What is the appropriate response for Christians to the death of Osama bin Laden? What Scriptures can help us answer this question?
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zero_g on May 2, 2011 at 7:33 pm
Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. … 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
AManofGod on May 2, 2011 at 9:37 pm
I understand the atrocities committed under the direction of Osama Bin Laden, but when I see young people celebrating at ballparks and around the White House after news of bin Laden’s death it worries me. To celebrate the death of anyone (even a murderer) is something I don’t feel comfortable with as a Christian.
In Luke 23 we hear of Jesus being crucified. He is positioned between two known thieves and murderers. One man mocks Jesus and asks Him if He is the Savior why doesn’t He save Himself. The second man quickly admonishes the first saying in Luke 23: 40-42
“Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom”
Upon hearing this Jesus said to the man in Luke 23: 43
“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
As Christians we cannot know if bin Laden asked for Jesus to come into his heart and forgive him for all his sins before he was killed. If that was done according to The Word of God bin Laden would be welcomed into the presence of our Lord in Heaven.
Regardless, to celebrate murder is not something I can easily do and it worries me that so many people seemed to feel nothing was “strange” about such actions.
AManofGod
jon_sumner on May 3, 2011 at 7:12 pm
I agree with you completely. When I heard about his death. I was not enjoycing. Yes the man commited an unthinkable hanous crime. As a result he desevered to spend life in prison. But I don’t think Jesus is happy with happen.Bin Ladan’s murder. All thoghout the Bible Old and New Testament God shows his love to his enemies. He send Jonah to Ninavah the capital of Assiya a Country that if it had it’s way would have wiped Israel off the face of the Earth.
Jesus in Mat. 5:44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! (NLT)
So I think this scripture is telling us to do something that would seem unthink to do in this country I think we need to pray for Bin Ladan’s family for their comfort in this sad time and for their Salvation.
Clarence Wong on May 4, 2011 at 10:30 pm
echoing your thoughts…
AManofGod on May 3, 2011 at 7:04 am
I forgot to add a quote from one of my personal heroes: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He stated:
“I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy.”
–Martin Luther King, Jr
Consider this as we “celebrate” the death of anyone….even someone as evil as Osama bin Laden.
AManofGod
marolyn60 on May 5, 2011 at 7:21 am
I agree with what you have stated; MLK was certainly a man of God. I do think the “work” of taking out UBL was done correctly by the people God authorized for that duty. You don’t see the Navy Seals high fiveing each other and our President’s refusal to flaunt it with pictures seems to be the way to go. UBL met his end as a consequence of the way he lived his life. 80% of us die based on choices we made on how we wanted to live, ie smoking, drinking, bad eating habits or becoming a terrorist.
tim gustafson on May 3, 2011 at 7:07 am
I’m a military veteran, but I’m exceedingly uncomfortable with celebrations of death—even the death of a man who made women his property and death his way of life.
I’m pleased and relieved that this evil man is now out of the picture, and I applaud the men who quietly and efficiently did the tough job of taking him out. But the necessary killing of a terrible human being is an admission by the rest of us that the world is not as it should be.
If I may go to an extrabiblical source for this appropriate line from John Donne: “Any man’s death diminishes me.” Bin Laden was wrong about life. We shouldn’t be wrong in how we observe his death.
Bin Laden is now in the hands of the God he purported to serve. God is a God of love, but He is also the God of infinite justice. While I’m grateful for that too, I do not celebrate it.
cricket41 on May 4, 2011 at 1:03 pm
All of this has made me very sad. I cannot celebrate this man’s death. We went after them for killing our people now we killed their people? It’s very sad. I think i read in bible that God is the only one who can give life and take it away? I may be wrong. Who are we to play God? I hate what this man did to thousands of people, and his own people, but i think we are supposed to pray for our enemies? It’s hard to do, but Jesus said to do it, and that is what I personally have been trying to do, pray for our leaders, and also for our enemies, and troops, and ALL innocent bystanders who are caught in the middle of all this. Vengence is mine saith The Lord……..
jonweaver on May 5, 2011 at 10:15 am
God was the one who instituted capital punishment (the death penalty.) It was God’s design that if one wilfully takes anothers life without just cause, that person should be put to death. THis man took the lives of thousands unjustly. Praise God we killed Osama bin laden.
jonweaver on May 5, 2011 at 10:06 am
2 Chronicles 20:27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies.
28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD.
29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel.
Bin laden was a wicked man and hated Christianity and everything it stood for. I thank God that this wicked man is dead and is facing judgement. He now knows who the real Messiah is.
lak on May 7, 2011 at 8:29 am
When I first learned of Osama bin Laden’s death, I was very thankful that he was brought to justice.
In the days since his death, I have thought about the media’s coverage of exuberant rejoicing surrounding his demise. I share many of the responses given here thus far.
I am praying that God would give me His perspective concerning the death of Osama bin Laden.
The following Scripture has been with me …
“He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God.”
– Micah 6:8