When We Celebrate For The Wrong Reasons

     Over the past couple of days the news has flooded us with up-to-date stories about the death of Osama Bin Laden.  While there was a sigh of relief in taking down the top leader of al-Qaeda, there was also much celebration across the country, including those areas, like New York and Pennsylvania,  which were the most effected by the tragedy of 9-11.  People talked of closure, revenge, satisfaction, some even talked of the fear of retaliation.   

     Myself, I was torn in how I felt about the whole situation, worried that Osama's death would have a domino effect, releasing a rage amongst the Islamic nations and also wondering if it was something I should be celebrating.  So I started looking at the situation through the eyes of my Christian beliefs.  Yes, Osama was an enemy of the U.S. and probably was not a big fan of Christianity, but he was also a child of God.  As everyone is a child of God, they have all been given a gift of Jesus death:  

• John 1:29 says "The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!""  
• 1 Timothy 4:10 says "For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers."
• 1 John 2:2 says "and He Himself is the propitiation for our sings; and not for ours only, bur also for those of the whole world"

You see, Jesus died for EVERYONE, not just believers.  Christians are those who have accepted the gift wholeheartedly.  Many reject the gift, and that is their choice.  I cannot sit here and say Osama rejected the gifted, because I honestly don't know if anyone ever presented the Word of God to him.  He was brought up in an Islamic nation, so most likely never exposed, but I don't know that for sure.

    My concern is, as Christians should we be celebrating the death of Osama or should we weep for the fact that another soul was lost?  Although his death may have comfort for many, and I will not deny those people that right, but as for me, I will weep that as Christians we failed.  We have lost another soul to the darkness.

     Martin Luther King Jr said "I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even my enemy.  Returning hate for the 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"

    So I take the stance that I will not rejoice.  If I am to be the face of Christ, God's light to those lost in darkness, then I choose to be the light.  I hope that those of you who read this will choose that direction too.

Chappy