I have been pondering the range of responses to ObL's death, and have concluded that there is a very fine yet important distinction between celebrating the death of ObL, and rejoicing in the justice of ObL's death. I think John Piper does a good job examining the entire spectrum of God’s response vis-a-vis His word.
Love and forgiveness are individual mandates that do not negate God's commands to seek justice. One should love every person and forgive every enemy, while still advocating that the state (aka government), with the authority given to it by God, administer justice (Romans 13:4). If love and justice are mutually exclusive, as some seem to be suggesting in the aftermath of ObL, every Christian should seek to abolish criminal arrests and prosecutions. God forbid! God himself is the epitome of love, forgiveness and justice: loving us, he sent his son to die in our place, that our sins might be forgiven and final, eternal justice administered.
Justice on earth encompasses positive as well as negative consequences independent of the state of one's salvation or the love and forgiveness of one's victim. It is just for a murderer, whether Christian or non-Christian, to be put to death (Numbers 35:31) and it is just for a widow, whether Christian or non-Christian, to be defended (Isaiah 1:17). Final, eternal justice, however, is exclusively positive for the believer, and exclusively negative for the unbeliever (John 3:36), regardless of his earthly sins or good works (Ephesians 2).
God never takes pleasure in death (Ezekiel 18:23), but He does take pleasure in justice, including justice fulfilled by death (Deuteronomy 28:63 is one of many verses stating this fact). Who are we to condemn this response? Who are we, who strive to live in His image, to do less? Justice, with all of its consequences, even death, is joy to a righteous man (Proverbs 21:15, Proverbs 11:10). The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth vengeance (Psalm 58:10). I fear that when we cease rejoicing in justice, we further injustice, for there is no neutrality on the issue (consider i.e. Matthew 12:30, Revelations 3:14).
My conclusion? Celebrating the victory in war is not celebrating war. Celebrating the justice in death is not celebrating death. The circumstances of ObL’s death were either just, to be celebrated, or unjust, to be denounced. I am sickened by those who sinfully delight in the crude particulars of ObL's death, in death itself, but at the same time I acknowledge and take Godly joy in the justice of his death. To paraphrase Revelations 18:20, "Rejoice over him, oh righteous ones, for God has given judgment for you against him!"
I encourage each of you, my three blog readers, to prayerfully consider whether you will do the same. Whatever response you choose to have, may your decision be made in supplication to His word.
Love and forgiveness are individual mandates that do not negate God's commands to seek justice. One should love every person and forgive every enemy, while still advocating that the state (aka government), with the authority given to it by God, administer justice (Romans 13:4). If love and justice are mutually exclusive, as some seem to be suggesting in the aftermath of ObL, every Christian should seek to abolish criminal arrests and prosecutions. God forbid! God himself is the epitome of love, forgiveness and justice: loving us, he sent his son to die in our place, that our sins might be forgiven and final, eternal justice administered.
Justice on earth encompasses positive as well as negative consequences independent of the state of one's salvation or the love and forgiveness of one's victim. It is just for a murderer, whether Christian or non-Christian, to be put to death (Numbers 35:31) and it is just for a widow, whether Christian or non-Christian, to be defended (Isaiah 1:17). Final, eternal justice, however, is exclusively positive for the believer, and exclusively negative for the unbeliever (John 3:36), regardless of his earthly sins or good works (Ephesians 2).
God never takes pleasure in death (Ezekiel 18:23), but He does take pleasure in justice, including justice fulfilled by death (Deuteronomy 28:63 is one of many verses stating this fact). Who are we to condemn this response? Who are we, who strive to live in His image, to do less? Justice, with all of its consequences, even death, is joy to a righteous man (Proverbs 21:15, Proverbs 11:10). The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth vengeance (Psalm 58:10). I fear that when we cease rejoicing in justice, we further injustice, for there is no neutrality on the issue (consider i.e. Matthew 12:30, Revelations 3:14).
My conclusion? Celebrating the victory in war is not celebrating war. Celebrating the justice in death is not celebrating death. The circumstances of ObL’s death were either just, to be celebrated, or unjust, to be denounced. I am sickened by those who sinfully delight in the crude particulars of ObL's death, in death itself, but at the same time I acknowledge and take Godly joy in the justice of his death. To paraphrase Revelations 18:20, "Rejoice over him, oh righteous ones, for God has given judgment for you against him!"
I encourage each of you, my three blog readers, to prayerfully consider whether you will do the same. Whatever response you choose to have, may your decision be made in supplication to His word.
Just another Soapbox Monologue brought to you by a fallible, sinful and depraved person who by God's grace is also a forgiven and justified saint.
Reader #1 ~ checking in. :)
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