No rejoicing here

Waiting to hear the President speak on the killing of Osama bin Laden. The long pursued enemy of the United States is dead. Osama bin Laden, public enemy number one and seemingly untouchable bogeyman, the name that taunted the U.S. for the last decade has gone to face his Maker.

There was a time when I would have been overjoyed at this news. Justice is done!

Not anymore.

Osama bin Laden is a murderer and has the blood of untold people on his hands even if he didn't fly planes into buildings or blow up bombs. He died, without much doubt, outside of Christ and will stand before the Judge with no excuse and be condemned. That is nothing to rejoice in.

There will be no chants of "USA, USA, USA!" in my home, no triumphal waving of the American flag. The eternal fate of Osama bin Laden is the same as that of anyone who dies outside of Christ: an eternal hell facing the righteous wrath of a just and holy God. The fate of Osama is something that we should take no pleasure in and is the same one that will be shared by your nice neighbor who waters his lawn and drinks ice tea on his porch but doesn't know Christ. If you are a Christian, bin Laden's fate is the same fate you would have suffered if not for the sovereign grace of God. You might not have plotted the 9/11 attacks but your justice would have been the same and being a tax-paying, flag-waving, patriotic American doesn't get you a different fate.

For Christians in America, this serves as a test of where our allegiance lies. Is it with the U.S. of A. or is it with the Prince of Peace, the Lamb who was slain? Instead of smiles, this event should make ever more clear the urgency of the Great Commission. We are called to take the Gospel to all people, not just Americans. As followers of Christ we are called to love our enemies, not to hasten their demise or applaud their death.

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Rom 12:17-21)