Should the Death of Osama Bin Laden be the Cause for Rejoicing in Christendom?

by Randy Pope 
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It has been a major goal since President Bush sent U.S. Troops into Iraq and Afghanistan more than a decade ago. That goal has been accomplished; the death of Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. Americans are jubilant over the news of Bin Laden's death. Should Christians take part in jubilee rallies across the city of Akron? 

In one sense the Christian can be happy over the destruction of an evil man (Psalm 137:7-9). There is no doubt that Osama Bin Laden was an evil man, and his desire was the destruction of the people of the one true living God. Throughout the Psalms God has instructed his people to pray for God's vengeance on their enemies (Psalm 35 is one of many of these Psalms. Especially note verses 19 – 23). In this sense justice has been served. 

It should be noted that God, in His sovereignty, has often allowed men to act in their natural evil nature to execute judgment on nations and people. That is once again the case. God created governments, and has invested them with authority to punish evildoers, and to protect the good to do good (Roms. 13). However, there are proper avenues to follow in carrying out this authority. The United States government did not follow proper procedures to bring Osama Bin Laden to justice. In that sense the Christian should be quite concerned over the actions of his government in the case of Osama Bin Laden.

The church should be concerned that the U. S. government went to war in Iraq and Afghanistan un-Constitutionally. An act of war must be declared by the Congress of the United States. When presidents send American troops into battle without the formal declaration from Congress the government is acting illegally. The church should never stand by and allow its government violate its own covenant silently. Furthermore, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are un-Biblical wars. In this sense if the Christian is compelled to rally in Akron today, maybe it should be against the unjust actions of his government. 

An evil man has received a just sentence from a just God. Osama Bin Laden is no longer able to “devise deceitful matters against” God's people. On the other hand, the fact that the government of the United States so callously ignores the supreme law of the land, and is impervious to its Biblical authority should be cause for concern. In the same way that God heaped judgment upon Bin Laden He could use His rod of correction against this “great nation” (Psalm 135:1, 10).

This article was originally posted at Examiner.com