Thoughts on the Death of Osama Bin Laden
As all of you are certainly aware by now, Osama Bin Laden has been killed by brave Navy Seals who put their own lives at risk to rid the world of him.
As I looked at the Facebook posts that immediately popped up after the news from various friends, I was shocked at how many contained expressions of glee and celebration that Osama was “burning in hell” right now. This was expressed even by Christians. So I wondered: “What should I be feeling?”
I suppose on the one hand there was a sense of relief that at the very least, Osama Bin Laden would not be able to direct his followers to carry out more attacks against us. But the reality is that his death did nothing to change the hearts of terrorists or the organization of terrorist groups. On the contrary, it probably just motivates them more! So my “relief” was short lived. On the other hand, I suppose there is some feeling of “rightness” about the due recompense that has been meted out to a man who certainly deserved it.
Honestly though, even though Bin Laden had it coming to him, I do not gloat over his demise. I am just a sinner myself who is saved by the Grace of Jesus. And as wicked as that man was, and as terrible as his horrendous deeds were while he was alive, I still feel something like pity for him, because while I am not the Judge, I think that there is a VERY good probability that Bin Laden is in Hell right now and for all eternity. My desire for him for the last 10 years was that he would repent and turn himself in to face the justice of man, but now he is facing the Justice of the Almighty God. How can I take pleasure in the death of a wicked man when God himself does not? The Lord says in Ezekiel 33:11, “Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked…'” Bin Laden was a man who was used by Satan to commit unspeakable acts of violence and hatred in the world, he was very wicked, but the truth is, we are no better than Osama Bin Laden, and we all deserved the same fate that he received were it not for the Grace of Jesus in our lives. I am not saying that we have to shed tears over the news, but I am saying that we should be careful to remember where we were and where we would be had the Lord never saved us.
Hi David. Thanks for this article.
This may be a bit off topic, but I am intrigued by the general implications of your question, “What should I be feeling?” In my experience, we often ask that question and then try to tailor our emotions to what we think they ought to be, rather than deal truthfully with the emotions that we actually have. For example, if we get angry about something, we feel guilty because we think we aren’t supposed to be angry, and then try to act as though we are not. The intentions may be good, but the deceit is not, and the end result is that we avoid painful realities about ourselves.
Suppose a colleague of mine receives an award or recognition for some outstanding achievement. I ought to be happy for him because the recognition is well deserved. But instead I feel jealous and covet his achievement. When I see him, what should I do? Should I force myself to smile and congratulate him and pretend to be happy? Or should I expose my envy, revealing my dark side to God and to the person in question, and ask for forgiveness? Many Christians would instinctively try to do the former. But doesn’t the gospel of Jesus Christ prompt us to do the latter?
By the way: When I woke up early Monday morning and heard the news that OBL was dead, I didn’t rejoice either. But to be honest, my lack of rejoicing was not because I fear God and know that before God I am a sinner too. Nor was it because I have compassion for all people, even wicked ones like OBL. The truth is that, for some reason that I do not yet understand, I never had great animosity or anger toward OBL. I know in my mind that what he did was unspeakably evil. But, perhaps because of my personality, my upbringing, my education, etc. — or perhaps some part of my moral compass is just deeply broken — I didn’t experience the outpouring of righteous anger against him in the aftermath of 9/11 the other Americans did, so on Monday morning I did not share in the glee at his demise. My own lack of righteous anger in the face of injustice is one of my shortcomings, not one of my virtues.
When I heard he was dead I wondered if the war in Afghanistan was going to be over. I kind of felt sorry for the guy, to be honest. Sure, he deserved it, but who’s to say you or I are any better in the eyes of God? Is sin not sin? Question: Who prayed for him after they heard he was dead?
This is on a whole different note – but we can’t pray for someone after they are dead right? I thought that was more a Catholic/pergatory belief and not Biblically accurate. – no offense to Catholics either!
Agreed Meredith
I know, but I still prayed for him. I don’t remember specifically what I prayed about, I think I prayed that other’s would see that we’re all sinners, and even though he did what he did we’re not better. Or something like that. God’s gonna do what he’s gonna do but that doesn’t mean we can’t pray for the man.
