Two days ago the news broke that Osama bin Laden had been killed by U.S. Navy S.E.A.L.S. Immediately Americans began rejoicing. Today the news was reporting a renewed sense of patriotism across the U.S. that transcends the partisan politics which normally characterizes the public arena. Strong associations have been made between bin Laden’s death and closure for families of 9/11 victims. In the midst of the jubilation, back-slapping and choruses of the Star-spangled Banner I find myself strangely saddened by the whole series of events.
To be sure, if in fact bin Laden is dead, I am grateful that whatever evil and destruction he would have unleashed on the world has been stopped or at least delayed and made more complicated to achieve. I certainly do not want to return to the weeks and months after 9/11 when Americans and Westerners of many nationalities were forced to live in fear of seemingly random acts of terror. If bin Laden’s death achieves for many nations and ethnic groups an increased measure of security, then there is cause for some measure of gratitude. Gratitude not celebration.
Without taking anything from my statements above, for they are thoroughly genuine, I am disturbed by the celebratory posture bin Laden’s death has birthed. I am disturbed both as an American and as a Christian. As an American, I believe deeply that woven deep into our national identity is the idea that every person regardless of race, gender, religion, country of origin or any other social distinction is due fundamental respect. Additionally, while the U.S. has and does live out of some of our baser human instincts occasionally, as much as any country we want to live out of higher instincts. We must treat others around the world better than they treat us. We must respect their right to disrespect us. We must defend their right to detest our freedom. It is the irony of defending hated freedom that the very best of America is expressed. It is one of the few ways we can truly be better than other nations. If we allow ourselves the base temptation to gloat, we invalidate the high and noble purpose that is America. Those who would suggest that because bin Laden would not have respected Americans enough to give them a Christian burial he should have been denied a Muslim burial have missed the nobility of what is America. It is because we respect our enemy enough to honor his faith and give him a proper burial that America can be proud. We must not be proud that we killed an enemy. We can be proud that though he was an enemy, we gave him fundamental respect in his death.
I am also disturbed as a Christian by my fellow believers who seem to easily join in the celebration at bin Laden’s death. Writing this, I must confess that I am disturbed at my own tendency to rejoice. How can we who embrace the Scriptures so easily forget passages like:
- Proverbs 24:17 – Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice.
- Ezekiel 33:11 – As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their wicked ways and live.
- Matthew 5:44 – I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
As Christians we are called to be those who live for the redemption of the world, who live to support life and peace. While our complicated world frequently puts us in impossible moral positions, for which we all hope there is much grace, we must be careful to not promote a nationalism, or worse an imperialism that would thoroughly undermine our primary role as peddlers of divine reconciliation.
While bin Laden’s death may offer us a bit of reprieve from our security concerns, his death reminds us that we are still in a broken, violent and deeply flawed world in desperate need of a new way. That way will not be paved by Navy S.E.A.L.S. but by Christ being embodied by millions of His people. If we are to rejoice, let us rejoice that Christ still lives and so we still have hope.
