lets start with the idea that every Christian holds with true conviction. The idea of grace and mercy are paramount convictions, pretty much foundations of what we believe. Salvation itself, and calvary (the first step to salvation) are based upon the idea of grace and mercy. It is the idea that one man died and rose again to bear the sins of the world and redeem us from damnation. Even, dare i say to redeem Osama's sins.
Now, what shocks me most about the general Christian public is their unrepentant hatred for a man and rejoicing judgement on this mans soul. Now this is where i usually have to install a disclaimer: I am in NO way condoning the actions of Bin Laden. In fact the terrible even heinous things that he did were inexcusable! but that is where i draw the line between politics and patriotism and scoot right into my spiritual nature.
I am not speaking politics here. I am talking about the condition of my fellow Christians heart. It is amazing how easily the Christian communities forgot what it is to be Christian. in a way, i could say that we lost our senses. Now when i heard the news of Bin Laden's death instantly i thought, relief but immediately upon this feeling i became sad. Not for the man that he was, or even for the fact that i missed him. But because i pictured this evil man in a place that i would never wish upon anyone. Now i raise up a question for you. . . Imagine you have a son, and that son was beautiful! He used to laugh and play growing up. He really was a beautiful boy, but somewhere along the road of life something went VERY wrong. You never saw that little boy anymore. and then one day your son murdered someone, and then another, and then another. Did it make that man any less of your son? and the biggest question to ask is, did his actions make you love him any less? if you answered yes, then we have bigger issues than the topic of judgement.
God has looked at us and he used to see beautiful children. he used to walk in a garden with them and he loved watching us laugh and play. He was so proud of us, but somewhere down the short road of life something also went very wrong. Man sinned. The beauty of it is that it did not make Adam and Eve any less his children and God loved them no less either. in fact the whole bible narrative speaks of a love relationship between God and man that He is trying to bring back. But it is constantly being severed not by God but by Man! I will give examples: Moses with the law (but who broke the covenant with idolatry? you guessed it man!) Jesus Christ died on the cross on calvary (But who are the ones that refuse his forgiveness and salvation? you guessed it man!)
"This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all . . ."
- 1 Timothy 2:3-6
Even after Christ died and a new covenant was established. A covenant where man was not bound by the law, but by the intentions of the heart man still finds a way to sin. Regardless of the condition of my heart or yours, God still desires for 'all people to be saved' what a beautiful thing. God so powerful, so mighty and strong would care so much to redeem a people that continually turn from Him. Even Christians that have found Christ and have been baptized and received the Holy Ghost has murdered in their heart, or even physically murdered, committed idolatry with their food or the cable that is never turned off, or even committed adultery with the woman or man next door. But what is most astonishing is that we who have sinned and are even sinning today would look at the news of another mans death and rejoice because he was an 'evil man' Yes he was evil but sin is sin. His sins are no greater than yours. Passing judgement on him and wishing hells fire on his soul in the end only secures a definite spot in hell for you. (Matthew 7:1)
My point is this, which one of you that so easily wishes damnation of Bin Laden's soul has looked at the condition of your own soul?
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them . . . repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. beloved never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'vengeance is mine, i will repay says the Lord.' To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; is he is thirsty give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." - Romans 12:14-21
"Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgement on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. . . but because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgement will be revealed." Romans 2:1 and 2:5
In the end i am not asking you to feed Bin Laden or even to shelter him from the rain. All i am asking you to do is leave the judgement of his soul in the hands of the one person who really has the right to look into his heart and judge him for eternity and that is God. and lastly i am asking you to say a prayer for him. He may be dead but its never to late to pray for the eternity of a mans soul. Even for a man you dislike or even Hate (Which are other issues that should be addressed)
To be honest i would much rather be judged by God in the end than be judged by man. because the truth of the matter is that man is so fickle and we so easily turn into barbarian monsters and roman socialites that desire and crave the taste of blood by the end of the night. and sad to say but that is what we have become.
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