reflection on news headline

Since Sunday night, it seems all everyone is talking about is the death of Osama bin Laden! Of course it's a big story, and I admit I'm relieved the focus is finally off of the Royal Wedding, but the representation of this story has not been sitting well with me.

For one thing, it seems that most people are celebrating! I actually found out about all this when I got home and checked my facebook. My newsfeed was full of posts saying things like "Yay" "woohoo" and "party!!" I figured out what people were talking about, and though I understand the sentiment in that this is something our military, and in many ways our entire country, has been working toward for a LONG time... I still found it disturbing that we are celebrating the death of a person.

Of course, the celebration is defended "in the name of justice!" We can celebrate because justice has been served because a man who has killed thousands of innocent people, and has expressed desire to kill many more, is no longer able to do so. Yet, is this complete justice? It seems a small part of what complete justice would be. To me it seems cheap, empty, to call killing Osama bin Laden true justice.

I came to no good conclusions on my own. The whole mess left me longing for heaven, when true justice will be served. The wrongs committed on all sides will be made right. Osama will receive true justice, which sadly will include more punishment than the end of his earthly life. Others who desire to kill "innocent" civilians will also be brought justice. And our satisfaction in that justice will not be in any way tainted by wrong thoughts and emotions, unadulterated with desire for revenge or any hatred.

Then I saw a link to hear someone very smart discuss the issue, and his thoughts greatly helped me in my response to the whole situation. Albert Mohler shares his briefing here.

It's about 15 minutes long but I found it well worth it. The highlights: "We can be thankful that the threat of Osama bin Laden has been removed." "There is no doubt that according to the Christian tradition of just war theory, this was a necessary move in order to protect the innocent." "This military raid was more easily justified in the removal of a military threat, rather than the accomplishment of justice. If our goal had been justice, we would have captured him... and carried out a just sentence." But let's remember that because we live in a fallen world "our ability to execute perfect justice is not nullified, but it is stymied." We should seek justice, but not presume that we have accomplished it!! We should not celebrate the use of lethal force in any way that falls short of complete human justice.... and in a fallen world, we cannot achieve that! What we are left with, is a sense of relief that he is no longer a threat. In the end we have to await a heavenly court for justice! "There should be some sense of satisfaction today, but joy... no, that will have to wait for a heavenly court and a heavenly verdict."