Considering Our Response to the Death of the Wicked

Yesterday was a strange day.  In more ways than one.

The late Public Enemy #1

Sunday night the world learned that Osama bin Laden was dead.  Part of me was glad for I longed to see him brought to justice for his war on America (keep that phrase in mind) and purposeful attacks on civilian targets.  You can’t just lay the feet of those murdered on 9/11 at his feet.  He is accountable for so many thousands more that have died as a direct result of his actions leading up to and including that day (as well as previous terror attacks).  The government does not bear the sword for nothing (Romans 13:4; 1 Peter 2:14), though its justice was not so swift in this event.

But soon those feelings grew conflicted as I watched Americans “dancing in the streets”.  Personally I was sickened by it.  I thought we were acting no better than the Palestinians who danced on 9/11 (they saw it as a blow struck to their stronger enemies, not innocent civilians).  I was wondering how many of those dancing had tried in numerous ways to stop President Bush from making this day a reality.  I don’t have an answer, but Washington D.C. and American college campuses aren’t typically bastions of conservatism.  It was like up was down, and down was up.

²³ Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?  Ezekiel 18

My Facebook comments referencing Ezekiel 18 caused some discussion.  I was not properly ready to engage that discussion that erupted on the internet.  Death had hit closer to home.  My sole remaining grandparent died Monday morning after years of being bed-ridden and suffering from dementia.  More conflicted feelings about death.  I was glad her earthly suffering had ended.  I feared her eternal suffering had just begun.  I missed the grandmother whom I had not been able to see for the last few years.  She was a spunky little lady until age laid her low.

Just about everyone had something to say about how we should look at OBL’s death.  You can find the thoughts of Andy Naselli, Christopher Morgan, Denny Burk, Kevin DeYoung, and so many more.

So what do I have to contribute to this conversation?  One passage that I’ve seen referenced is from Revelation as the fall of Babylon is met with songs of praises by the people of God.  This, I think, invites us into the conflicted feelings we should examine.

Is our response to his death shaped more by our earthly citizenship or our heavenly citizenship?  We American Christians have a hard time separating the two (and I suspect we are not alone in this matter).  Osama’s war was against the “Great Satan” America.  You could argue that it was also against Christians since he considered them infidels.  But the target in his sight was America, not Christianity.  (Yes, Scripture teaches that he was an enemy of God).  We responded to him, generally, as an enemy of America and not an enemy of the Church.

He was viewed, I argue, as an earthly enemy of an earthly realm.  The people dancing in the street cannot, on that account, be equated with the worshiping saints dancing over the fall of Babylon, God’s enemy that had seduced so many into her sins.  I fear we are proof-texting, and ignoring context.

Make no mistake, he was an evil man who needed to be brought to justice.  I am glad justice was served to him.  But I fear we rejoiced in light of our earthly citizenship even as we quoted from the Scriptures.  We need to ask ourselves tough questions about which citizenship is primary for all practical purposes.  No one can answer that for you, though they can help you answer them with feedback.

• Which grieves you more, attacks on your country or the Church?
• Which brings you more joy, the prosperity of your country or the Church?
• Which do you pray for more, the common grace blessings of your country or the saving grace blessings of the Church?

I suppose there are other questions we could ask.  But these can get us moving toward assessing our hearts.  It is okay to love your country, but that must never rival your love for Christ and His Church.