A Christian Response to Bin Laden’s Death
IMG by Dimitri (http://www.sxc.hu/profile/dimitri_c)
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. -Hebrews 12:14
As you can imagine, there were a lot of horrific images attached to my experiences working in the disaster relief efforts at Ground Zero.
Hollow, exhausted eyes of loved ones posting MISSING fliers on every stationary object they could find.
Frenzied, locked in jaws of New York fire fighters and policemen determined to find survivors in the rubble.
A seemingly never ending trail of smoke extending into the sky.
But I’ll never forget, the thing that tazed my soul the most, was seeing that someone had taken the time–with the backdrop of all this horror–to produce and distribute posters calling for blood.
This natural thirst for revenge froze over many sets of eyes, too, as those who grieved searched for passionate fuel to rebuild their city and impressions of safety.
This quick-spreading rage scared me more than the thought of further attacks. It showed the power of terrorism to unleash a contagious sort of hatred that could be passed from combattants to their enemy.
Those that had brought such disaster to our country out of hate had succeeded in implanting that hate in those they targeted.
And this concerned me. Because hate ruins its host. Revenge rots the soul.
Bin Laden has been killed now. Please, in honor of the hard lessons learned by the victims and rescuers of Ground Zero, let the hate die with him.
And in this moment, in your words–words that children will overhear, words that will impact people’s psyches, words that will contribute a little bit of good or a little bit of ill will to our planet–choose peace.
[[This blog is a part of the Rally to Restore Unity by my friend, Rachel. Words of peace build unity. Love to you all!]] [[Related link to Christian Response to the Mosque at Ground Zero]]
Gertrude May 1, 2011 (11:34 pm)
It’s really difficult to keep a Christian attitude when Bin Laden waged war on the US. How do we respond to people who are celebrating?
Amy May 1, 2011 (11:36 pm)
Sorry, Sarah, but I think we can rejoice in the fact that a very man has been killed and that by his death, Al-Quaida will be scattered.
Sarah Cunningham May 1, 2011 (11:38 pm)
@Amy, I hear you, girl. I don’t disagree that there is relief in knowing that those who did us harm have been weakened. I just choose wisdom in deciphering whether that celebration looks like quiet gratitude to God or public words that reinforce a thirst for revenge. :)
Sarah Cunningham May 1, 2011 (11:40 pm)
@Gertrude I agree. It’s difficult to stay healthy and balanced in moments of great emotion. But the discipline of choosing our words carefully could perhaps be a small part of what help end a chain or violent interactions that has cost this world too many lives. You know?
Sara Warner May 2, 2011 (12:12 am)
I have a hard time not being grateful that justice was done. I also want peace and refused to “rejoice” over his death…but…will sleep well tonight knowing that someone that caused so much hurt to our country cannot, personally, hurt us again. I truly believe that we can’t be a passive country that lets things like 911 happen and not do something about it. Not only has this man hurt OUR country but many others as well. This is not only a victory for the USA, but something that can put many hearts to ease in this WORLD. Even God himself allowed a flood that killed all the evil in this world…or burning Sodom and Gomorrah. Don’t get me wrong…I’m not disagreeing with you…but…I do, as a Christian, think justice was served.
Rachel May 2, 2011 (12:18 am)
I have only been a Christian a little over 4 years now. I am 23, and a skeptic at heart. I have a lot of questions, with few answers. I am very closely tied to the military and take pride in America. I have lost some close friends in this war, and have had many more come home forever changed. Tonight’s news – I think that maybe it is okay to find relief, and maybe to some degree rejoice. But I guess my heart is torn. I am not saying bin Laden should have simply been forgiven, and that it is a black and white issue that had an easy resolution. But where I am hesitant is – how is he ultimately any different than me? No, I’m not a terrorist or a murderer or any of the evil that bin Laden represented and lived his life on it’s foundation. But was he not born broken, into a broken world just like me? Do we not have the same Creator? Was he born this evil, terrible man? Or was it choices made that resulted in the person he became and the life he lived? Don’t I also have that same freedom to choose? Don’t I have just as much potential of choosing a life of evil and hatred and violence, just the same as I have the potential to choose the opposite, striving for peace and kindness? While there’s a part of me that wants to question why God would create a person such as bin Laden knowing what his life would be, and yet God is good? But there’s a bigger part of me that questions not that God would allow evil to exist – but how am I different? I’ve made choices that have resulted in a completely different life, but I was born a broken person, in a broken world, with potential to live well, or to live evil. So then why celebrate the death of a human who chose evil? This is not to say I am not relieved that he is dead. But where is it okay for me to celebrate that he is dead when I was born with the same brokenness and same potential for evil, though I made decisions that put me on a different path. I don’t know. I’m struggling with this.
Andrew May 2, 2011 (12:22 am)
thank you for your thoughtful response…God says that revenge belongs to God…it is not ours. Our celebration of killing will only harden our hearts…and close us off from our true sustenance.
