Celebrate Justice, Not Damnation

“Justice has been done,” according to a statement Obama made late last night. Osama Bin Laden has been killed in Pakistan. This one man had harmed and killed many thousand people across the world. He was the architect behind the World Trade Center terrorist attack in 2001 which killed over 3,000 Americans. We should celebrate the fact that he can no longer hurt innocent people around the world. His organization can, and probably will, continue his fight however. While this man was undoubtedly vile and evil, the celebration of his death is not something I, personally, can take part in.

Last night on Facebook – and probably Twitter as well – there were numerous posts celebrating Osama’s death. While a celebration for justice and the men and women in the military is right and I would say, necessary, celebrating a man’s death is wrong. As a Christian I cannot do this. I also saw one status on Facebook last night that read, “Burn in hell, Osama. God bless America.” This status was from a Liberty student. This shocked and appalled me. How can a God-fearing Christian wish for someone to go to hell? No matter what his crimes were, Christ loved him and died for him.

I completely support our military, don’t get me wrong. This is not to degrade them or their contributions. They have served valiantly for their country (albeit in a war that is illegal and immoral) and they should be treated as the heroes they are. A side note: Ron Paul’s argument that Osama could have been dealt with by a small force is a good one. Wasting ten years and trillions of dollars on one man, seems like a waste when it could have been done in a much simpler way.

After this event we must be on our guard. He had so many devoted followers that so deeply believed in his convictions that there will be backlash from this. They will come after America and her allies. We must be on guard.

Christ calls us to love our enemies. He wanted Osama to see His love, but in the end, Osama did not. This is a sad fact, but one that we live with. With this, we should not judge all Muslims this way. They are a group of people who Christ loves just as much as any Southern Baptist congregation here in the States. It is our job to reach them. Occupying their lands and constantly fighting them, is no way to further the Gospel. A conversion at gun point is no conversation; it’s a last ditch effort to save one’s skin. Ezekiel 18:21-24 says, “But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.” This plainly shows that God does not enjoy death, even the death of the wicked. However, it is the punishment for our sins. Romans 3:23 says “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” If everyone has sinned, should we not celebrate at every funeral?

My convictions lead me to value human life over most anything. I deeply enjoy my liberty but I would sacrifice it to save a life (as long as it was my choice, not a government’s). I am a fierce advocate for the pro-life movement and I could never support a candidate that did not support life as well. While Osama did not share my deep rooted convictions, he was still a life. I wish he was given a trial so at least if the death penalty was used, it would be just. In our attacks on the compound where Osama was killed, the U.S. killed several children. Was that a fair trade? I’m not so sure. Their lives were extinguished after just a few short years. That is something that should be mourned.

I am happy that this is now over. Osama, a man who has caused so many so much pain and death, is now gone. Through this however, another man is now burning hell. This is no reason to celebrate.