The past couple of days have been a whirlwind of quandary as I have tried to seek out a balance of conviction that goes against a consensus of emotions. You MAY have heard that a certain individual, who held certain radical beliefs, was recently killed in a raid on his hideout on May 1st. “Bin Laden is dead”, said the news crews and twitter feeds. “USA, USA, USA” chanted the elated crowds on the streets of the major metropolitan cities. And I’m sure a few Natural Lights were consumed as the sounds of "Yee Haws" & shotguns were fired on the banks of the Suwannee River. Each, in accordance with their own cultural celebration let out cries of joy and elation at the knowledge that this man, who caused so much pain and tribulation, could no longer hurt another person. As Twitter feeds blew up and the Facebook news feed panted in electronic exertion with the statements of jubilee over this man’s death, my heart became, strangely, saddened. It was NOT bereaving the loss of a mass murderer nor mourning the death of the head of the largest terrorist organization. Instead, I would liken it most to the feeling that Jeremiah had as he stood and looked upon his people Israel, and wept. His sadness was not only because of the sins that his people had committed, but it was also for the relationship that they lacked with their Father. Jeremiah wept for he knew the benefits of right relationship and the recompense for knowing the Father, and he wept for he also knew that his brothers and sisters were missing out on something greater, something Jesus would later call abundant life.
That is more of the heavy-heartedness that I was feeling. I read the statuses of men and women of God and my heart began to weep, for taking the place of love was hate; mercy was replaced by judgment and wrath overflowed its muddy banks flooding the land where grace flourished thereby drowning its fruits. We claim to be Christ-followers, those who follow the teaching of Christ and try to live as he lived. If HE is our paradigm then we must be true to HIS word. We cannot pick and choose what we follow and what we discard, lest we become like lukewarm water (not able to cook with nor good to drink, in other words useless).
In the greatest life principles ever given, the sermon on the mount, we find the six antitheses, the portion where Jesus says “you heard it said…, but I tell you…”, Jesus was not negating the law but rather providing true perspective on what these laws were meant to produce in us. One of the most difficult of these antitheses is found in Matthew 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” This passage has been circling in my mind like a buzzard over some fresh road kill since we found out about Bin Laden’s death. How can we claim to follow Christ and ignore some of his core teaching all together? Now, with that being said, I do not claim to be perfect and I can think of several of Jesus’ teachings that my wife and kids would say I fail miserably at everyday. I just ask that we take an honest look at our reaction to Bin Laden’s death and compare that reaction to unbiased scripture teaching.
A long-distance mentor of mine, Bruxey Cavey, posted on his twitter account: “The State brought justice, as it is called 2 do (Romans 13:1-7). Now let the Church offer grieving & grace, as it is called 2 do (Romans 12:14-21).” Although, I still have trouble with the death of an un-salvaged soul, I accept that his death may have been a necessary evil. However, it is now time that we as Christ-followers stand up and be the subversive, counter-cultural group we were born of and not celebrate the death of any man, but rather offer grace, mercy and love to even our enemies. Martin Luther King Junior once wrote: "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. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction. So when Jesus says “Love your enemies,” he is setting forth a profound and ultimately inescapable admonition.” (“Strength of Love”, pg. 53) Let us work out with humility what it means to love our enemies. Let us not have our light be driven out by darkness, but rather drive the darkness out with our light. Let us be the salt and light to this earth. Let us be the stars in a sky devoid of them. Grace and peace to each of you on this journey.
