i think we will all look back at yesterday evening’s event as something that we will always remember. i will remember that i first heard the news on my car radio about osama pulling up to wahoo’s to grab a burrito before ccm core meeting. shortly after that, the TV inside the restaurant showed Obama’s address to the nation.

how do we respond to such an historic event? what is the appropriate response? is there one? while i think everyone, myself included, would say they are relieved to know that the US has ended the life of one of the world’s worst criminals, but does that give us a reason to rejoice?

i think the general political answer that is best is that we live in America, and we have the right (within our laws) to react in whatever way we choose. that is what is amazing about America, that we have a tremendous level of freedom.

but i couldn’t get myself to be happy about hearing the news. relieved? yes. proud of the men and women who defend our country tirelessly? absolutely! but there were too many emotions that went into 9/11 for me. does the justice that has been exacted with the end of osama’s life take away the pain of those who lost loved ones in the tragedies on that day? i doubt that it does entirely…

so as americans, we are free to react in whatever way we want to.

but for me, “american” isn’t the highest definition that i want for my life. i want to be defined first by the word “Christian” and secondly as an american. i thought about Scripture and what it has to say. God does dole out justice in the Old Testament, specifically in the case of Pharaoh during the Exodus and to Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4. The Bible speaks that God uses human institutions of government to be instruments of justice and even wrath in Romans 13. and while i think these passages speak to the Sovereignty of God in this case of the end of Osama’s life, i think the way that i felt about this issue the most was found in Proverbs 24:17 that says “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles.” I was glad to stumble upon this verse based on the writings of a Jewish Rabbi (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuley-boteach/hate-osama-but-do-not-rej_b_856130.html) because I felt that it encapsulated how I felt while I was watching Obama share the news with the nation. i think Obama’s tone resembled this as well. powerful, stern, and he seemed relieved, but not rejoicing in the death of an enemy. then there’s also this quote from MLK:

“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.” MLK JR

it’s my opinion that as a Christian, that i am not to rejoice in the death of an enemy, even one as terrible as Osama. relieved? yes. but the bigger reminder to me was just how messed up this world can be and all the emotions that i felt on 9/11, and that my allegiance has to be first to God, knowing that each and every one of us is a sinner and can trust in the fact that God does not just sit idly by while evil happens, but that He gave the greatest remedy for evil when He sent His Son to die on the Cross. listening to both Jim Rome and Colin Cowherd (both sports radio guys) talk about the whole thing on their shows made me pause and think about just how difficult 9/11 was, and knowing that Osama was at least partially responsible for what happened that day (among other acts of terror beforehand) made me tear up a bit at a reminder how  much hurt has come from those events.

anyways, these are just my random thoughts on a day i will remember for a long time. in the meantime, at least for me, i will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy, but i hope and pray that it reminds me that i have a responsibility as a disciple of Christ to fill this world with His love.