Today's Scripture Reading (August 18, 2023): Ezekiel 35
In the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the
Twin Towers, I made some unpopular statements that I still stand behind. At
that time, I spoke of the eventual arrest of Osama Bin Laden and the knowledge
of the trial and likely execution of the Islamic leader and said that that day
could not be a day of rejoicing for the people of God. As bad as Bin Laden's
crimes were, I stressed that he was still a child of God, and as such, we
should mourn his coming demise. As the news of Osama Bin Laden's death was revealed
on May 2, 2011, I did mourn the passing of the leader, not because I agreed
with him in any way, but because a child of God was gone; he had paid the
ultimate price for his sin, and there was the knowledge that none of this had
to happen,
You are allowed to disagree with me, but I wonder if
we will be held responsible for our joy over the demise of sinners. Ezekiel
makes it clear that those nations who rejoiced over the end of Israel, a death
that had happened as a direct result of Israel's sin, are to be severely
judged. But is this just a response to Israel, or are we playing with fire
whenever we celebrate the retribution of God over people who have wronged us?
I lean toward the latter. Jesus's instruction to
Nicodemus included that famous quote that most of us memorized as children.
For God so loved the world that he
gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall
not perish but have eternal life. For God did
not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the
world through him (John 3:16-17).
What if God loves Israel, but he also loves the
rest of us too? What if God also loves Osama Bin Laden and other bogey men of
our contemporary culture? What if God loves the person but hates the sin? Undoubtedly,
our iniquities carry us toward death, but God believes that that is a reason
for his people to mourn, not celebrate.
Maybe I am reaching, but I don't think so. Our
first reaction to sin should be to mourn for those who find themselves within
its grasp because we are all the children of God. And God loves those caught in
sin as much as he loves us and Israel. And whenever we rejoice over the demise
of sinners, we sin against the love of God, and we might have to pay the price
for that sin alongside nations like Edom.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 36
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