The Christian blogosphere is alive with commentary on the killing of bin Laden this past Sunday.  How should Christians view this event?  I want to suggest a few thoughts connected to President Obama’s announcement.

First, Obama sets the killing in the context of war, a war we have been fighting since 9/11.  Bin Laden was our enemy, and he has been defeated.  As David celebrated victory over his enemies through the Psalms, so we may celebrate victory over our enemy.

Second, Obama speaks of the killing as an act of justice, and so it is.  Genesis reminds us that the penalty for taking a human life is death (Genesis 9:6).  Bin Laden deserved death.  What’s more, God has given the government the authority and responsibility to pursue justice, including the taking of a life (Romans 13:1-4).  This was an act of justice.  For more on this point, see here.

Third, unlike the celebrations on the streets, Obama does not gloat or celebrate excessively.  Undoubtedly there are political reasons for this.  But beyond that, while we may celebrate this victory over our enemy and the carrying out of justice, the celebration is marred by the reality that a man made in God’s image has been killed.  Yes, the image of God in him was horribly warped.  Yes, he was an evil man deserving of death.  But let’s remember he was still a man.  Let’s remember that we are called to love our enemies even as Jesus did on the cross.  Let’s remember that he is, apart from Christ, in hell.  Our celebration of victory and justice has a twinge of bitterness too.  For more on this, see here.

Fourth, Obama thanks our military and intelligence professionals, many who have given their lives in the last ten years.  And we have every reason to be grateful to them for all they have done for our safety.  And yet, we ought to go a step further and also thank God for this victory.  Apart from God’s blessing, all of their worthwhile work for which we are grateful would yet prove fruitless.

Fifth, Obama calls us back to the sense of unity we had after 9/11.  Whether he will follow through with this call remains to be seen.  But it is a worthwhile call.  The political animosity in our country is anything but Christian, and anything but helpful in accomplishing anything worthwhile.  If both the president and Congress would drop the political posturing and come together to address the weighty issues before them, our country would be better off, and just maybe the people would begin to have a higher view of our leaders.   And ironically the same lack of respect that led bin Laden to kill hundreds is at work in the way people of opposite parties treat each other in Washington.  Yes, the outworkings of that lack of respect in bin Laden and Washington occur at very different levels and they are not morally equivalent, but the root issue is the same.  Basic respect and civility, even kindness, in Washington would be a welcome change.

Finally, Obama states, “Yet today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country. And the determination of the American people. The cause of securing our country is not complete but tonight we are once again reminded that Americans can do whatever we set our mind to.”  I understand that our president is seeking to give us hope in the midst of many problems at home.  The problem here is that he finds that hope in the wrong place.  As he failed to thank God for this victory, he fails to look to God for help in the many problems our country faces.  Instead he makes our country into a god, an idol.  America is great.  America can do whatever we set our mind to.  America brought about this victory, and we can accomplish anything we want to do.  But apart from God we can do nothing.  “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7).  Let us not be too impressed with ourselves, for our country like every other is as nothing before God, indeed less than nothing and emptiness (Isaiah 40:17).  Instead of bowing down to our country, let’s join David in saying:

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side –
let Israel now say –
if it had not been the Lord who was on our side
when people rose up against us,
then they would have swallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
then the flood would have swept us away,
the torrent would have gone over us;
then over us would have gone the raging waters.
Blessed be the Lord,
who has not given us as prey to their teeth!
We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken, and we have escaped!
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

– Psalm 124