I was in my study. The TV was on in the living room. Gradually I realized that someone on TV was very excited. I went to see what was going on. Bin Laden was dead. I watched for a while. I was a surprised that I didn't feel something more than I did. He was dead. I think he got what he deserved. Over the past couple of days there has been an endless parade of news casts, blogs and op-ed pieces about his death. Almost all of them applaud his death as a just end to an evil life. I agree.
I'm proud of our service people. It was a gutsy call by our military to go get him and they are to be commended. We have waited ten years for this moment. I'm not surprised that the celebrations were so exuberant and I don't fault those who were celebrating. But for some reason it bothered me and I am perplexed by that.
I'm certainly not sympathetic to radical Islam. These are dangerous people who want to destroy us. I'm for keeping those we capture in Gitmo forever and if we bring them to trial then do it in a military court. I think Pres. Bush was correct to take the war to them. I don't want a mosque built in NYC anywhere close to the WTC site. But, there is still that uneasy feeling. It's not that we killed him but something about the celebration of it that I was watching.
Death is a terrible, final thing. It seems to me that it should cause us pause, make us feel a little uncomfortable even when it is the death of an enemy or and evil person. Such people are also created in the image of God. The promise of Jn.3:16 is for them as well as me. The death of a Bin Laden reminds me that "the wages of sin is death". That is a terrible thing.
I'm grateful that this man will no longer be able to inflict evil on people any more. He will face the judgement of God and then ultimate justice will be dispensed. I'm glad that there is the gospel promise that "there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus". Otherwise I would be in a world of hurt along with old Bin.
