It's been a long time since the death of Osama Bin Laden. Many people saw that event as justice vindicated, and they are right. A man who kills with impunity needs to be called into account for his crimes. I would like to comment on two reactions to the news of Bin Laden's death. 

     The hypocrisy of many people was revealed. A radio station host characterized Bin Laden's death as the death of the worst person in the world. That reaction runs counter to the apostle Paul's humility. The apostle Paul called himself the worst of sinners, who is desperately in need of God's mercy. Do we see ourselves in that light- sinners in desperate need of God's mercy? Or do we see ourselves as basically good, who makes mistakes once in a while?

     On the one hand, we are made in the image of God who shows his goodness towards everyone- giving food, clothing, etc. It is not helpful to call ourselves pure sinners. There are forces within us that want to get along with others, to be helpful. We see that in children and if a person completely does not care about what others think, we would label that person mentally ill. We develop bonds with our families and friends, bonds that may cause us to sacrifice our interests, including our lives, for others.

     On the other hand, God requires us to love him above everything else. However, human love for God is not something we can work in ourselves, just like we cannot fall in love by choice. Biblical teaching seems to indicate that human beings don't love God naturally, and they love people and/or things more than God. Love so strong it causes a person to become willing to give up everything else, happens through a spiritual transformation. A person is drawn by the object of his love. If we love God, its not because we made a choice to love God but because we are drawn to God by God himself. Also, God's will is that love for others would not stop with those whom we have affinity with- family and friends whom we get along with. Jesus calls us to love even our enemies, those who harm us. That is how stringent God's standard is for us, and it is not the natural human tendency to love his enemies. The natural human tendency is to desire the harm of his enemies. 

     The apostle Paul must have called himself the worst of sinners because he discovered that he could not reach God's standard of righteousness. He caused the murder of the followers of Jesus, who was God incarnate. He changed his ways not by choice but through an encounter with Jesus. He probably looked at himself and became aware of the prejudices and hatred in him, and that without God's Spirit, he could not love those who oppose him. May we be so self-aware that we realize that we don't just sin by mistake once in a while, but we sin because our natural tendency is to hate God and hate our neighbor.  

    The death of Bin Laden also resulted in celebration on the streets, as if a war has been won. It is true that a terrorist leader was killed. However, the battle against terrorism is not over because the ultimate enemy is not flesh and blood but spiritual powers. Ideology is a spiritual power that blinds people to God and other people. Ideologues care only for their agenda, even though they may have started off caring about other people. Many communists probably started off sincere in their desire to alleviate poverty. However, when communists have taken power, there was oppression and massive killings. How could this be? This happened because ideologues are blinded by their ideology, the suffering it causes the people they purport to help.

     I was reading in a book the account of a man who abandoned terrorism for more peaceful political solution. His reasoning was that terrorism does not work. I was angered by this statement. This man did not show remorse or sorrow for all the people who were killed. He was so focused on his agenda that he does not seem to care about the suffering he has caused- families who have to mourn the sudden loss of their fathers, mothers, and children. 

     Jesus chastised the Pharisees for putting law above people to the point of being upset with him for healing a man on the sabbath. Jesus chastises us today for being so focused on our ideologies, on how we believe the world should be, that we ignore the needs of people. May God develop in us compassion for everyone and humility towards him that we strive to look after everyone's interests, not the victory of our ideology. Soli Deo Gloria.