Anna Lear May 2, 2011 (12:26 am)
Thanks for this thoughtful post; quite a few people I know are not comfortable “celebrating” Bin Laden’s death. I think it’s not simply because death (even of someone so hateful) is nothing to be celebrated but also because, as you put it so well, hate destroys the hater. One of the earliest and most important recovery concepts I learned was the power of forgiveness: it’s not about letting the other person off the hook, it’s to free *myself* from the grip of hatred and resentment. I’m relieved Bin Laden is gone and am not about to wave a banner stating “Forgive Bin Laden” — he’s being judged by his deity, and probably most harshly — but I won’t waste my time hating him, either. I hope a lot of hatred and fear have died with him….
Michele May 2, 2011 (12:37 am)
Choose peace, indeed. I remember how painful it was to watch strangers celebrate in the streets after the attacks. To seek justice is appropriate, however, to celebrate death and revenge is to succumb to the same spiritual bankruptcy. Enmity is reignited and the cycle merely continues. We must lead the path by example.
Sarah Cunningham May 2, 2011 (12:40 am)
Thanks everyone for your transparent and thoughtful ideas. I understand the need for resolve and the relief at seeing those who’ve done our country harm weakened. I share those human emotions. I would still like to say that it is not passive, but takes courage to stand for actions that now proceed with peace. I hope many will use their bravery to buck public opinion and choose the unpopular path of peace.
janet brown May 2, 2011 (1:27 am)
“Because hate ruins its host. Revenge rots the soul.” Touche. I felt so strangely sad this evening listening to the news. I don’t know what our options were, but I can’t imagine supporting killing someone even though their actions were awful, hate filled, haunting and unjustifiable. Will we wake up tomorrow to a more peaceful, loving world? I hope so, but I fear an even more divided one.
mechelle May 2, 2011 (6:08 am)
I have to agree with you Sarah.And thank you for putting it out here.It stands alone this morning as I recieve and process this new news.I know there is “good” to this.But it is not to celebrate in the streets.Why doesn’t anyone ever see that being the same as “them”,makes you as bad too?
It also does not,to me,bring justice to the other deaths he caused.Because he does have followers too.There is no security in that for real.There is never real security here…..And it doesn’t bring back those lost at all.
I have already seen others posts on facebook.None like yours though.Again,thank you.I beleive revenge is Gods.Not ours.Not that we didn’t have to do this either,we did.But celebrating this,like its our justice,and an end to terrorism,is just being the same as those we say we hate,to me.I heard on the news that the hope is that this too will unite this country like 9-11 did.Its impossible for this to reclaim that.Its not the same kind of unity at all.It would be a sick version of it instead.Showing it over and over again–these street celebrations,will only fuel the fires of hate even more.On both sides of things.It seems like poetic justice on the almost 10th anniversary of such a tragedy.It is a suprise.It is a kuddo to our current president.Though I doubt it will change opinions of him either for real.Another topic there?(too much hate of our leaders)This country has changed in the past 10 yrs.To one of division,hate,and fear kept strong and alive.There is little unity that I can find,even in churches or families.Its all about things I thought we had forged on past.But the world,and our coutry has not done that in truth.We are nurturing and growing it instead.Just what I see.And what I get in forwarded emails daily.By people who seem to have good intention to it all.But hate fuels it all,if you look.Its all been a huge step backwads in so many ways.But back on subject,I also can’t be rejoicing in a death of anyone.I can be relieved he no longer has a personal impact in this fight.I don’t think this will end our decade of fear and whatever else GMA just announced it as.Nor do I think we should dance in the streets over it.But maybe thank God,and let it be what it is.Its hard to know what is the right thing to do.Thanks again for posting this!!
Sara Warner May 2, 2011 (9:39 am)
I just wanted to add…the celebration of Bin Laden’s death is appalling. I think that is crossing a huge moral line. Rejoicing in it is sickening to me. I also don’t want you to misunderstand me at all. I agree with EVERYTHING you said. :) I do agree that the Lord says, “Vengeance is Mine”…but…the US was looking for him for a long time. I am sure if circumstances were right, we would have taken him alive. But…from my understanding…he wanted to be a martyr so I’m sure it came down to either him dying or him getting away. He wasn’t going to be captured. So…that being said…I would have rather our country not to have to kill him but circumstances must have warranted it.
Thank you for an awesome post. I hope it really makes people think about their words they say. It is unacceptable to celebrate this death on the social network, in schools, in streets, and especially in front of our children. It would teach them a very bad lesson.
Sarah Cunningham May 2, 2011 (11:29 am)
Thanks @sarah. No, I totally got what you meant. It’s tricky finding a line between seeking and wanting justice and getting caught up in vengeance. I knew what you meant, girl. :)
Ann Holt May 2, 2011 (4:53 pm)
“I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” –Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sarah Cunningham May 2, 2011 (8:43 pm)
@Ann That is beautiful!
Lyle SmithGraybeal May 3, 2011 (9:42 am)
Thanks for the post and the comments. So thoughtful. I am puzzled when people of faith celebrate the death or demise of any of God’s creatures. What are we encouraging people to become in our houses of faith? Some might point to the Psalms as justification. But to me these are a person just being completely honest not a roadmap for a functional way of living. They are wisdom literature not a how-to manual. “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” right?
Sarah May 3, 2011 (11:08 am)
@Lyle Yes. Yes. And yes. :) Thanks for stopping in and sharing your thoughts. I appreciate your approach.