I first learned of the death of Osama bin Laden from Saints running back, Reggie Bush. That’s the nature of modern communication. I was reviewing twitter and saw a posting from Bush, “Osama dead?” I saw a confirming tweet from Fox News and turned on the television. Once the news was confirmed, I felt a need to high five someone.
Euphoria quickly spread through the country. I guess this is appropriate. An enemy combatant of our country was dead, the head of a movement who had launched the war on terror. I guess if we were to see the dead body of this terrorist, an old man before his time, we would have to ask what all the furor was about. Even the jubilant crowds gathering outside the White House and in Times Square had a kind of a “it’s about time” ring to them. Is justice delayed, justice denied?
Some question the joy at a death, any death. But I have to say that seeking and achieving the death of an enemy combatant is appropriate in time of war. No matter that he has probably already been replaced by someone stronger, younger and more evil. I was a bit uncomfortable at the Presidents’s assurance that our war was not against Islam or Muslims. Knowing what the Koran says about killing all us infidels, this doesn’t seem right. But upon more careful thought, I guess he is correct. As a nation we can not consider enemies, worthy of death, all those who don’t like us or even all those who wish us harm. We have to limit our war making efforts against those who are actively trying to kill us, and that doesn’t include all Muslims, or even most Muslims.
As Christians, we have to define our war and consider our enemies differently. We are in a spiritual war, fighting not against flesh and blood, but against forces that deny the Lordship of Jesus. But even in that war, the enemy is not in human form. Those who believe differently are not the enemy, they are part of the battlefield. We fight not with steel or gun powder, but with truth, and love and prayer.
One boogie man is gone. But as with all such subjects of nightmares, in the cold light of day we discover them to be less than we imagined. Other boogie men will arise; but we most never loose sight of the real enemies. For us as Americans, the include all those who actively seek our demise. Many unnamed irrational haters who dream of our death and destruction. We have to protect ourselves against such as these.
For us as Christians, they are spiritual forces who deny the lordship of our King. Both wars will continue until the King returns. For the first war, His return will make the battle moot. For the spiritual war, His return will signal victory. Only one war is eternally significant and in that fact is the hint about the battles we should be more focused on.
The fight goes on be blessed.
Nick
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