Testing The Faith

Justice and celebration

May 3, 2011 at 2:11 am (Faith thoughts) (celebration, justice, revenge, violence)

This morning I saw the news that the United States had killed Osama Bin Laden.  Although he’s faded a little from public consciousness, for years he was public enemy number one.   Quite soon after the horror that took place on September 11, 2001, the United States made it a goal to bring to justice those responsible for the planning and execution of the attack.  Given the animosity toward Bin Laden and the goal put before the American public, I wasn’t surprised that there was a surge of patriotism and some wild celebration at the news of Bin Laden’s death.  At the same time though, the news has made me pause.  I’ve had a lot of questions about justice and revenge and violence.

As I perused through Twitter this morning I came across an article outlining responses that Christian leaders had posted on the Osama Bin Laden killing via Twitter.  Something that Brian McLaren said struck me.  He wrote, ”Joyfully celebrating the killing of a killer who joyfully celebrated killing carries an irony that I hope will not be lost on us. Are we learning anything, or simply spinning harder in the cycle of violence?”  After I saw it, I posted that quote to my Facebook account.  I posted it because I vividly remember images of celebrations in other parts of world on September 11.  I also remember being extremely saddened by the events of 9/11 and incredibly angry with those celebrations.  How could they celebrate the loss of life and the suffering?  At the time I wanted justice!  I wanted revenge! 

Today as I saw images of Americans celebrating the death of the man who was behind September 11 and who has initiated a lot of pain and suffering, it brought me back to ten years ago and the celebrations I witnessed then.  It made me wonder if there are other people out there who feel today what I felt ten years ago.  Celebration?  The world may have lost some evil, but pain and suffering still exist.  The justice and revenge I wanted ten years ago is bittersweet now.  I’ve walked with enough people through pain, suffering, and the effects of violence that now I’m mainly sad about what’s happened.  Today I’ve been asking myself: Is the death of someone we view as evil a cause for celebration? 

One of the Bible verses I’ve seen today posted by many people has been Proverbs 24:17.  The verse says “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles.”  That sounds like wise advice.  Why?  I think it’s especially wise for Christians in the context of the other verses in that chapter.  Here’s more of that passage, “lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him. Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.”

Justice is a weighty matter.  It is also often messy.  It’s hard to find clear winners and losers.  Justice that involves violence leaves scars on those who mete it out.  That might be why I find it hard to celebrate today.  Justice comes with a cost.  The justice that I hope for is eternal, infinite justice.  A justice that is handed out by God who can handle the cost of it.  I believe he’s already shown he can handle it through his Son, Jesus Christ.   Jesus came on our behalf to bear the justice we all deserve.  His justice is not messy, but righteous and also merciful. Now that is cause for celebration!