How Should Religious People Respond To Bin Laden's Death?

By Kevin Eckstrom
Religion News Service

This story was reported by Daniel Burke, Adelle M. Banks, Nicole Neroulias, Omar Sacirbey and Alessandro Speciale.

WASHINGTON (RNS) Jesus said "love your enemies." If only he had said how we should react when they die at our own hands.

After President Obama announced that al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had been shot dead in Pakistan, ebullient crowds gathered outside the White House and at Ground Zero to cheer the demise of the world's most wanted terrorist, smoking cigars and breaking into chest-thumping chants of "USA! USA!"

Watching from her home in suburban Virginia, Christian ethicist Diana Butler Bass felt a growing sense of unease.

"What if we responded in reverent prayer and quiet introspection instead of patriotic frenzy?" she posted on Facebook. "That would be truly American exceptionalism."

At the Vatican, too, where church leaders had just wrapped up joyous celebrations elevating the late Pope John Paul II to one step below sainthood, officials urged caution.

"A Christian never rejoices" in the death of any man, no matter how evil, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said, but instead "reflects on the serious responsibility of each and every one of us has before God and before man."

For many Americans, bin Laden's death was quite literally an answer to prayer. Muslims who saw bin Laden as an apostate breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Ethicists and pastors searched for the appropriate space between vindication and vengeance.

U.S. special forces did what they had to do. How everyone else is supposed to feel about it is a little less clear.

"As Christians, we believe that there can be no celebrating, no dancing in the streets, no joy, in relation to the death of Osama bin Laden," Christian ethicist David Gushee said. "In obedience to Scripture, there can be no rejoicing when our enemies fall."

Indeed, the Hebrew prophet Ezekiel warned that our enemies are not necessarily God's, who takes "no pleasure in the death of wicked people," preferring only that they "turn from their wicked ways so they can live."

The questions around bin Laden's demise tended to break into two different camps: Were we right to kill him? And is his death something to cheer?

For many, what set bin Laden apart was his defiance, unrepentant violence and coldly calculating designs to rain destruction upon Americans, innocent civilians and even fellow Muslims.

"While vengeance is not a responsibility of us mortals, the pursuit of justice is," said a statement from Agudath Israel, an Orthodox umbrella group. "As believing Jews, we see in bin Laden's demise the clear hand of God."

In a larger sense, removing the singular threat of bin Laden can also lessen the violent threat of radical extremism and terrorism. Put another way, taking one life can save countless others.

"It is a sad truth that one man's death can represent a step forward in the progress of human relations," said Zainab Al-Suwaij, president of the Washington-based American Islamic Congress.

For many people, bin Laden's guilt or innocence never needed to be adjudicated in a court of law, and an American bullet to his head was judgment enough. Scholars cautioned, however, that there's a difference between judging a man's actions and judging his soul.

The Rev. John Langan, a Jesuit professor of Christian ethics at Georgetown University, said killing bin Laden to prevent future attacks is morally valid, but cautioned that vengeance is ultimately a divine, not human, right.

"I knew people who died in 9/11," Langan said. "I feel deeply the evil of that action. But I am part of a religious tradition that says that we don't make final, independent judgments about the souls of other men. That rests with God."

Which all leads back to Americans' response to the death of a madman.

"You have to have compassion, even for your enemies," said A. Rashied Omar, a research scholar at the University of Notre Dame's Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies.

"The Quran teaches that you never should allow enmity to swerve you away from compassion, because without compassion, the pursuit of justice risks becoming a cycle of revenge."

Others said there is a difference between rejoicing in bin Laden's death and finding a certain degree of satisfaction -- a "subtle but important difference," said the Rev. Jay Emerson Johnson, an Episcopal priest who teaches at the Pacific School of Religion.

"I'm not sorry Bin Laden is dead," Johnson posted on Twitter. "That's not the same thing as celebrating his death."

And that, perhaps, is where Americans will live in the coming days and weeks, caught in the gray space between satisfaction and celebration, glad that bin Laden is finally gone but not wanting to dance on anyone's grave.

"Without apology, we all sleep better in our beds knowing that Osama bin Laden is no longer a threat," said R. Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. "But celebration in the streets is something that falls short of the sobriety
that I think Christians should have on our hearts in reflecting on this event."

Celebrating a Death

Paul Brandeis 

Raushenbush

Religion Editor, Huffington Post

It is a strange and conflicting emotion to celebrate a death. My professed beliefs include the redemption of evil and the potential good in all humanity. Yet I felt a sense of exhilaration when I read the headline "DEAD" about Osama bin Laden.

For the last 10 years Osama bin Laden has exemplified the absolute worst of religion. He was a fundamentalist and a zealot in his own belief and willing to kill those who believed differently; he recruited young people into his ranks by preying on their despair; and he carried out violence in the name of God. Through actions and belief, Osama bin Laden profaned the name of God and denigrated all people of faith.

