Our natural reaction when wronged is retaliation. Every mother observes this, even in her otherwise precious toddler. One toddler pushes another toddler, bites or hoards the desired toy, and the other toddler pushes back – usually a little harder, gives just a bit harder bite, or hoards two toys rather than just one.
In the human heart, there is a divine desire for justice that easily warps from “justice for all” to “justice for me and my cause.” Stories are told of some “injustice” done to the member of a gang. To reset the balance of life fairness, the injured gang rises up to make things right by perpetrating some greater injustice to the opposing gang. What results today is a gang war. In yesteryear it was the Hatfields and McCoys, and when replicated by nations, this behavior results in catastrophic loss of life in war.
When we have been wronged—individually, as a family, gang or nation, what is the “right” response? There is national duty to protect and defend the people of our nation, but where does that merge with a sense of payback or vengeance? I’m not sure where that line is, but I am troubled by where our latest victory has led.
Rejoicing at death on either side of the issue seems out of character, especially for people called to “Love the Lord our God with all our hearts and our neighbor (every other human on earth) as ourselves.” Paul says that “love suffers long and is kind. Love keeps no record of when it has been wronged. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable. And love is for justice.” 1 Corinthians 13
What does all of this mean in light of Osama bin Laden’s death? Are the teachings of Jesus only for individuals and not for nations? And if they are for nations too, then where is that line between protecting the citizen and payback? How much justice, from our perspective, can we meet out without stepping over Jesus’ call to “Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:43-48
It seems appropriate that we might rejoice that the world is a safer place minus OBL (if that is actually the case, and continued terrorist attacks make it questionable). Still, such rejoicing is ethically different from rejoicing over the death of a fellow human, regardless of how severely inhumane he was. Let’s rejoice that the cause of terrorism has been weakened, and let us rejoice that this leader will no longer be a perpetrator of evil, orchestrating the continued deaths of many.
And – as difficult, counterintuitive, and counter-terrorist mindset as it might be – let us simultaneously maintain a sense of a diminished world whenever a human life is lost.
Andy McDonald
I wonder what the angel's reaction was when Lucifer was banished from heaven. Like OBL, he was someone who could not be turned back to the way of good. I see a lot of similarity between that situation and our's here on Earth.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this perspective Andy. Well said, and well articulated food for thought.