TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:
"Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him."
Proverbs 24:17
TODAY’S WORD:
The pictures of people dancing in the streets are all over the web and the culture that we live in makes rejoicing seem like the proper thing to do in response to the news. But how should Christians react to this news. Even before I witnessed President Obama’s confirmation of Bin Laden’s death it was a scene played out at places across the country, people had gathered in spontaneous rejoicing with flags raised outside the White House and a Ground Zero. Americans openly cheering bin Laden's death. I have had many come and seek council or my opinion on this topic so I share some thoughts I’ve gathered the last several days. You may disagree
Americans in general, as well as many other nations, are rejoicing over the death of the proclaimed archenemy’ of all western civilization and what the USA stands for, Osama Bin Laden. He is credited and has been captured on video claiming victory for his masterminding the destruction of the twin towers in New York City, the Pentagon and many other terrorist-related crimes. He has been responsible for the death of thousands of men, women and children both American and in his own country thousands of Muslims killed by his order.
He has been the focus of a more than ten year intensive search in the mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan by our American men and women of our armed forces and the international security forces. We are told that he and one of his sons are dead and buried at sea. They now weigh the cost of releasing video and photos to give closure to the ones can’t believe without seeing with their own eyes.
Many Christians today are feeling an internal conflict in dealing with the death of Osama bin Laden - relief that he dead but hesitant to celebrate the death of another human being.
I have seen many who seek advice on feeling torn and unsure of how to process this killing of such an evil person. They share how they feel bad about the thought of celebrating someone's death and people, I think, are somewhat fearful of voicing that to friends and co-workers as they do not want to come across unpatriotic.
Part of the worry is that for some they may feel celebration for this death are invalid because they didn't lose anyone personally on 9/11 or did not lose a family member or friend in combat.
As a pastor and active community leader, I understand it's a nationalistic response, and as an American I can understand that people would celebrate both the justice and the revenge from 9/11. As a Christian I cannot understand the celebration of another's execution. My identity is Christian first and American second, and I think there are many more people who see it reversed or don't see the difference.
Not to say that bin Laden shouldn't have been killed but rest assured we have much brokenness in our world and jubilation of violence is really sad.
I read this week of one point of view shared by Pastor John Robertson whom has the dual view of being a soldier and a religious leader. He was a chaplain deployed in Iraq in 2009 and 2010.
"I'm always saddened when another human being dies, but when someone chooses the path of murder and justice is served, it's justice. It doesn't make me celebrate, it doesn't make me pleased, but in order to have peace, we have to have justice to deal with those that take life," he said. "As a citizen, as a soldier, I am pleased with the mission and in that aspect a degree of justice was served, but it doesn't mean I have to celebrate it openly in order to believe that the mission was successful and justice was accomplished."
I agree with my Christian brother and I know our congregation prays each week for America, our troops and for the leadership, and I would say that prayer was answered in one respect.
For one, we're always sad when someone who we're pretty sure doesn't believe in Jesus as their savior (dies), because if the person is an unbeliever, then according to what the Bible says, they're going to hell," he said. "From an American standpoint, we rejoice that God has allowed us to have this victory. But my ultimate concern as a Christian, as a father and as a Pastor and Christian leader is the same that is God's ultimate concern which is for people's souls.
The U.S. government has the duty to protect its people and God gives the government the right to do that, so we thank God for protecting us and keeping us safe.
"We pray for those who may have been killed and pray that people who are killed in the incident were believers and go to heaven. Or, if they weren't believers that God would use this as an opportunity to lead others to Jesus as their savior," he said.
Pastor Tom Countryman of Portage United Methodist Church said he takes no pleasure in the death but can't help but wonder if the world is better off.
"We're talking about things that as human beings are too big to deal with, so we ask God to carry us through the tragedy, grief and horror of what people do to us and sometimes what it seems to be what we do in response," he said.
"For me, for better or for worse, I don't feel badly.
I don't rejoice in the death of Osama, but when I think about that reality and just all the people trying to survive in the wake of horrors he caused, it's overwhelming, and I don't feel competent (to judge) and throw myself on the mercy of God."
During church services they had on Monday and Tuesday, Countryman led his members in a song he felt spoke to the issue.
“One day at a time, sweet Jesus,” he sang.
So where does Bin Laden’s soul stand today?
Osama Bin Laden was a professing Muslim and Muslims do not believe in the deity of Jesus Christ. They believe that he existed in the humanity and that he was a good teacher or Rabbi. But for the Muslim, the story of Jesus Christ ends there. There is no faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and therefore there is no salvation for them according to the Bible God’s Holy Word. Christians (those who believe in the words of the Bible) understand that those who die without Christ will spend eternity in hell.
I always try to share salvation in a form that my children can understand…ABC’s if you will Accept that Jesus is our Savior, Believe that He died so that we may be forgiven and have everlasting life and finally Confess our sins and repent.
Do we feel remorse for this lost Soul?
There may be a sense of justice felt at the execution of Osama Bin Laden and that is okay. Christians should be careful in how they view the fall of an enemy as Proverbs 24:17 warns us: "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him."
The Bible teaches that those who live by the sword will die by the sword; but there should also be a somber sense of remorse that another soul is entering hell for eternity.
Christians are sinners that have been saved by Grace – not by their own good works. In other words, the old adage should come to mind for every professing believer when they look at the life and death of Osama Bin Laden:
“There but for the grace of God, go I.”
What is our Christian duty?
Selah people’ and friends the Bible teaches that Christians are to love the Lord their God with all the heart, soul, mind and strength, and their neighbor as themselves. The Bible then teaches that our neighbor is everyone. This doesn’t mean that Christians are allow terrorist or other to walk all over us like door mats to be, but it does place the emphasis on living a life that shows grace and mercy more than hate and condemnation. We as Christians should focus on leading unbelievers to the Savior, Jesus Christ; that’s where we find our true reason for rejoicing. I pray that we can teach this to our children as well as those children touched by our Christian men and women who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq throughout this war. Perhaps one day when we are with our Lord He will share all that we cannot understand at this time.
OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:
“Heavenly Father, we prayerfully come to you for wisdom and guidance in all things that we have trouble understanding. We know you have called us to be your Disciples and to minister the Gospel to all the world. We thank you for your protection to those who carried out an assigned mission and just ask that in all things your will be done. Help us to instruct and witness to the believers, unbelievers and our children in a manner that honors you and does not bring others down. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
Your Brother In Christ,
Patrick
Rev Patrick Muston, Senior Pastor
Selah Christian Church
Four Oaks, NC
Video link of Worship service at Selah from May 1, 2011:
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B5CvuvSF-BuiMGU4ZGRhZTQtODczNi00MmZiLTgxYjktZGZjNGNjYmI2ZTk2&hl=en
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