Monday, April 25, 2011

Is Comparing Osama bin Laden And Jesus Christ Ever Appropriate

Yesterday was the holiest day on the Christian calendar.
Resurrection Sunday, or as most are wont to call it, Easter Sunday.
As a faithful follower, Mrs. RVFTLC and I were at our church and celebrating Easter.
And of course there is a sermon. And it is always led by the head of the parish. In the Episcopal/Anglican tradition, the parish head is the rector.
Now usually Easter and Christmas are the two biggies. It is the time of year that many people who never set foot in a church do so. The sermon usually is positive and broad to reach that audience.
And yesterday was probably no exception.
Except for this line in the sermon:

Jesus was an outcast. He was misunderstood. Not unlike Osama bin Laden.

Osama bin Laden?
Beyond Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.
I was dumbfounded. I could not remember anything else from the sermon. Shortly after it was said, I asked Mrs. RVFTLC if I heard correctly. And she said that I did.
Afterwards I asked a couple of people what they thought and they also agreed that it was not appropriate to make such a comparison.
Really?
This is what happens when we get down into the much of moral relativism. Of moral equivalence.
See, the real problem with bin Laden is that he is really just some misunderstood fellow. He has a legitimate point of view. And we silly gooses in the West should be more in tune to listen to that point of view.
OK, let me explain why it is not something to do.
Before the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01, bin Laden and al-Queda tried to blow up the World Trade Center in New York City in 1993. And in 1998 did commit the twin embassy bombings in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. And in 2000, attacked the United States missile carrier the USS Cole, killing 17 servicemen. All before the dastardly attacks on 09/11/01.
So, if I understand correctly, we should have been more in contact with bin Laden? Tried to get his point of view? Negotiate with him?
I really do not understand.
What I do know is that there is no way to compare Jesus Christ, who sought to bring the world in perfect relationship with God peacefully, and Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden wants to bring the world closer to God at the point of a gun. The total opposite of Jesus.
There are consequences for what people do, good or bad. And look what happened to Jesus. He came to Jerusalem in triumph and the people turned against him as he turned out not to be a political leader that the captive Jews had hoped for. And he willingly went to the cross and was crucified. All to bring the world to God.
And bin Laden?
He will get his reward for his actions. Whether it is in this world or the next.
But let me be clear.
There is never a time or moment to compare the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, and the Prince of Darkness, Osama bin Laden. And especially not on Easter.

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