How did you feel the moment you first heard the news that Osama Bin Laden was dead? It’s not a trick question, just a simple query. My immediate reaction was shock. I was at the gym early this morning working out when I noticed all the televisions declaring the same news – America’s most wanted war criminal had been captured and shot.
After ten years you become diluted to the daily routine of knowing the tyrant was still on the loose, and all of a sudden, just like that, the search is over. For a decade our brave men and women in our armed forces had been searching diligently for this man who had brought devastation to thousands of families, and with one operation, the ten-year search came to a close.
There is relief in knowing that a tyrant has been eliminated. However, I still find myself very much disturbed.
The news today is showing celebrations that are happening all over our country, and I get it. A man that brought so much tragedy is no more. The fact that his run is over is reason to celebrate. But what disturbs me is not the celebration that a reign is over, but it is the gloating as though we have somehow won something now that Bin Laden is dead. We haven’t won anything. The lives of those lost on 9/11, and because of 9/11, are not revived simply because Bin Laden is now dead. If they were, then we won something. But they weren’t, and we didn’t.
And I think today many are thinking we got revenge. The mission to remove Bin Laden was about justice, not revenge. Revenge stems from arrogance – You took something from me, therefore I demand something from you. Revenge finds comfortable residence in a heart of hatred. Hatred is of the belief that the sword, or the gun, or the missile somehow will resolve the world’s problems. When will we understand that if we believe this to be true we actually have much larger problems than a terrorist hiding in a compound?
The realistic truth is that revenge does not equal the score.
That’s a truth any good parent wants instilled in their child’s list of virtues. You teach your child love, patience, and forgiveness. Revenge is not high on the list for a reason – it doesn’t resolve anything. Taking revenge doesn’t make you better than the one you are taking your vengeance out on. It simply destroys your soul as you spin your wheels forever contemplating more and more vengeance.
Again, the mission to capture or kill Bin Laden was not about revenge (I have to believe this is true), but it was about justice. Justice makes things right. Revenge pays back evil for evil, and it never ends. I’m afraid many of our celebrations today have revolved around revenge. They stem more from hatred than they do the pursuit of justice.
This morning Fox News was unveiling many of the headlines of leading newspapers in the country. News anchor, Gretchen Carlson ,gave the response of “That’s my favorite one!” to the headline found on the New York Daily News that read, “Rot in Hell”. That’s hatred, not justice.

Patriotism and Christianity have evolved together in the minds of many thanks primarily to politicians using it as a platform to get into office. It would be great if the values of Christ were influencing the nation. However, it’s quite the opposite. Instead, if you are a Christian then you are expected to adopt the unwritten rules of patriotism – one of which is to harbor hatred in your hearts towards the enemies of our State. Folks, this message simply isn’t Jesus’s. Listen to what Jesus said, and see if it’s in contradiction to the attitudes of the flesh that are being revealed today:
Matthew 5.43,44 – You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ BUT I SAY TO YOU, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
The Apostle Paul even dives into this in Romans 12, a chapter on worship of all things, teaches us something about revenge:
Romans 12.14-21 – Bless those who persecute you; bless AND DO NOT CURSE…Never pay back evil for evil to anyone…If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.
My heart is broken, absolutely crushed, for the families that lost lives to a very evil man. I’m hoping today will bring closure to those who have woken up to the repetitive nightmare for a decade now because justice has been served.
But just because a tyrant has been killed, let’s not chalk one up for the team. It’s a tragic story from beginning to end. May the hatred that Osama Bin Laden stood for not infect us as we so desperately feel that we must somehow exact our revenge. Although portrayed differently our hatred is exactly the same as the hatred of Bin Laden that we so desperately wanted to take down. And revenge is hate. May we be a people that respond to evil with love. After all, Jesus did.
Rob
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