Osama's Death and Christian Reaction

Osama's Death and Christian Reaction
By Terry James

Many Americans broke out in celebration when Al Qaeda mastermind Osama Bin Laden's death was announced Sunday night, May 1. The demonstrations of glee weren't nearly as wild as the scenes from almost every Muslim nation the day the twin towers in New York fell. There was no firing of AK-47 weaponry into the air, but it was ebullient demonstration nonetheless.

President Obama was said to have turned to an aid and remarked: "We got him!"

How did you react when you heard the news? My only reaction was to think that now Osama faces not the seventy-two virgins promised to all Muslim men faithful to Allah once they assume room temperature, but that he confronts something far different. His death gave no pleasure, no sense of retribution or vengeance--but neither did I then or now have regrets that he is gone from this world.

Had I lost a family member or dear friend in the World Trade Towers, the Pentagon, or the crash of the airplane in Pennsylvania that day, perhaps I would be satisfied to the point of elation at the news of his death. But, I don't think so.

The satisfaction I receive is that of knowing that Bin Laden can no longer add his demented thought processes to those of his fellow Islamist madmen. To me, there is no joy in the demise of anyone, except in knowing that, in this case, he won't be in on planning future murders in the name of Allah. This is indeed a significant volley in the war declared on terror by George W. Bush following September 11, 2001. Killing Osama Bin Laden, however, can't change the fact that he and his henchmen murdered nearly three thousand people that fateful day. It can't alter the fact that thousands of U.S. service men and women have died or been wounded in pursuit of dealing with the evil Bin Laden perpetrated and his fellow terrorists continue to carry out.

Bin Laden's death doesn't stop the $1.28-trillion-and-counting cost of the military action against radical Islam the U.S. has and is footing. In this, he has been successful–helping achieve his vow to bring the great Satan to its knees, economically speaking. So, his being killed isn't reason to declare victory, even though it is obviously a cause for celebration by those who are so inclined.

There are thousands, even millions, to take his place. There is little time to spend reveling in this one, demonically driven man's death. His assassination is that sort of violence on which the jihadists feed. Violence feeds Islamist warmakers like the warm Gulf waters feed a hurricane.

Am I saying that Osama Bin Laden should not have been dispatched in this raid by the Navy SEALs? Of course not. I am saying that to vigorously celebrate his being killed should not be allowed to become, either individually or collectively within the American psyche, a visceral bloodlust to render evil for evil. Especially, this should not be the mindset of the Christian, in my view. Such action should be taken only in order to try to make civilized society safe from such beastly activity as carried out by Bin Laden and his ilk. The Bible condones such action by duly authorized governments because this is a sinful, murderous world, and such killers must be stopped to promote the general safety of peace-loving people.

Hypocrisy and worse is front and center in all of this taking down of Osama Bin Laden, while the mainstream media takes no notice. The present American president operates within a political philosophy that disdains capital punishment, no matter the crime--primarily, I believe, because he thus wins the hearts, minds, and votes of minorities who view themselves as victims of injustice. Yet he and his political associates see nothing wrong with the taking out of Bin Laden, because it was the politically expedient thing to do. Executing a man–within the American judicial system, for murdering a person--is something the liberal mindset considers barbarism. They slap each other's backs, however, for the good fortune–or well-executed plan—in sending Osama Bin Laden on his eternal journey. Their poll numbers might benefit from the action taken.

Such duality of thought shows a trend toward the same sort of madness carried on by the fanatic Islamists. Fanatic Muslims see nothing wrong with killing, when it serves the best interest of their cause and is sanctioned by their "holy book," the Koran. It is justice of a grossly perverted sort by which that self-indulgent mindset operates.

So, those who name the name of Christ should not find carnal enjoyment in the death of Osama Bin Laden, or anyone else. He is gone, and I am glad. He was a danger to those I love, as well as to everyone who might fall under his unalloyed evil plotting. But, I take no pleasure in his death--only a degree of solace. The Lord of heaven Himself has set the example for what should be the Christian's attitude in such matters: "'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways!'" (Ezekiel 33:11).