When the Enemy Stumbles

What a momentous week. Wills and Kate finally got married (and most of the world sighed collectively) and Osama bin Laden finally got found (and most of the world sighed collectively). Within moments of hearing about the demise of the Al-Qaeda chief, thousands gathered outside the White House and the streets of New York to celebrate. Congratulatory messages conveying thanks from various leaders of the Western world (Australia’s Julia included), were dispatched to Washington (interestingly enough, not so many from the Middle East) with words like “great relief”, “a great success” and “a victory for justice” (http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/02/nation/la-na-allies-congratulate-20110501).  

For Christians though, it may not be a time to celebrate. Let’s take a look at some inconvenient verses in the Bible: Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice (Proverbs 24:17, NIV). Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live (Ezekiel 33:11a, NIV). But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44, NIV). The last one of course is all the more challenging as it comes from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

What makes all the celebration in the United States the more interesting of course is this quote from Martin Luther King, Jr. in his ‘Strength to Love’ speech of 1963, “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction” (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.). One would have hoped that the many American college students who were celebrating in the streets would have heard (or read) this at one point or another and pondered its meaning.

In any case, death is not something to be celebrated. Even that of someone evil. For it is not for us to judge. That job is reserved for a Higher Power (Romans 12:19).