When big-name conservative Christian leader died recently,
there were many people who celebrated his death. They had been raised in
environments where his influence permeated. His name, to them, was associated
with traumatic childhoods, harmful teachings, hate, cruelty, and tyranny. When
people think of cruel, judgmental Christians, they often think of the communities influenced
by him. Knowing he could no longer actively spread his harmful ideas was a
moment of relief, of celebration. I get it.
As millions wait another evil man’s death, I know that day will be of mixed emotions. We are not supposed to speak ill of the dead. But can we not celebrate when there’s a bit less evil in the world? Will one man’s death change the cruel culture? No. It’s not a victory, really. But it will feel like relief.
The traditional Christian response should be sadness, that a
man lived a cruel life and never (I presume) reconciled with God. Any lost soul
is a sad occasion, because God loves all of us and desires to be united. A sad
life, dedicated to greed and lust and pride, leaves destruction behind. What a lack of love he experienced and inflicted. That is
not worth rejoicing.
But what a relief to know that someday (soon) such a soul
will face the consequences of his life. For years many have felt injustice because of him, and now justice comes. He will face the judgment and mercy of God, as
we all will. Can we not rejoice that someone is now in God’s hands?
We won’t have to worry about who he’ll harm next or how we
can stop his reckless dictates. It would be disingenuous to gloss over the
harm he has caused in life, just to lionize him in death. The truth doesn’t
change. The truth is that many people will feel relief and satisfaction at his
death, hopefully that a cruel cult of personality will weaken.
I know on the day I’ll feel mixed emotions: happiness, guilt
at the happiness, worry that the world has inflicted me with cruelty where I anticipated
someone’s death so much. I’ll feel worry that nothing will change. I’ll hope
that it will. I’ll be bitter at those who want to whitewash a man’s history,
just because he died. I’ll cringe at the worst of the memes and probably laugh
at others. I'll be confused by those who extol him as virtuous. I’ll mostly hate how much a man I find so repulsive has such
influence over my life, my country, the people I care about.
Will it be ok to rejoice? I believe it’s alright to rejoice
at the removal of evil, the lessening of oppression, the victory of good. And
sometimes someone’s death leads to that. I cannot rejoice that someone’s soul
is lost; we should want all people to be reconciled to God. I should not wish
another’s eternal punishment. I should not let celebration be driven by cruelty
but by desire for the conquest of good.
“When the just prosper, the city rejoices; when the
wicked perish, there is jubilation. Through the blessing of the upright the
city is exalted, but through the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.”
-Proverbs 11:10-11
I know there are days I will celebrate. I hope I will keep
my feelings tempered and directed toward righteousness and not vindictiveness.
That is the best I can muster. May God have mercy on his soul. May God have
mercy on mine.
“Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute
you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his
sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the
unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?”
-Matthew 5:44-46
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