I am attempting to overpower the voice of many, many Christians celebrating the death of bin Laden. I will fail.
Here's the bottom line: bin Laden was indoctrinated to believe what he believed from the very start. Just the same, we've been indoctrinated to love villifying the leaders of our enemies, and rejoicing in their deaths. Yes, he did things that damaged many people, but he was not an evil man. Evil men do things to see people suffer because they want to see suffering, they want to feel power, they want to be the richest, and will do what they have to do to see it happen. How many people have died at the hands of Christians in years past? it happens everywhere. They weren't evil either, they were just misguided in their beliefs.
When people say 'The world is now a better place, that bastard is going to burn in hell', I disagree. The hatred that man had for those who didn't believe in his beliefs was great indeed...but the little hatred of millions of people is more powerful, in a different way. This hatred we have all gladly reaccepted into our hearts will fuel our attitudes and actions when it comes to the next clash of Islam and Christian ideology. Our hatred will push us to fight, fight, fight, ultimately killing more than the few dozen thousand (just an estimation, I have no clue) people bin Laden killed.
The Daily News I believe has said 'ROT IN HELL!" on their cover page. A news reporter said he is going to be burning in hell for a long time. Funny, because I thought Hell was an inhumane concept reserved for the most barbaric of religious fanatics, not forward-thinking and global-minded Americans of the new generation? Oh wait, Hell exists when we hate someone alot, I forgot.
I'll leave you with these verses.
Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? - Ezekiel 18:23
This is interesting because it is Old Testament, and OT typically has a harsher depiction of God. Even then, He is clear. He does not rejoice.
"You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, My decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with The Father, who sent Me." (John 8:15-16) We are so quick to judge as if our opinions matter. It's His call, and in the meantime, I think God wants us to focus on love. I'll show you what I mean.
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22: 34-40
When Jesus makes big statements like that..."ALL the law hang on these two commandments", we should pay attention more. Or how about this?
"As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. - John 12:47
Or how about the collection of these stories?
-Saving the adulteress in John chapter 7
- Healing the ear of a man who helped arrest Him in Luke chapter 22
- Eating with sinners in Matt 9, Mark 2, and Luke 5
- "forgive them father, they know not what they do" as He is dying at their hands in Luke 23:34
- General story of the whole gospel where he spends all of his time amongst cheaters, liars, adulterers, and more.
Am I glad that some things that cause pain won't happen anymore? Yes, even though others will stand up to carry Osama's share of the work. Am I glad that a man has died? No, as a Christian, that is not my job.
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