This was surprising because the scenes outside the Whitehouse seemed strangely similar to those hasty camera shots on the 6pm news of a large mob in a Middle Eastern country firing their guns in the air and chanting frenziedly with flags waving.
The reactions by the Americans to the news that the man who single-handed changed the nature of their country overnight ten years ago is understandable. Hard justice may have finally caught up with Bin Laden, but the question is whether a deserved death should be celebrated?
The Old Testament is filled with many examples of death being delivered directly by God or through his people. The prophet Elijah, after dramatically winning a supernatural burning contest, slaughtered 450 prophets of Baal. God is credited with destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their evilness and for that matter, the whole world population - minus a family and a bio-diverse selection of animals - by global flood.
A well-known story is of David and Goliath where David (a youthful teenager) kills a 3 metre tall, battle-hardened warrior who represented a foreign and invading force. Goliath was the front man for the Philistine army which was intent on occupying Israel and he was undoubtedly responsible for his fair share of murder in the preceding years (ie. bad guy). After David downs the man-giant and decapitates him, news spread around the country with women composing joyful songs, although the nature of the songs were not so much about celebrating the death of their enemy than about creating folk-lore and hero worship.
Fast-forward to Jesus in 1st century AD, who rewrites the Jewish moral code of revenge by instead urging his followers to love their enemies:
Jesus eventually would be tortured, beaten and killed by his enemies, yet even on the cross, Jesus forgave the Roman soldiers who nailed him to it.
“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.
Matthew 5:43-48
Additionally, the Apostle Paul reminds his readers to leave revenge to God rather than undertaking vengeful behaviour. He gave superb demonstration of this when he didn't retaliate after he was repeatedly tortured and beaten for sharing the gospel.
Therefore, from my vantage point in my nice, warm apartment in the safe surrounds with nothing to fear, there appears to little reason for a Christian to celebrate the death of anyone, let alone evil monsters such as Osama Bin Laden, Hitler, etc. To even participate in seeking the death of this man seems contrary to the teachings of Jesus and the sixth commandment of "You shall not kill/murder". It would seem that the only justified killing is when God directly carries the justice out himself. Even then, I don't seem any worthy examples from scripture where the Christian response would be one of celebration.
For some other thoughts:
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