A Pastor's Response after UBL's Death

THE News
Last Sunday night, like many of you, I waited with curious anticipation for the President's announcement. And even though the press got wind of the news just prior to the official press conference, I still stayed up and watched.

Like most people, I was surprised. UBL has become more of a legend than a real person and I was almost sure his infamy would last much longer than his life; and it may yet. In fact, I was almost sure that he had died quietly a few years ago, only to be "seen" in many places kind of like Elvis. But then the reality hit me, "we got him" began to ring in my ears and I had a strange feeling flow through me.

I didn't feel joy.
I wasn't sure what I wanted to feel. Surprise and relief are the two things I identified right away and even then there was a pang of guilt in feeling them. I was relieved that a key purpose for nearly a decade of war was finally reached and that maybe, just maybe, the wars we were fighting would begin to come to an end. But the strange feeling remained.

I didn't stay up long, just heard the announcement and a few commentaries and then retired for the night only to be bombarded with images and stories the next morning. My twitter account was overflowing with snippets to read, details to sort through and videos of parties that had spilled out into the streets throughout the nation. The strange feeling had returned. But while I saw pure joy and hatred in the celebrations, it wasn't what I was feeling...like I shouldn't feel it.

Since then, I've been thinking and praying long and hard about how to respond to this key event in our nation's history, the death of Usama Bin Laden, at the hands of our US Military. And the primary reason for this response is that it wasn't just a death of an enemy combatant against our nation; but that he didn't die from his medical condition; or at the hand of one of his enemies (which are many, even within the Muslim world). Rather it is important because it was us, an American soldier, in an American team, using American helicopters and an American made bullet. It's significant because now the eyes of the world are on...America!

And whether it's accurate or not, or fair or not, when the world looks at America, they see Christianity, or at least equate them together, much more than we do. And while many in our nationwould love to keep the US identity firmly rooted in Christianity, this is one time where I'm not so sure I'm one of them. Don't get me wrong, I know our history and whether or not it was ever fully a "Christian Nation" is still up for debate. What I know now, thoug

h, is that we are far from that ideal, even though the world (I'm speaking in broad generalities here) still sees the US actions throughout the world as a reflection of our Christian faith, especially when it paints Christians as intolerant, narrow-minded, hypocrites.

That's a problem.

But then it's almost always been that way.

My real purpose in writing this response, though, is to deal with the strange feelings deep inside of me; and recognize that maybe there's a better response than what we've seen on the news...especially as Christians. I want to be true to who I am called to be according to the scriptures and our Methodist tradition and theology. And I want to offer you that point of view. I don't expect you to fully agree with me, and that's okay. Even our staff had a variety of responses. But I do pray that this furthers our conversation concerning earthly and heavenly things.

Now I know that the Bible can be used by just about anyone to justify just about anything. So I want to steer clear of those pitfalls. Instead I want to hear clearly, even if it is challenging, what the scriptures say about treating our enemies.

The Holiness Code in the book of Leviticus showed Israel how to create a healthy community in the midst of radical differences among peoples. And while we often remember the principle, "an eye for an eye and tooth for tooth," we often forget "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:18, NRSV)

This is long before Jesus said it was the second greatest commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:39, NRSV)

Wisdom is often revered over principles of law, so how do we miss this, "Do not rejoice when your enemies fall and do not let your heart be glad when they stumble, or else the Lord will see it and be displeased and turn away his anger from them." (Proverbs 24:17-18, NRSV)

Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be the children of your Father in heaven; for he makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous...be perfect, therefore as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:44-45, 48, NRSV)

Jesus even went so far as to qualify a neighbor by using a story of a Samaritan to help an Israelite...sworn enemies! (Luke 10)

Paul also taught, "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God...do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:19, 21, NRSV) and also, "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law."(Romans 13:10, NSRV).

Even our tradition has important things to say about a Christian's response to evils in this world. John Wesley was very firm in his expectations of Christians in the early methodist societies (small covenant groups). He believed in complete sanctification in this life and it was our task to work towards this "perfect" nature of Christ. To get there he wrote what are known as the general rules. Here's a sample:

"It is the therefore expected of all who continue therein that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation,
  First: By doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind, especially that which is most generally practiced, such as...doing to others as we would not they should do unto us."
  Secondly: By doing good; by being in every kind merciful after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all men."

In other words, Wesley expected those who confessed Jesus Christ would always keep the golden rule, never hurt others and by doing all the good possible to every person, every day.

So what does this mean for us?

I believe Jesus expects more from us. It means we must temper our celebration and not rejoice at the death of one man, even our sworn enemy, for every life has value to God. I believe there can be rejoicing that justice will be done, but through God's providence and not our hands. I believe that if we respond with love and forgiveness, we'll see a difference in our enemies. And I believe that if we pray like Jesus told us to pray we'll see things change, even if the only change is us.

So pray with me...
...that we begin to see our enemies as God sees them.
...that we put aside our own hatred and learn to love radically.
...that we gain the strength to forgive those who have harmed us and our nation.
...that we have the courage to call all people regardless of differences, our neighbors
...that we trust the words of Jesus more than we trust our own feelings.

..and be the change we seek.

Peace ><>
Pastor Chris



Leviticus 19:18
Proverbs 24:17-18
Matthew 19:19
Matthew 5:44
Romans 12:19
Romans 13:10