my struggling thoughts on the Christian reaction to osama

well, you've heard it by now: osama bin laden, the face of terrorism over the last decade, was killed yesterday during a special operation of the united states military. since the news broke, i have wrestled with what my response to this news, as a Christian, should be. allow me a moment to organize my thoughts.

first of all, bin laden has received a just punishment. make no mistake: justice has been served. 

romans 13:3-4 niv
³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 

i feel the government had every right to bring bin laden to justice. in fact, i'd even say it is one of their God-given duties.

here is where i begin to struggle:

last night, as the news broke, hundreds of my brothers and sisters in the faith began to celebrate…not necessarily because justice had been served, but because bin laden had been put to death. "may he rest in hell" and "i wonder how those virgins are treating him right now in hell" was a common sight last night on my facebook and twitter feeds. 

this is troubling to me. it seems to me that there may be a difference between rejoicing in justice and rejoicing in death.

proverbs 24:17 niv
¹⁷ Do not gloat when your enemy falls; 
   when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice…

when i shared this verse on facebook last night, my friend nicole stated that she was not rejoicing in her death, but instead she was finding relief and hope in the news. she should feel this way…her husband is a soldier. she will sleep better tonight and he will be safer. 

and with her in this, i rejoice.

i feel we should rejoice, not in bin laden's death…but instead in the fact that justice has come and that we are, today, hopeful and relieved in a safer world. yes, bin laden was an enemy, but Jesus made very clear to us, his disciples, what our posture towards are enemies should be:

matthew 5:44 niv
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…

these moments force us to think through what we are feeling and thinking and, as Christians, to hold these thoughts and feelings up to the truth of the Bible. all of these thoughts in me are a work in progress. i'm getting there…somewhere…

what are your thoughts? where are you today with all this history unfolding around you?