Question: Should we celebrate Osama’s Death?
I struggled with this one. Ultimately, I would say we shouldn’t.
“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.
I think we should celebrate justice but never the death of a human being. I’m one of those folks who believe once you take your last breath in this world, you have eternal life in a place very different from ours. This can be very good or very bad depending on who you believe in and live for each day. My heart breaks for those who don’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ. And yes, even for our enemies. Yeah, that probably makes me sound crazy. But hey, WWJD?
He might quote Ezekiel 33:11:
“I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.”
This doesn’t mean I’m not overjoyed to hear Obama’s recent speech. I thanked God that Osama Bin Laden will never harm another person again. Personally, I’d rather capture him alive and make him go through airport security checks for the rest of his life. Or on a geekier level, dip him into carbonite and frame his frozen body in the Oval Office for everyone to see on tour. But on a serious note, I believe in redemption and that every person, even the most vile of us all, can be born again and add immense value to this world. Such transformation requires compassion, forgiveness and love. But this isn’t always an option. And I’ll never know if we could have done something differently regarding Osama’s death.
In the end, I celebrate that Osama Bin Laden will never cause another 9/11 – not because he died.