On the way to school today, I was talking to our son, Evan, about the death of Osama bin Laden and mentioned that it is important for followers of Christ to do the best we can to think God's thoughts about such things.
We can't take our cues from the White House, the military, big business, educators, ABC, CNN, CBS, NBC, or FOX.
I mentioned to Evan that the headline in one paper reported the news about bin Laden's death with these words: Rot in hell. Is that what God's people should think and say?
We should take part in the conversation with gentleness and respect, of course. But we must seek to think God's thoughts. And where do we go to find God's thoughts? The Word of God.
So, here are just a few observations based of scripture.
1. We praise God for His sovereignty in the bringing down of Osama bin Laden. "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding" (Daniel 2:20-21).
2. We thank God for displaying His justice. "For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs" (Psalm 75:6-8).
3. We pray for our political and military leaders who have the God-given authority to serve God by bringing international criminals to justice. "For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer" (Romans 13:3-4).
4. We ask God to bless our political and military leaders as they seek to provide us and the world with an environment of security and peace. "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way" (I Timothy 2:1-2).
5. Although the evidence is overwhelming that bin Laden never professed Jesus as His personal Savior and is, therefore, in hell, we do not take a vindictive kind of pleasure in that; rather, we desire that all men and women be saved. "For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live" (Ezekiel 18:32). "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; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?" (Ezekiel 33:11).
6. We seek to increase our efforts and prayers to reach all the peoples of the world who do not know Christ, especially the Muslim people groups. "This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all. (I Timothy 2:3-6). "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (II Peter 3:9).
7. We recognize in these momentous events a call to personal and national repentance. "There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, 'Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish'" (Luke 13:1-3).
8. We ask God to set up humble, righteous leaders throughout the kingdoms of the world. "The Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men" (Daniel 4:17).
Thank you so much for providing God's guidance regarding this matter. I really felt conflicted this morning as I read the reports and disturbed by the celebration and beaming faces in the paper. I understand the politics
ReplyDeleteand accomplishment in the circumstances, but there was just a part of me that felt less comfortable with the celebration of the event. -Jen S
Very well said, Rick. I'm wrestling myself with how to feel and what to say about OBLs death, and I appreciate you going to scripture for the answers.
ReplyDeleteRick, thank you for posting this. I got home from 707 last night and read so many celebrations of Osamas death and I automatically felt in my heart this is not what we are to be doing. I couldnt find the right words about it though. Part of me is sad that a man died without knowing Christ. Why are we celebrating this?
ReplyDeleteThank you for providing Gods wisdom.
Tell me how you'd feel if you actually lost someone on September 11th. I'm sorry but this was a man that got what he deserved and I'm happy that he is dead and rotting in hell with people like Hitler, Saddam, and many other murderers.
ReplyDeleteI can think of no stronger test of our hearts as we start into a series on forgiveness.
ReplyDeleteWhile the world may be celebrating life- might we be praying for peace.
Thank you, Rick. Thank you for (as always) pointing us to Scripture. Very well stated!
ReplyDeleteGreat insights...and one more, if I may:
ReplyDeleteProverbs 24:17
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
(New American Standard Bible (©1995))
I am grateful to God that one threat is removed, but I can't celebrate anyone's death... as a Christ-follower, I am saddened that an enemy I have prayed for has no more chance to repent.
STILL praying for others, friends and enemies alike.
Thank you for such a well written article. I do not know anyone who was killed on September 11th personally and my heart goes out to all of the family and friends of those who perished. I too, agree, that celebration is not in order. I have watched and listened with my heart all of the media reports on this event. My 5 year-old son stated it as best as anyone has....."Mama, we should not celebrate the bad man was killed. We should pray for all people, right?" I cannot argue with his wisdom....
ReplyDeleteWell said and amen! I understand that there is an aspect of justice to his death, but as a Christian, I actually feel sad that a man died not knowing Christ. My first instinct upon hearing the news this morning was to pray.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm a bit dismayed and bothered by the hatred, anger and joy that many fellow Christians (from CVC and elsewhere) are expressing about Osama's death or against Obama's presentation of it. I understand we are of the flesh but there is a higher standard for those who truly profess Christ.
The gospel is a message of love to everyone, not just those you like, or haven't hurt you, or share your ideology. My prayers are for a lot of people right now.
* The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.
ReplyDelete* O you who love the LORD, hate evil!
* Praise be to the LORD my Rock,
who trains my hands for war,
my fingers for battle.
He is my loving God and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield, in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples under me.
Let's not forget that when God drowned the Egyptians during the Exodus the Jews sang songs of joy.
Osama bin Laden was a mass murderer, condemned to die by a government. What good is the church if it can't tell the difference between good and evil, and can't celebrate the triumph of good over evil.
I like point 3 Rick presents in this post. Gideon Strauss of Christianity Today has a similar viewpoint, referencing Romans 13 he wrote "I have no doubt that in this military killing the United States' goverment excercised its divinely ordained task, wielding the sword to administer justice and evil."
ReplyDeleteBe thankful we have a loving(1 Jn 4:8), just and upright God (Deut32:4). Rejoice in his perfect justice, not in the eternal torment of an enemy (not saying it's easy).
And let's all be grateful that the LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love, and forgiving of sin or we would all be doomed to rot in hell.
Rick I really think you did a wonderful job tackling this issue using scripture. I saw a majority of Christians rejoice at his death and a small minority say they were saddened by it and used misconstrued verses to defend their stances. I believe like most things the truth is somewhere in the middle. I do not rejoice at his death because in the end he was a person, (with a family and friends)but I rejoice that he will never commit atrocities again. Osama Bin Laden was one of God's creations and in the end God has always known the time and place that Bin Laden would take his last breath.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous, I would encourage you to look at those scriptures again. The Song of Moses in Exodus 15 is a celebration of the Lord delivering His people from their enemies. There is no celebration of death but of the mighty deeds of God to free Israel.
ReplyDeleteYes, Osama Bin Laden was an agent of hate, a manipulator of religion and the architect of the deaths of thousands of people. He was evil. Nevertheless, it is never a Christian response to celebrate the death of any human being, even one so heinous as Osama.
The Bible does take evil seriously and clearly says that evildoers should be held accountable for their deeds but it also delivers a message of peace...
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:9-12)
My prayer is for God to bless you and care for you so that you may in turn bless and love others without distinction following in the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.
@Rick, thank you so much for sharing that wisdom.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous, Bin Laden may have been a mass murderer, but his sins are no more or less evil than those for which we are all guilty. I praise God that he has, by his mercy, spared me from judgment and by his grace, given me life when I deserved neither.
This is a great discussion and an excellent example of what Rick wrote about. I appreciate all the comments. How I'd love to see the leaders of North Korea get what they deserve--it's a struggle for me to pray for them when I don't have compassion in my heart for them--they are responsible for the deaths of millions and make Bin Laden look like a Boy Scout! But God does have compassion for them and I've learned to pray Scripture about this situation instead of my feelings. Let's all be mindful to be praying for these leaders all over the world to come to know Jesus. Our prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ make the difference-Phil 1:19!
ReplyDelete