I have spent much time this week pondering and praying over Osama bin Laden's death and how to respond. This is a difficult and ambiguous issue for those of us who are adults, but knowing what to say and how to say it to our children is complicated. The first thing to remeber is that you know your children best - follow their lead through their questions and be confident the Holy Spirit will be with you as you respond.
Our Scripture tells us "Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather they should turn from their wicked ways and live?" (Ezekiel 18:23) and this same understanding of God's mercy is also found in 1 Timothy 2:4, Michah 7:18 and Ezekiel 33:11. Yet, it would seem that Osama bin Laden did not turn from what Americans have know as his "wicked ways." The evil he perpetrated continues to have lasting effect on many of our sisters and brothers and on our country as a whole.
We live in a messy world - one that does not yet resemble the "peaceable kingdom" where both God's justice and mercy dwell hand in hand. Often times, we live in a world where "the color of truth is grey" (Andre Gide). So "what are we to say" to our children "about these things?"
There is an excellent prayer on the General Board of Discipleship's web page. You can find it at http:/http://www.gbod.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=nhLRJ2PMKsG&b=5801541&ct=9377657/. Prayer is always a good place to start talking with our children. Elementary-aged children and up can begin phrasing their questions from the prayer and parents can use the prayer as a guideline for response. The tougher questions are going to be things like "Is Osama bin Laden in hell?" A good answer might be "I don't know, but I am trusting that God knows what was in his heart and knows how best to treat him." Our junior high children may begin really wrestling with good and evil- and questions such as "Why does God let bad things happen?" and "Why did God let it take so long to find this guy?" These are questions that tug on our own sometimes unanswered questions. Often the best way to respond is to ask the young person what they think and talk it out together in conversation. You may find that you know something you didn't and both you and your child may learn from the presence of God in the conversation. On the other hand, very young children will probably not ask many questions and will be reassured by the fact the OBL is no longer a danger to themeselves or those they love.
This is a tough issue through which to wade - both as individual Christians and as Christian parents. I find myself feeling rather ambiguous; I am glad that OBL is no longer walking among us, but I cannot rejoice in the death of another human being anymore than I can rejoice in the pain he caused. The disordered social relations in which we live are the results of disordered human hearts and actions over the long continum of human history. My own reaction is to pray and then to use the resources of our Methodist quadrilateral - Scripture, Tradition, Reason and Experience - to help me come to some form of response. It is slow work in this case.
Please know that these are simply guidelines and my own thoughts - I am happy to talk through any questions or concerns with you - just call or email. And know that I am holding the children and families of SUMC in deep prayer this week.
Grace and peace,
Dr. Elizabeth
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