Pray for Osama?
Thursday, February 1, 2007 at 05:49PM 
A number of churches in Australia (both Baptist and Anglican) are posting "Jesus loves Osama" on their church sign-boards. Prime Minister Howard is upset about it, even though he's fully aware that Christians are to love their enemies and to pray for those who persecute them. Click here: "Jesus Loves Osama" Signs Hit Australia, Baptist Church's Signs Draw Criticism Over Whether They Promote A Suitabl
These signs raise an interesting question (duly noting the trite nature of such slogans in the first place). As an American citizen, I would be thrilled if and when a Predator spots Osama and then launches a Hellfire missile in his direction, hopefully blowing him into little Osama bits. Justice would be served.
But as a Christian, I have been remiss in praying for my enemies (including Bin Laden). I am reminded that in my office as minister of Word and Sacrament, it is my sacred duty (should the occasion arise) to preach the law and the gospel to UBL and any like him, regardless.
Since I am a citizen of two kingdoms (one earthly and the other heavenly), and since my citizenship in the heavenly kingdom informs my earthly citizenship, I should, on the one hand, earnestly pray for UBL's conversion and repentance, and on the other, hope that he gets his. No contradiction here. The two kingdoms fit together just fine.
As a minister, I should also be cognizant of the fact that my citizenship in the city of man not find its way into the pulpit at the expense of my charge to preach God's word. I must do what Scripture and the Canons of Dort command me to do--preach the gospel promiscuously to all who come within earshot, regardless of who and what they are. My opinions about Predators and UBL are not part of that sacred calling. OK to express them on a blog, but not in a sermon.
So, I'll pray for Osama's conversion and urge you to do the same, and at the same time I'll hope that our special forces find Osama and kill him. Meanwhile, I will trust how that all works out to the grace and providence of God.
Your thoughts?
Reader Comments (68)
i understand your sentiments, but i would yet contend in the KOM "we" can and should do better, yes? to me, it's one thing to want to bust a cap in these guys (per my own whoop-ass comment!), but might we be able to say that we are succombing to our baser instincts by having no consciousness toward a just trial, etc.? granted, it was carried out imperfectly, but so is our own day-by-day due process. is war an excuse for less-than behavior? uh-oh, i hear walt coming around the corner to chew me a new one! everybody, duck!
zrim
Nah! We're all in such sweet accord!
Just kidding!
I dunno, I suppose it depends on how we define "war." Are there civil ways to "do" war? Isn't war, war? As far as I know, the goal of this conflict was to get into Iraq, take over Baghdad, find Saddam and/or end his life, and begin democracy. Oh yeah, and find those wmd's! I throw all rules of civility out the window when war comes to mind. People are being killed for reasons, so I don't understand why we would need to give this guy a fair trial. Say the United States and everyone else involved in the conflict said to themselves before the trial, "We're going to be as open to the evidence as possible that's set forth in this trial. And if the evidence shows that our ideals and motivations for invading Iraq are wrong, then we will withdraw and let Saddam go and forget anything happened. We will end the conflict now and say 'sorry.'" As I see it, that's the reason for taking this criminal to trial. On the other hand, if our motivation is to simply appear fair and execute the guy no matter what comes out of the trial, then it's just silly. Why have the trial unless Saddam ACTUALLY had the chance to go free? To give the guy a "fair trial" all the while knowing you're just going to kill him is unreasonable. But then, my whole argument is based on how I view trials.
what i was trying to get at is why do we allow disagreement when it comes to captial punishment and not abortion or other life issues? i know, big topics. but i have noticed that we protestants have an interesting way of dividing things up sometimes: "you can have your conclusion about CP but you can't have anything other than mine on abortion."
zrim
Thus there's often (always?) a spectrum of certitude that we're dealing with in matters of faith (what we believe) and practice (how we behave). Any of us can be wrong about our convictions, but just so you know: Although I can find reason for people to debate the issue of, say, capital punishment, I am of the conviction that the pro abortion stance is wrong. It's not that I would not entertain a consideration of the pros and cons for my position, but that having gone through the hoops as to the arguments, I've come to a conviction that is satisfying to and settled for me.
None of this is probably very helpful to you (to say the least!); nor is it really related to the present "Osama" discussion. So all I'm really doing is owning up to my own perspective on the matter you just raised. I guess this is just a confession that there's a ton to know, and I know but a speck.
Enjoy the evening!
We're up to 65 posts now.
(66 if you count my pointless observation)
thanks for the response. i consider myself to have the same dual-death stance as you. and, again, i am fully aware this takes this post way off course (sorry, folks)! but i find it really interesting that we can allow the other side its valid arguments when it comes to CP yet disallow them from the other side when it comes to abortion. we protestants also have a healthy track record when it comes to conscience when it comes to birth control, while other christians (called roman catholics) disallow differing views. thus, when it comes to big life issues like BC and CP, we allow for differeing views and don't push others into corners; yet, when it comes to abortion we get rabid, rabid, rabid.
and, remember, i am saying this as one who had very conservative politics when it comes to abortion; i call my views anti-abortion and not pro-life. if i were pro-life i'd find devout roman catholic views more consistent. i think there are times life can justifiably be taken, thus i wince at RC claims about the "culture of death." protestants who join in such RC critiques in order to further anti-abortion doctrines yet also embrace CP doctrines might do well to realize that RC policy and dogma go much further than than we dual-death protestants really would!
thanks,
zrim
There are countless millions who are as evil or more evil than OBL, but they don't have the money, intellegance, following, etc. to accomplish their goals..there are countless people living in plush subdivisions that would like nothing more than to see every Christian on earth brutally murdered...but they can't because they don't have the power and resources OBL had.
The difference in OBL and us is....the whole world saw his crime....does the whole would see your crimes against God? Does the news report daily that you have been fornicating in your heart, and that you have looked at porn, lied, dishonored God, etc.
God sees our crimes, and i wonder how many of us are larger criminals in God's eyes than OBL.
Ohhh....we if we could only see a glimpse of our crimes against God...and His indescribable Grace....oh so sweet.