor our soldiers … but, I will always believe that a better way is not only possible, but necessary.
Hey Jake,
I appreciated your thoughts, and. understand your conflict. I find the harmony in the matter is in the fact that, ultimately and transiently, justice at this scale is not up to individuals. The powers that be are the ones that do not hold the sword (capital punishment or any other for that matter) in vain (Romans 14:4). Personally, I am responsible for being in submission to my government, in as much as it does not contradict the sum of God’s word (Acts 5:29), AND being aware that any soul going into destruction is nothing one should celebrate(Matthew 5:43, 44; Ezekiel 33:11). I can, therefore, have a righteous sense of satisfaction that justice was served in the governmental perspective, but mourn the loss of another precious soul, personally. This is not necessarily the answer (peace through the gospel would solve all of it), but it is how I understand the perfect Word dealing with the sinful world.
Food for thought:If it can be said that Osama was at fault for anything, wouldn’t the basis of his faults be rooted in the fact that he held to the wrong moral standard? According to what he believed, he was right. Such atrocities have not only happened in the name of obedience to the Koran, but even so-called Christians have done terrible things based in some twisted way on the Bible. The fault, of course, is not upon the printed page, but the failure of the reader to adhere to all of its precepts. I believe you would agree that Osama was wrong, though he believed he was right. This judgment can be based firmly on an objective standard, the Bible. Could not the same be said of anyone who adheres to any other standard but that of the Bible? (including those loosely based on the Bible)
I would be interested in any feedback regarding either of my comments.
Thanks,
Van
thanks Van for your comments.
the issue here is not rooted in a moral standard, or set of values. i believe it to be rooted in a much more significant idea: the defining of God’s agenda. a mis-identifying of this agenda spurred Osama to railroad a religion, deluge it with threats and violence, create new leaders of the movement, and coerce thousands to follow with their lives.
i believe Jesus reveals a new path and presents a new image of God’s hearts and desires … a desire for none to perish, but for all the experience full life with Him. through this agenda, Jesus taught that love would ultimately overcome hate, that good will win over evil, and that broken things will be restored through patience, commitment, and hope.
as such, God is on the side of justice. He is about those who cannot fend for themselves. He is on the side of the persecuted and forgotten. His standard is justice …. justice implying “the way things ought to be.”
I agree with you Jake, I found myself unemotional in the death of bin Laden and somewhat find it difficult for others to rejoice in it. I do understand the feeling of justice for those who were affected by losing a family member or friend on 9/11 because this will be the only justice they will find from that tragic day. I think Proverbs 24:17-20 is very apt to what you are saying here.
And on a side note, the killing of these leaders is not the root of the problem. The problem is lack of education in Afghanistan and Pakistan. After reading both of Greg Mortenson’s books, Three Cups of Tea and Stones to Schools he shows the best way to fight terrorism is to educate the youth with schools.
All I know is that we’re called to be like Christ, who was the Prince of Peace. Peter was reprimanded for taking off a man’s ear in defense of Jesus Himself. Whether or not the death of a man who seemed to be quite evil is just doesn’t mean that we as Christians should delight in it.
“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways” – Ezekiel 18:32
Rejoice in the release of people from oppression, fear, and death (or at least hopefully somewhat of a release). Our thoughts and prayers (and dare I say resources) should be with those affected by Bin Laden and those like him…. as well as those unintentionally affected by our own forces.
I cannot rejoice in the death of any one but I have never been in the position of losing a loved one at the hand of terrorist, a drunk driver, or a murderer and I cannot judge those who have.
.
I only know that I am to love and forgive those that persecute or spitefully use me and I will restate what I posted earlier on facebook. “I am so thankful that God is in control.There is no authority except that which God has established. He establishes rulers and they are a minister and a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil. That is how I read it.
I do believe we should all be sincerely praying for President Obama, and all other leaders of this great nation and all other nations. We need to pray that God’s will be done here on earth, in all nations and IN OUR HOMES, just as it is done in heaven.
Great post, Jake. I had a strange feeling about the celebrating as well but couldn’t really put my finger on it. My biggest concern isn’t so much the theological but the political. I think the country should have followed Obama’s lead in the way he represented “our” feelings about this. Celebrate in private but respect the sensitivity of the situation. The last thing we need is for our enemies to see thousands of us celebrating their leaders death in the streets. It made us appear very insensitive and will likely be great material for terrorist propaganda.
that’s a great point, justin.
Jake good post on an obvious sensitive subject. We so often pick a “side” and look to defend it. Yet, in the Bible there is a lot of tension between ideas. We must get used to this tension and be ok to live in it. Your post expresses that. There is “evil” and wrong. It must be dealt with and we hope that the righteous One will do that completely in the end. With that, there is tension on the other side.Consider these two verses.
“Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.” Prvbs 24:17-18
Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Ezekiel 33.11
So there is this tension between dealing with “evil” – the pedophile, the terrorists, the corrupt ceo, the murderer… on one side and yet the high calling to love, forgiveness and mercy on the other. One does not negate the other. We do not have to pick a side. We should let the tension between the two remain and allow it to inform our reactions. I think you articulated this well and compassionately to all responses to this event.
thanks for the insight, rhodes.
“we should let the tension remain and allow it to inform our decisions.” that’s sound advice … and would lead us to make more informed decisions, and offer well-balanced reactions. great thought!
Jake, too much rhetoric in the “blogosphere” out there extrapolates too far from Scripture and is tainted with too much of our own secular, generational or other self-reflecting values. We owe it to the Lord and to those we teach to present a well-informed and full biblical perspective (which I know you agree with). So, here’s some comments I have from Scripture on bin Laden’s death.
How should Christians respond to the death of Osama Bin Laden? One strand of texts encourages rejoicing. Proverbs 11:10 says: “When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.” Psalm 58:10 adds, “The righteous will rejoice when he sees the retribution; he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.” When God drowned Pharaoh and his army the sea, “Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing,” and they sang praise to God for killing the enemy (Exod. 15:20-21). But are we to sing, dance and rejoice at the death of our enemies? Apparently so–not to rally behind capitalism or even from purely a patriotic passion, but because the Lord’s cause against evil has been vindicated.
But another strand of texts sounds very different. Proverbs 24:17 says, “Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice.” God said through Ezekiel, “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (Ezek. 33:11; cf. 18:23). God will one day destroy all the wicked, to which the angels will declare, “They deserve it” (Rev. 16:6). When Satan was cast out, the heavens and all who dwell in them were called to rejoice (Rev. 12:12). “When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous” (Prov. 21:15).
On the surface, it appears that conflicting messages are being sent forth to God’s people! Deeper study shows that this is not the case. The real issue here is a matter of motivation. What precisely lies behind the various emotions we feel and display when an event like the death of Osama bin Laden occurs? For example, do we feel vindicated or vindictive? There is a difference! When a wrong is righted, when justice triumphs over injustice, when good conquers evil, those on the Lord’s side experience relief and joy that He has vindicated His name and His people. At the same time, we take no pleasure in the fact that when God renders some judgment against the wicked this involves the physical death, and eternal destruction, of men and women who, for whatever reason, made some horrible choices in their lives. But for the grace of God, go you and me. Osama bin Laden deserved his fate, but what fate do we deserve at the hands of a just and holy God? Such self-evaluation prevents us from gloating over the death of one like bin Laden. Still, we rejoice that God has acted in such a way that one who harmed so many people is now in no position to hurt anyone else ever again. Scripture says we may rejoice when good prevails over evil, but not to gloat over those who’ve experienced God’s wrath! It’s great to be vindicated, but let’s not be vindictive. “Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you!” (Rev. 18:20). Blessings