Word of what occurred Sunday evening our time came quickly by rumor. The President was to speak shortly, and on Facebook I received the first hint that it would be about Osama bin Laden. When the news eventually came, many emotions came forward for those of us who lived through those dark days in 2001. I still remember the terror, the quiet of skies without planes, and the general hush that seemed to fall over the country for several days if not weeks.
When we knew that the man who had caused so much death was himself dead, it seemed that jubilation occurred across the land – a terrible enemy was dead. Yet on Facebook as well, much reaction and discussion from pastor friends of mine who debated the reaction to his death. As Christians we are not supposed to “enjoy” someone’s death, even someone as heinous as Osama bin Laden. Yet I felt on top of the world. Why this exuberant attitude? Do I enjoy death? I don’t think so, and I think some of the criticism of the celebration was partially justified, but here’s my take.
Osama represented what one person full of hate can do – a person twisted and motivated by perverse goals and schemes. For worse, he came to be the “face” of the Muslim world to America and much of the West. His actions, and those of his small cadre of fanatics became the way we see an entire religion, and that was not the fault of peace loving people who did not condone his actions. When he died, I think most of us did not celebrate revenge – it was relief that this solitary man hiding in a remote corner of the world could no longer lash out with his hate and violence to terrify the innocent.
We could not, and can not have revenge upon Osama. There is simply no way to measure the lives of thousands, both of innocent victims and heroic military members, against his. There is no such thing as “redemptive violence”. We cannot “improve” the world by killing a man. We can stop his particular actions, but as was worried about, killing one inspires revenge in others. How then can we stop that cycle of hate, violence and malice? Young Muslims overseas have begun to do it for themselves. Tired of the hate and vitriol spewed by their respective dictatorships, and no longer fooled by the idea that Al Qaeda would take over if they were deposed, Muslims in countries across the Arab world revolted against their masters, and are in the process of winning their freedom.
What does this have to do with Christ you might say? This is a religion column, where is Christianity’s response? It is here: in peace and love. Our country cannot be the shining city upon a hill until we love our neighbor as ourselves, be they Muslim, Christian, Sikh or Atheist. Christianity’s beautiful truth is made a lie in the mouths of men who practice violence against other religions to “protect us”. While Muslims fight in other countries to free themselves from oppressive dictators, let we in America make a charge for freedom on our shores as well: none of us are safe in our houses of worship until all of us are safe. Let us work for a world in which the Mosque and the Church are as safe as one another.
Paul told us that as far as it is possible to live in peace with others, we should. We also know from the Bible that governments are allowed to function by God, and that in some cases, they can be instruments of his vengeance and his peace. Let our fighting men and women act in justice to punish the wicked and redeem the peaceful and oppressed, and let us be sensible enough to leave them to it. The only thing that will overcome racism and violence in our country by Muslim Extremists is to make our attitude of Christian love such that, when the extremist full of hatred comes to reap his harvest, he finds only those who know not only that Islam means peace, but that Christ is love, and his followers stand ready to love their brothers, and to lay down their lives for them. With God’s help, may we put these long ten years behind us, and walk arm in arm as brothers and sisters once more.
- J. Cole Weston is Lead Pastor at Okmulgee First Church of the Nazarene at 711 N. Okmulgee. You can contact him via email at okmulgeenazarene@gmail.com or 918-213-0359. Services are held Sunday at 10:30, with Sunday School at 9:30.
