I have even seen multiple uses of Scripture, some in support of my type of reaction and some against it. That doesn't mean Scripture is being contradictory. It means that the subject is complicated...and that each passage quoted has a context...and that some of them may have been taken out of context. I always worry when we grab a verse here or there and make simple conclusions to complicated issues. Jesus said: Love your enemies. God also ordered Saul to utterly eliminate a whole people group. We are to love justice...and mercy. Those are just a few samples of hundreds of verses that might be applicable to the bin Laden death. In fact, my initial question above is only ONE question of many we could ask: How should we react to our President ordering his death? What about collateral damage? What about sending our troops into harm's way? Should we release pictures? Invading another country? The list of questions is endless...
I have another confession...I have prayed for bin Laden over the years. I have prayed for his soul. I have prayed for him to come to faith in Christ. You might ask why. WHY NOT? No one is beyond God's grace! Look, Paul was the Osama bin Laden of his day. Paul was a terrorist to the early Christians. Paul's testimony rings throughout the centuries that God can change ANY heart. I also prayed for justice...and the safety of our troops...and for victory...and for mercy. Another question: Can I pray for the soul of an evil man to change, then rejoice in his death? Yes, I have been pouncing that one around in my head quite a bit!
I must credit a pastor friend who posted an article written by Andrew Zirschky to give me some direction. I highly recommend it to you. I will give you a couple of highlights, but if you read this, it won't be complete without reading Zirschky. He builds his thoughts around Dietrich Bonhoeffer. For those of you who don't know who Bonhoeffer is, he is one of my heroes...and should be one of yours! Bonhoeffer was a German pastor in Germany during World War II. He lived under the Nazis. He was a brilliant theologian. He was a pacifist (which many Christians that have come out of Germany are, even today. The effects of WWII and its horror is hard to erase from their memories). But the fact that he was a pacifist didn't keep him out of trouble. He spoke against Hitler from the beginning. In 1943 he was arrested. The reasons are complicated, but it is apparent that Bonhoeffer was involved, at some level, in the July 20 assassination attempt of Hitler (most recently put to film by Tom Cruise in Valkyrie).
Over time, nearly 7,000 were arrested in connection with the plot (which was actually more than one attempt, and was more like a coup attempt), with over 4,000 executed, including Bonhoeffer. The camp doctor who witnessed the execution wrote: “I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer ... kneeling on the floor praying fervently to God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain that God heard his prayer. At the place of execution, he again said a short prayer and then climbed the few steps to the gallows, brave and composed. His death ensued after a few seconds. In the almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of God." Bonhoeffer was executed less than a month before Germany surrendered.
The connection point from Hitler to bin Laden is obvious. Although we must put it in perspective. bin Laden can be connected to tens of thousands of deaths, maybe more. Hitler can be connected to tens of millions. 60 million died in World War II. Bonhoeffer was writing a book when he was arrested. It was never finished. Ethics provides great insight for us. Zirschky points out that Bonhoeffer did not rejoice at the prospect of killing, rather he mourned, admitted the sinfulness of the undertaking, and reserved all judgment of such actions for God. Bonhoeffer took the interesting stand of proclaiming actions such as those he agreed to participate in against Hitler as unrighteous but responsible, sinful and yet without better option. In other words, he didn't see it as a choice between right and wrong or good vs. evil. He saw all of it as evil...and he didn't presuppose that his personal ethic as better or right. He felt compelled to act, but in utter humility, accepting (and confessing) his guilt, and praying for grace in his sin.
As I watched Sunday night, Geraldo Rivera was ecstatic, even giddy, over the news. Some said he was "over the top". But 9/11 was personal to him. He lost several friends. All of us were impacted by that day, but some much more than us. Was Geraldo right to celebrate? Was I? What about the NYC firefighters? The Flight 93 families? As a follower of Christ, I am still wrestling, but Bonhoeffer's words are ringing in my ears. It takes us to think deeper about this world we live in...this fallen world. Where sin is ever present, and righteousness rare. May God have mercy on us all.
Article link: http://www.ymtoday.com/articles/3819/bonhoeffer-and-bin-laden