Joe, no, you don’t have a broken moral compass. Take my example. My first thought was not about OBL or rejoicing or not rejoicing. My first thought was, “Wow, I guess this means Obama will get re-elected.” That’s got to be a broken something.
John, that is exactly what I thought. It is as much a political victory as a military victory.
Although I am happy the world is rid of Bin Laden, I would not say that I was rejoicing. If anything, it is almost anticlimactic, and even hard to believe. I suppose for those who lost loved ones on 9/11 it is more meaningful.
“I pursued my enemies and overtook them, / And I did not turn back until they were consumed” (Ps 18:37).
I heard the news on Sun night. My 1st response was, “Wow, they finally got him. Justice has been done. Yes!” I felt good in that he got what he deserved, so to speak, considering that he is a totally deluded monster of an evil man. At the same time, I know that “there but for the grace of God, go I.”
Next, I was intrigued how they did it. Kudos to our Navy Seals!! So, my next thought was, “Somebody is surely going to make a movie about this,” and I’m gonna watch it!
My 3rd thought was, “Well, I guess Obama is now gonna get re-elected.” Sorry for those of you Obama supporters, that though I think that Obama is so personally likeable and amicable and down to earth, yet I have a hard time with his “socialistic” policies that contribute to our soaring $15 trillion dollar national debt, that costs us $1 triliion just in interest each year. Sorry also for my shallow understanding of politics and economics with this statement.
Thanks for your feelings guys, as I have been thinking more about this, my mind went to 1Samuel 18:6-7, “When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” Now, while I dont think we should sing, “the army has killed their terrorists, and the Navy Seals their Super Terrorist!” I do think it is interesting that this was the Israelites reaction once Goliath was dead. Just because the Bible records it though does not mean that that sort of reaction is right, as a matter of fact, it drove Saul to madness with envy. But nevertheless, what do you guys think about the women’s song? Was it justified or appropriate in the circumstance?
I think the women’s song and dancing was justified. and this is not because I am a woman and like to sing and dance (although it could be…) but if David had not killed the Philistine, the Israelites would have had to be slaves to the Philistines. So perhaps their joy is more in the fact that they are able to remain free, not that they enjoy murder? If people feel happy that Osama is dead, it could be that they feel more safe, not that they enjoy other’s death…
I think we should always rejoice when justice is served and evil is defeated. Government exists for this very purpose. “For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. . . . But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil” (Ro 13:3,4). Or consider this: “When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, / And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting” (Pr 11:10). With all this mind, we are reminded that “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Ro 5:8). The justice that should have been served upon me was fulfilled at the cross through Christ, so that I, a terrible sinner, do not have to face God’s wrath.
I think along the same lines as you, David, that the Bible’s recording of the women’s song is a historical record and not necessarily a moral truth to be followed. I also feel conflicted about OBL’s death. My first reaction was one of surprise and relief, but then i felt troubled that I had no real pity for this man. I thought about how much worse crimes were dealt with the death penalty and that this man, who is responsible for murdering thousands, received the same justice that was due. I have the same spiritual dilemma in my heart about my feelings and what God says we should do when facing evil. Didn’t Dietrich Bonhoeffer face something like this when he joined the resistance against Hitler? Although i may be incorrect, I think he was actually part of a plot to kill Hitler. So with my limited understanding of this, i don’t know how to resolve my conflicted feelings about OBL’s death. But I realize that the darkness that enveloped OBL can just as well come to me or anyone, but for the grace of Christ.
Thanks Jen, you are correct about Bonhoeffer. The interesting thing about that guy is that he considered himself to be a pacifist, and yet when it came to Hitler, he was not! In Bonhoeffer we see a man of contradiction! So while I am not a pacifist, I can still see alot of myself in him. I still feel pity for Bin Laden but I also think that it needed to be done.
