Bin Laden is dead! Is it OK to rejoice?

	Osama Bin Laden, founder of Al Qaeda, and the driving force behind the 9/11 attacks, as well as other terrorist acts, was killed May 1, 2011,  in a raid in Pakistan by Navy Seal Team Six. Thousands, especially in America, responded by cheering and celebrating. Others said it is wrong to rejoice that he had been killed. Without dispute, this was a momentous event. What should be our response as Christians?

	Scripture is clear that God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11, “As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live”). Scripture is equally clear that God is a God of justice (Psalm 89:14, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne”). These passages do not conflict! God’s word makes it clear that He would have preferred that Bin Laden turn from his evil ways, put his trust in Jesus instead of Mohammed, and be cleansed by the blood of Jesus, even as Saul of Tarsus was. But Bin Laden would have none of that. He has, therefore, faced justice in the here-and-now, and will face God’s justice for all eternity.

	Someone will say the U. S. government was wrong to seek and take Bin Laden’s life. Didn’t Jesus say to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39)? Didn’t Jesus pray for His own murderers to be forgiven (Luke 23:34)? Of course Jesus said both of those things, and we accept His words 100%. Turning the other cheek pertains to individuals who are harmed by other individuals. It forbids personal vengeance and retaliation. In no way does it proscribe seeking justice from civil authorities. Paul was well within the will of God in seeking government protection from his enemies who sought to kill him, though it could easily have resulted in the death of some of those enemies (Acts 23:12-24).

	Jesus’ prayer for those murdering Him was just that – a prayer, which was answered later. He did not say that He, Himself, forgave them then and there. He asked that the Heavenly Father would forgive them. A few weeks later, on Pentecost Day (Acts 2), some of those people heard the gospel and had opportunity to put their trust in Jesus, repent of all of their sins, and be baptized in Jesus’ name in order to receive forgiveness of those sins (Acts 2:38). Those who continued to reject Jesus, however, suffered a terrible fate when God, in His justice, used the Roman government to destroy the city of Jerusalem, and with it the entire Jewish system.
	But now someone says, “it was still wrong to kill Bin Laden – we should have let God take care of it.” It is true enough that Scripture says, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but give place to wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord” (Romans 12:19). Again, this deals with individuals, not governments. We are not to exact personal vengeance. Only three verses later we find our responsibility to civil government (Romans 13:1-7). Verse four says in regard to the civil authority, “For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” Vengeance does, indeed, belong to God. But He tells us in His word that in the here-and-now, He exercises that vengeance through the civil government. So, while we are not to take it upon ourselves to “get even” with those who harm us, we certainly may look to civil government to exercise God’s vengeance upon evil-doers.

	Some may still feel that it just isn’t Christian to ask God to exercise justice against those who wreak havoc upon the innocent, or to rejoice when the tormentors are destroyed. But consider the martyrs in Revelation 6:10. They “cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’” Were these souls, who had suffered and died for Jesus, now acting contrary to the spirit of Christ? Nothing in the text would indicate so. In fact, when their tormentors are finally destroyed, a voice from heaven says, “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her” (Revelation 18:20). Is God going to invite His people to rejoice if He disapproves of it?

	Personal retaliation is out. But evidently God approves of rejoicing when His justice is exercised against the wicked.
							-- Joe Slater (Justin, TX)