The Christian Response to Osama Bin Laden

by Jim Corner

September 11 has been etched into the minds of all Americans. Years ago the question was: 'where were you when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor'? In my lifetime the question has been: 'where were you when President Kennedy was shot'? In our personal lives, there are a few incredibly important dates and events that stand out in our minds and the same is true of a country. I am convinced that we need to look at Osama Bin Laden through the eyes of the Lord.

I fear that some will mistake this article for support of him and his behavior. If you conclude after reading this piece that I am a supporter of his, you will have seriously erred in your thought processes. From the beginning God has been totally opposed to the taking of human life in the way that Osama Bin Laden does. To be sure, the same God that said 'thou shalt not kill' told His people to 'stone the adulterer'. God has always made a distinction between murder and execution but I digress.

What should our response be to Osama Bin Laden? Should it be joy on the day that he is killed? Are you aware that on the day of his death, our Heavenly Father will cry? We read the following in Ezekiel 33:11: "As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked." You see, nearly 2000 years ago God sent His Son to this earth to die for Osama Bin Laden. He did that because He has a passionate love for that man. The Lord loves Osama Bin Laden as much as He does the finest Christian. If I am going to be like my Heavenly Father, then I too must love this man. Am I defending his actions? Not at all and if he fails to give his life to the Lord, he will die in his sins.

We really should be praying with an attitude of forgiveness for this man. As terrible as the tragedy of September 11 was, there was an infinitely greater tragedy 2000 years ago. You see, mankind murdered God! I cannot begin to understand the horror of that event. I know, however, that as Jesus hung from the cross He asked His Father to forgive those who were torturing Him. When you see the level of forgiveness that the Christian needs to possess you can readily see that Christianity is not for sissies.

The terror of eternal damnation cannot be understood. The tragedy that Osama Bin Laden is responsible for can in no way be compared to the horrors that he faces without Jesus. If you and I could get a glimpse, just a short one, into Hell our lives would all change for the better. We would do everything in our power to avoid this place and to reach out to those who are headed for eternal condemnation.

I cannot personally speak to Osama Bin Laden about Jesus but I can ask God to work on his heart and to bring someone to him that would lead him to Jesus. Will that happen? I seriously doubt it but that still needs to be my prayer. My response as a child of God is to allow God to be God. We read in Romans 12:19 that revenge is the Lord's responsibility. Several years ago I wrote an article entitled, "President Clinton, We're Praying For You". Today, we need to be praying for President Bush, Attorney General Ashcroft, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Powell, our Congress, our fighting men and women and everyone who has a part in our war against terror. To that list I need to add the name: Osama Bin Laden.

©2001 Buckingham Road Church of Christ