Love one another.

I'm just not OK with murder.

I never will be.  Taking the life of another human being, no matter how evil, is unacceptable and a despicable act.  The slain of Osama Bin Laden has been "justified" because he was an evil man with a terrorist agenda.  He was responsible for the murder and death of thousands of Americans after the 9/11 attacks, and he has been a looming threat to our nation's security for the last 10 years.  His death prompted a giant sigh of relief from the lungs of America.

But is killing another human being ever really justified?  Is it our place to play God and determine who lives and who dies?  Is it OK to kill one person in hopes of preventing the murder of others?  I just don't know...

My heart is being pulled about 3 different ways regarding this matter.

1.  I'm trying to be rational.  Human, I guess.  The murder of Osama Bin Laden will potentially save lives.  He was evil and needed to be stopped.  I've heard his murder compared to putting down a rabid animal - not an easy job to do, but one that has to be done for the safety of others.
2.  But, Bin Laden was NOT an animal.  He was a human being.  At one point he was some mother's pride and joy.  He was a child of God and someone whom Jesus loved and died for.  With his death, he has now been sentenced to an eternity of suffering in Hell.  I never wish Hell on anyone.  The world is desensitized to the idea of Hell these days, but Hell is serious.  I cannot rejoice over someone being sentenced to Hell - against his own will.  Had he died on his own that day, Hell would have been his sentence, yes.  But that sentence was given to him based on someone else's agenda.
3.  Maybe this is God's way of justice?  God is love, yet God is also just.  Because God is God, I cannot begin to fathom exactly how He works, nor can I predict his next step.  Perhaps this was God's way of achieving justice.  I just don't know.

Rather than dwelling on what happened, I'm trying to think about how I can respond.  There could be so many possible outcomes from the death of Osama Bin Laden.  I am praying for peace.  I am praying that the people of this world stop playing by the rules of "an eye for an eye" and start playing by the rules of love and brotherhood.

You can't overcome evil with evil, but you can change the world with love.