Osama bin Laden never felt any remorse for his murderous ways and the heartbreak that trailed behind him. He viewed his actions as part of a struggle that allowed him to transcend any moral concerns. He and his followers routinely slaughtered the innocent. He was ruthless in using faith as a means to the very worst ends. To reiterate what the President said in his announcement of bin Laden's death: "Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader, he was a mass murderer of Muslims." His death is satisfying not only because of what he did, but because it prevents him from doing any more violence in the future in the name of religion.

When I think of bin Laden I think of evil.

But I have to be careful in my celebrations of bin Laden's death. I was a chaplain at Columbia University during Sept. 11, 2001. Two days after the attacks, some of my students put on an art exhibit in response called Peace Kitchen. In one piece a student had put a film of bin Laden's face over a mirror so we saw our own face staring back at us through his. The point was not that there was equivalency between bin Laden and us, but to acknowledge that evil is not something that only exists outside of us that we can point to and kill once and for all. Evil doesn't work like that. All humans have the potential for grace, but we also all have the potential to sin and do evil. It is a tempting yet dangerous practice to look around the world for evil people and target them. That is just what Osama bin Laden thought he was doing. We must be vigilant that we do not become what we despise. We must be careful in the way we use religion and the name of God to further our own causes or to ever manipulate people into hate.

So, let us mute our celebrations. Let any satisfaction be grim and grounded in the foundation of justice for all who have suffered at bin Laden's bloody hands. And also justice for crimes against God -- for using God as an instrument of terror and and promoting distrust between peoples of different religions and nations. Let us put bin Laden's body in the ground, and in doing so bury his disastrous and blasphemous religious legacy.

Ultimately, judgment is not ours to make. But I believe in a just God and I believe that Osama bin Laden, for all the talk of rewards in heaven, will not be enjoying his meeting with the God of Creation.

Death of Osama bin Laden

How Should We Respond to the Death of Osama bin Laden?

by Jim Wallis 05-02-2011

This morning most Americans are feeling a sense of relief at the news that Osama bin Laden is dead. He was truly an apostle of hate, a dedicated purveyor of violence in response to every grievance, a manipulator and distorter of religion for political purposes, and a man responsible for the deaths of thousands of people. Nevertheless, it is never a Christian response to celebrate the death of any human being, even one so given over to the face of evil. Violence is always an indication of our failure to resolve our conflicts by peaceful means, and is always an occasion for deeper reflection.

A brief statement from the Vatican this morning says it well:

“Osama bin Laden, as we all know, bore the most serious responsibility for spreading divisions and hatred among populations, causing the deaths of innumerable people, and manipulating religions to this end,” said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, who released a brief written statement reacting to the news.

“In the face of a man’s death, a Christian never rejoices, but reflects on the serious responsibilities of each person before God and before men, and hopes and works so that every event may be the occasion for the further growth of peace and not of hatred.”

The Bible takes evil seriously and clearly says that evildoers should be held accountable for their deeds, and the state has the legitimate and important role of bringing to justice those who perpetrate terrible crimes. Osama bin Laden was perhaps the most monstrous face of the monster of terrorism in our time. But killing bin Laden has certainly not ended the problem or threat of terrorism. And it also does not vindicate the decade of perpetual war, which has been the U.S. response to the horrible attacks on 9/11 that have also resulted in thousands of other innocent casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Indeed, the problem of war is how indiscriminate it is. And it is worth noting that the special forces action that resulted in the death of bin Laden was a very focused effort to bring one perpetrator to justice, rather than just another act of war. We didn’t get bin Laden as a casualty of bombing raids or drone attacks on the city that harbored him; instead, this was the result of careful intelligence and a laser-like focus on the man most responsible for9/11. Some of us believe that should have been the U.S. strategy from the beginning.

But the death of bin Laden must become an important historical moment of reflection. How do we best respond to evil and those who perpetrate it? What have we learned in the last 10 years about what truly is the best answer to the violence of terrorism? How do we change the conditions that have allowed terrorists to pull others into their agenda? In this fallen world we are often faced with imperfect choices in response to the clear dangers of evil. Religious wisdom always has us look also at ourselves and what opportunities we have to be makers of peace. As Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn once said, “Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either, but right through every human heart, and through all human hearts.”

What must be said, as was strongly stated last night by President Obama, is that America is not, nor has it ever been, at war with Islam or the Muslim world. As many have pointed out, many of the victims of Osama bin Ladenand his al Qaeda network were Muslims, both in the U.S. and around the world. It is indeed time to unite with our many faiths around a serious strategy for building peace.

