A Biblical Response to Osama’s Death

Osama bin Laden is inextricably linked to American history by his attacks, his elusive life and now by his wretched death. Some news agencies, especially Fox News, spell his name Usama, making USA three fifth’s the letters of his first name.

The assassination via swooping helicopter and then burial at sea gives new meaning to the naval term “dead in the water.” Most sensitive people view his sudden liquidation with understandable ambivalence. A mass murderer, his “just desserts” brought wild cheering in Times Square and exuberant rejoicing at other venues. However, spiritually thoughtful observers offered only muted gratitude. Here’s why.

Genesis 9:6 says, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man,” but God doesn’t rejoice in the death of the wicked, and Osama was surely that. Ezekiel 33:11 says, “…‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’”

Osama was a human being for whom Christ died on the Cross. The Bible says of Christ, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour; that He, by the grace of God, should taste death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:9) 2 Peter 3:9 reads, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Christ rebuked swordplay at His arrest, even healing the man whose ear Peter had slashed off. Peter cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant (John 18:10). Putting the Gospel account together, we find Jesus healed the servant’s ear (Luke 22:51). Matthew’s account records something else very important is said by the Lord. “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword in its place, for all who that take the sword will perish by the sword.’” (Matt. 26:52) Osama bin Laden lived by the sword, and he died by the sword, just as the Lord said it would be.

Should Christians enjoy any satisfaction in Osama’s death? Yes, indeed.

First, Christ’s forecast of living and dying by the sword is fulfilled. Also, the God-ordained civil military retributive protectorate has done its ordained work. While individual believers are not to extend the Kingdom by military aggression, civil government is ordained by God for protective purposes.

In Romans 13, Paul outlines the purpose of civil government even calling the civil servant a “minister.” “For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain: for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath upon him who practices evil.” (Rom. 13:4) The word translated as “minister” is the Greek word “diakanos,” from which we get “deacon,” and the word means “a servant, a doer of errands.” So the civil government bearing the sword is a deacon running errands for God. And remember, this was written in the time of Roman government, secular and pagan as it was. About 13 times, this word is later used of what we would call Christian, church ministers.

There is spiritual warfare outlined in Scripture. Christian fighters sally forth equipped with helmet, body armor, footgear, shield and even the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).

There are also secular servants who bear a literal sword, as Paul outlined in Rom. 13:4: “an avenger to execute wrath upon him who practices evil.” This is appropriately said about the assassination of Osama, who did indescribable evil on 9/11, bombed the USS Cole, killings in Somalia and who knows how much else. We are pleased that the U.S. military under President Obama showed some moral backbone to be an avenger. God gives civil government this delegated authority to take life in these extreme cases. And who knows how many thousands of lives have been saved by destabilizing the al Qaeda leadership? America’s action may not only have been retributive but preventive.

Perhaps all this wrath could have been avoided if there had been an Arabic translation of the Bible back in 610 AD when Mohammed had his contorted visions. They were a compilation of paganism, flimsy and sometimes faulty elements of Christian and Jewish traditions, personal preferences, and a considerable demonic intrusion. Out of all this trance-like revelatory haze came Islam, which swept across Asia and Europe and now threatens to destabilize the entire world. Thankfully, there are enough countries still generally anchored to biblical truth to resist and punish evil-doers when necessary.

Currently, many Middle East Muslims are reflecting a desire for Western political liberty, which grew out of biblical truth. If this can be enhanced by millions of Muslims coming to Christ through Christian evangelism, there is hope for a calming effect even this late in prophetic time.

Dave Virkler