Benazir Bhutto was a much more credible witness than the mainstream media that ObL was murdered shortly after 9/11. Now that the cold war with Russia is over and fiat currency is collapsing, it’s more prudent before God to cut military spending and that military personnel get jobs in the private sector. What about Kurt Haskell’s eye-witness testimony about the Indian man in a suit who helped the African underwear bomber without a passport board the plane in the Netherlands? God knows all the details, but facts are facts. In the past there were many independent media outlets. Now they have been all consolidated into 2-3 media conglomerates, like a modern day Pravda. I’m surprised that people believe everything the mainstream media says and don’t question it at all. What are people like Newt Gingrich and Henry Kissinger going to Bohemian Grove meetings with mock human sacrifice?
Bob, I have no idea what you are talking about
What did BB mean when she said ObL was murdered (a long time ago)? She was a very credible person.
Search for “kurt haskell” on youtube. He was an eyewitness that the underwear bomber, U.F. Abdulmutallab, was helped onto the plane by an Indian man in a suit in Amsterdam without a passport. Somebody was in the back of the plane video recording the whole flight to Detroit. They had body scanners at the Netherlands, but U.F. Adbulmutallab bypassed security. After that they were calling for the purchase of new body scanners at all US airports, even though they were already ordered. Chertoff, former TSA head is heavily invested in the company that makes the body scanners.
What is confusing?
I am not sure I understand either, but Al Qaeda confirmed this morning that Bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces last week. See here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13313201.
I dont believe that conspiracy theory stuff man. You dont think that if Bin Laden was killed shortly after 9/11 Bush would have wanted credit for it? Of course he would have! Osama Bin Laden was killed last Sunday…there are too many moving parts to make that up. But of course, there are always going to be people who deny it and believe every new conspiracy theory. Just like the illuminati are running the world, and the freemasons are spying on us, and the World Trade Centers were brought down by bombs and not planes, and the Jews were told to stay home that day etc. etc. Michael Medved has a radio show and each week he has a day called Conspiracy Day…it would be good to bring up your point to him
When Dr. John Lee suggested that 9/11 was in inside job orchestrated by generals in the Pentagon in the first week after 9/11, I frankly was real mad at him. You don’t think Building 7 doesn’t look like controlled demolition? Building 7 wasn’t even hit by a plane. How could a building like that fall to the ground at free fall speed that hardly had any fire in it at the time of the fall? How come the put:call ratio on American Airlines and United Airlines was extremely high leading up to 9/11? The Bin Laden raid is probably a nice fairy tale that was already changed. Benazir Bhutto knew what was going on in Pakistan at the time.
BBC also reported the World Trade Center Building 7 fell 20 minutes before it actually fell. As the announcer reported it fell, while the live video feed showed it still standing. What did Larry Silverstein, the owner of WTC mean on the PBS interview that “we made the decision to pull it.”?
Hi Bob, I agree with some of the stuff you said. The sad truth is that many Christians are divided over whether to believe the Illuminati and the NWO plan exist. Personally, there has been to much evidense for me to not to deny it.
Hi David, I think there is always some truth to the “conspiracy theory”. Why else would it exist? Apparently 15% of Americans feel the WT centre was brought down as a controlled demolition. These aren’t crazy people, they are intelligent people that don’t buy into mainstream media and want real answers. These people are truth seekers. Like the Architects&Engineers for 9/11 truth. These people are engineers and architects, who would know better about the buildings’ collapse: them or gov’t officials that have ties with media conglomorates?
I think our society has learned to brush the so-called “conspiracy-theorists” off, like they’re nothing. like they’re not even human…they are “birthers”, “insurgents”, “conspiracy theorists”…and more labels that are derogatory and dehumanizing. In my opinion, they’re truth seekers. They have my respect, and I think it’s really important for us to examine the evidense personally before going along with the rest of “normal” society.
This kind of reminds me of when the Pharisees stirred up the crowd against Jesus and Paul. Spreading lies and deceit to control the crowd. There are people in power today who do this. Today’s culture mocks the Bible, there’s so many reports in the news (at least in my city) putting Christians down
James, I watched passenger airplanes smash into the World Trade Centers at 400 miles per hour. I have a cousin who was outside 3 blocks away when it happened and he saw the whole thing as an eyewitness (but he is jewish so maybe he cant be trusted?). Believing that it was airplanes that brought the Towers down is completely reasonable. Bin Laden took credit for it!