Before the news last night, it was clear that Osama bin Laden was already losing. The “Arab Spring” of young Arabs and Muslims through nonviolent democratic movements has been a repudiation of bin Laden and his radical terrorist agenda. The death of Osama bin Laden could be a turning point in our ability to both resist evil and seek good, to turn away from the logic of both terrorism and war, and, as the Bible says, to find the things “that make for peace.”

Jim Wallis is the author of Rediscovering Values: A Guide for Economic and Moral Recovery, and CEO of Sojourners. He blogs atwww.godspolitics.com. Follow Jim on Twitter @JimWallis.

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The Church Called to Rebellion

  The Church Called to Rebellion
by Rev.Alex Awad 04-05-2011

People can take a certain amount of oppression. However, when it gets beyond their ability to tolerate, they rebel. This seems to be the time of rebellion in the Middle East and North Africa. The masses in Egypt and in Tunisia had been ruled by dictators for too long, so the people went to the streets to say, “Enough is enough.”
We don’t know how successful all of these uprisings will be and what kind of governments they may produce. However, we take hope as we consider historical examples such as the masses that revolted in the former Soviet Republics and succeeded in overthrowing their dictators. Or the millions who protested in South Africa and put an end to the apartheid regime. There are many other instances where successful revolts brought down dictators and created new countries with constitutions that serve the people.

Yet there are also revolts, such as the Palestinian uprisings and the opposition uprising in Iran, that so far have failed. The New Testament calls us to rebel. Jesus and his followers were the rebels of their day. The apostle Paul called believers everywhere to rebel. The early church was a rebellious community. But God calls us to a different kind of rebellion — and perhaps this revolt is more difficult and radical than any other kind.
In Colossians 3: 5-17, we are called to rebel, put to death, kill, and slaughter some dangerous enemies. To avoid miscommunication, let me be clear: These enemies live within us.
The apostle is saying that in us, as humans, we may have forces similar to members of a ruling party in a government. If these are oppressing us, we need to overthrow them. And if they do not get out, we must put them to death. Paul is advocating for a revolution — a rebellion that each of us must wage within himself or herself in order to change our world. In political thinking, people often say, “If only we could get rid of this politician!” or “If only we can get rid of this regime!” or “If only we can get rid of this party! Only then will we have peace.” We should not minimize the significance of oppressed people rebelling against ruthless governments. However, each of us must first face the dictators that are within us.

What are these forces within us that we need to overthrow? Firstly, “fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).” These immoral forces are found in politicians in almost every country. However, Paul was not addressing the moral standards of the rulers of his day. He was more interested in the moral standards of the members of the body of Christ. And there is a list of another five immoral forces that the apostle admonishes us to overthrow: “anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language.” After all, these are the forces that cause people to hate, fight, kill, and insult each other. I have watched many political debates on television in which lawmakers and politicians began cursing and even fighting one another with fists. We look at scenes like these and we shake our heads.

In verses 9 to 10, Paul writes: “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” If WikiLeaks and the Palestine Papers have done anything, they have exposed the lies of many politicians who said one thing behind closed doors and something else in public. Both Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia made statements behind closed doors that angered their people. Paul would not be surprised to know that politicians lie, but he was specifically addressing God’s people when he said, “Do not lie to each other.” Let us overthrow lying. Let us put to death falsehood and insincerity. We have the right to protest when people tell us lies, but we must also fight and kill the lies that we ourselves hide behind.

In a similar manner, Paul calls us to rebel against, overthrow, and kill the immoral force of racial discrimination or prejudice. Many politicians today rise to power because they read their constituents’ minds and hearts, and they know that many people in their country hate a certain segment of the society. In turn, they preach a message of racial discrimination and hate in order to get elected. Some of the top politicians in Israel today are in their positions because of their hatred of Arabs and some of the top Palestinian politicians are in theirs because of their hatred of Jews. Hatred based on race or religion is manipulated and used by politicians on all sides of this and other conflicts. In Europe, there is a new wave of discrimination against minorities. The apostle, however, is more concerned about the spiritual condition of the men and women who are members of the body of Christ. He calls them to rebel, overthrow, and kill racial discrimination in their hearts. Notice what Paul writes in verse 11: “Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”
“Here” refers to the body of Christ. “Here” we are all equal. “Here” we are all loved the same and given all the privileges through Jesus Christ.
And yet, the church today is controlled by forces and powers that need to go. We need to get rid of the old regimes and replace them with regimes under the control of the Spirit of God. Let each of us start the rebellion — and let us start it in our own hearts.

Rev. Alex Awad is the director of the Shepherd Society, a local ministry of Bethlehem Bible College, serving marginalized families in the West Bank. He is also the pastor of East Jerusalem Baptist Church, an interdenominational and international congregation which meets in the Wadi Al-Joz neighborhood of East Jerusalem.

