Thoughts on this whole Osama bin Laden thing

He is an evil man, and he must be stopped, but he is a man, and we should take no pleasure in destroying him. Vengeance is the Lord’s alone.

Do not offer the alternative, “Should we weep for Osama bin Laden or hold him to account for his genocide and prevent him from carrying out his violent intentions?”

The right answer is yes.

—Love in Hard Places - D.A. Carson

I went to bed Sunday night around 11pm. I woke up at 5am to 22 new text messages. Most of them were tweets from CNN. When I looked at the first one I thought it said "death of #Obama" and my heart quickened. Then I realized it said Osama bin Laden and my heart just as quickly slowed its pace. "Huh," I thought. I didn’t think it was a bad thing but I didn’t respond with jubilation. And that was that.

When I arrived on campus to take my exam at 8am, one of my classmates mentioned it. She told me about how on the news it showed people taking to the streets, rejoicing in his death. I immediately felt sick to my stomach. Rejoicing in his death.

I feel conflicted.

I don't grieve his death. In the same way I wouldn't grieve the death of Hitler, Stalin, or any other evil man. But to rejoice in his death is not my immediate reaction.

I grieve that such evil men exist. I grieve that this man God made lived a life so dishonoring of his maker.

I’m grateful for God’s common grace. I am thankful that God has victory over evil. I’m grateful for justice - that God’s wrath was brought upon evil. So, should I rejoice in a wicked mans death?

I’m not entirely sure what the appropriate response as a Christian is. I’m sure some of my thinking is flawed.

As of right now, in my current state...

I grieve and I’m grateful.