This is an excerpt from Miroslav Volf’s post, ‘Fear and Relief‘ at the Christian Century:
As I listened to President Obama’s calmly triumphant announcement that Osama bin Laden had been killed and “justice has been served”–and to the reports of celebrations in American streets–I tried to sort out my own responses to the surprising news. Throughout the morning, my inbox filled with e-mails from friends near and far. These reactions, unlike those of the U.S. government and most Americans, were more ambivalent.
A friend at Yale reminded me of Proverbs 24:17, Ezekiel 33:11 and Matthew 5:44, adding this:
After 9/11 I found it very hard to bring myself to pray for Usama bin Laden. But by God’s grace I did because Jesus said I must. And though I am tempted to rejoice today, I will not because Jesus said I must not.
A young Christian leader from the Middle East offered a view forged in a majority-Muslim country:
A huge opportunity now–after the death of bin Laden–is for Americans to intentionally free themselves fully from the domain of fear and those who manipulate it for their own agendas. Politicians will be looking for the next “enemy” to continue to distract you from being truly the “land of the free.” You are not free until you eliminate all your fear. Love drives out fear.