Was it was a controlled demolition? By whom? The government? Man, the government cant keep anything secret. What about the 2000 plus people who died in the towers, none of them saw explosives being meticulously installed for what would have taken weeks or months. So are you saying that the WTC security worked hand in hand with US government operatives to murder our own people? Im sorry, but that is beyond belief.
Also, to equate belief that it was terrorists on airplanes who attacked our country and that people who deny that are conspiracy theorists, with Christian persecution by the pharisees is irresponsible and false. By definition, those people are conspiracy theorists! They have a theory that there was a government conspiracy to murder people! Calling a spade a spade has nothing to do with the pharisees reaction to Jesus.
But dont just trust what I say, I could be a government plant on this website :)
David,
Of course I believe the airplanes crashed into the towers, there’s no denying that. But what about Building 7? No airplane hit it, it just collapsed supposedly due to a fire. However it doesn’t make sense for a building to collapse demolition style because of a fire. Here is an architect talking about it:
Here’s the actual footage:
In addition, contrary to popular belief, OBL did NOT admit to committing the attacks. He actually denied any role. A quote from an interview:
“I have already said that I am not involved in the 11 September attacks in the United States. As a Muslim, I try my best to avoid telling a lie. I had no knowledge of these attacks, nor do I consider the killing of innocent women, children and other humans as an appreciable act. Islam strictly forbids causing harm to innocent women, children and other people. Such a practice is forbidden even in the course of a battle.”
Full interview here: http://911review.com/articles/usamah/khilafah.html
Also, the FBI has no hard evidence connecting OBL to the attacks. On the FBI’s most wanted list, out of all his crimes, there was no mention of 9/11 attacks.
http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten/usama-bin-laden
Here’s an article that explains this through an FBI spokesperson:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article13664.htm
Here’s the infamous BBC reporter saying Building 7 collapsed 26 minutes before it did. The building is behind her.
There’s just a bit of info I looked up for you. It gets a lot deeper though. I’m not saying the US government is totally responsible. But there are incentives for them to do this. What kind of incentive? Well, a short 1 month later, the Patriot Act was signed by Bush which basically introduced very tight security measures in the US which permitted wiretaps on clueless citizens which is unconstituional. Here are the “enhanced surveillance measures”
201
Authority to intercept wire, oral, and electronic communications relating to terrorism
202
Authority to intercept wire, oral, and electronic communications relating to computer fraud and abuse offenses
203(b)
Authority to share electronic, wire and oral interception information
204
Clarification of intelligence exceptions from limitations on interception and disclosure of wire, oral, and electronic communications
206
Roving surveillance authority under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978.
207
Duration of FISA surveillance of non-United States persons who are agents of a foreign power
209
Seizure of voice-mail messages pursuant to warrants
212
Emergency disclosure of electronic communications to protect life and limb
214
Pen register and trap and trace authority under FISA
215
Access to records and other items under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
217
Interception of computer trespasser communications
218
Foreign intelligence information
220
Nationwide service of search warrants for electronic evidence
223
Civil liability for certain unauthorized disclosures
225
Immunity for compliance with FISA wiretap
As you can see, they now have a lot of control over citizens’ privacy. It scares the citizen into giving up their rights. Once their freedom becomes stripped away, the people are totally dependent on the government and those who don’t conform this.
It is interesting to note that Obama “signed into law legislation that would temporarily extend controversial provisions of the Patriot Act until the end of 2011 which includes wire-tapping on multiple phone.
Anyways, this could be all just a crazy theory, but my intution tells me otherwise. I’ve looked in depth into this subject for about 2 years now, and I’ve done research.
Also, when you call someone a conspiracy theorist, there’s a negative connotation to it. It implies that this person is undoubtedly wrong. Like, “ignore him, he’s nothing but a conspiracy theorist, a lunatic…”. I’m just another person who’s got different ideas that you. Don’t dismiss me before I even get to explain myself. At the end of the day, we’re both humans under God. Who are we to judge others?
Not easy to pick up Michael Medved’s show in Mongolia.
Nice one Joe, good point
Here is Bin Laden taking credit for 9/11 http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/binladen_10-29-04.html