Come Up Higher and Rise Above

 

Come Up Higher and Rise Above…
By Bro. Larry Harris

         Come up higher and rise above all mistreatment, be it bias, discrimination, prejudice, and all manner, method or form of ill will against you. Don’t recompense; meaning repay evil with evil…
       “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men, if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the LORD. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of GOD: the powers that be are ordained of GOD”
(Rom12:17-21; 13:1 -KJV)
         Come up higher and rise above all crooked, dishonest, perverse, tyrannical, unfair, unjust, wicked treatment given and received by you from people in the world who are in authority over you and by those believers, CHRIST followers or other brethren in CHRIST who have authority and rule over you… It is the LORD JESUS the CHRIST the anointed one with power on flesh who is your advocate and mediator who will vindicate you with our Heavenly FATHER invoking HIS presence to bring HIS promises of blessing or judgment, vengeance and W.R.A.T.H. (War and Revenge Against The Heathens) as punishment for those who have harmed, injured or mistreated HIS elect and chosen without HIS permission…
         The living GOD has called us to come up higher and rise above all the challenges, circumstances, obstacles, problems and roadblocks of the world!

We H.AV.E. (Hold Abundance and Victory Everlasting-with) N.O.W. (New Opportunities-to Win) in CHRIST everyday…

        HE has given and placed in us, HIS thoughts through HIS own mind; the mind of CHRIST in which we can do all things in and through CHRIST who strengthens us, that we received by our F.A.I.T.H. (Fearless Actions-activated Inside The Heart) in also we believe that JESUS the CHRISTthe anointed one is GOD’S S.E.E.D. (Sending the Everlasting Eternal divine Deity of the Son of GOD) into the earth realm to bring salvation and redemption by G.R.A.C.E. (Gifts and giftedness Received At CHRIST Expense) paid for at the cross…
         We are no longer restrained by the cares, F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real), limitations and restrictions of this world or by the ruler of this world, the devil satan!
        CHRIST has given us a heavenly vantage point, an eagle’s eye or panoramic view of our Kingdom domain that the loving and living GOD has given us to colonize; bringing HIS authority, ruler ship, government, and culture of the kingdom of heaven to earth!
        This is accomplished in us when you and I allow and let J.O.Y. (Jesus Overtake You) from the inside out consuming our every thought bringing them into captivity and subjection to the mind of CHRIST being in total O.B.E.D.I.E.N.C.E. (Only Believing the Everlasting divine Deity of all Intelligence, wisdom, knowledge, integrity, creator of all things that were made Eternally Navigating and reigning as joint heirs with CHRIST throughout Eternity) by the authority and will of GOD…

                          The living GOD and HIS authority are inseparable!

           HIS authority teaches us unconditional submission but not unconditional O.B.E.D.I.E.N.C.E. that we must choose to make it a choice in which we adopt, adapt and immediately commence to act upon…
             HE has commanded us to honor all men, L.O.V.E. (Live Omnipotently Victoriously Eternally) with all of mankind!
            We are to give honor, and be O.B.E.D.I.E.N.T. to them that are in authority over us, whether we are children, citizens, employees, servants in some capacity or spouses of those in authority, treating them with respect in the same manner, attitude and behavior as the living GOD gave us; being evil HE sent CHRIST to be the personal example to us…
            HE has commanded us to commit and submit all our ways and all the ways, be they good or evil done by men to GOD!
            Come up a higher and rise above all these things that man would do unto you…
            Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!
            How much more do I care for you? Your L.I.F.E. (A Living-light Illuminated Forever Eternally recreated by MY SPIRIT) is as a vapor unto ME…
           For I have said, vengeance is MINE and I shall repay and meet out judgment as I will to all those that have violated MY word and injured my elect and chosen…
           For I know the number of the hairs upon your head and the number of the grains of sand upon the earth and I have held, collected and stored in my hand the tears that they have caused you to shed by those who have hurt or wronged you, MY children…
          FOR I AM THE LORD THY GOD, I AM THAT I AM, CREATOR, MAKER AND THE POWER SOURCE OF ALL THINGS!
ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH AND THE WORKS OF YOUR FAITH THAT YOUR BLESSINGS SHALL BE MANIFESTED…
COME UP HIGHER AND RISE ABOVE ALL RESTRAINTS AND BEHOLD AN EAGLE’S EYE VIEW, SAYETH I THE LORD OF YOUR BLESSINGS!
           You are the blessed of the LORD and HE always has your best interest on HIS mind…
           I exhort you to be of good cheer, be encouraged, stay passionate for GOD and continue in F.A.I.T.H.!

Bro. Larry Harris

A joint heir with the King of Kings and LORD of LORDS, a manifested son of GOD and a Citizen of and Ambassador for the Kingdom of Heaven

Manifested Sons of GOD International Ministries
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