Is Rejoicing OK?

“Do not rejoice when your enemies fall, and when they stumble, do not let your heart exult, lest the Lord see it, be displeased with you, and withdraw his wrath from your enemies. Do not be provoked at evildoers.” -Proverbs 24:17-19

When big-name conservative Christian leader died recently, there were many people to 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 evil 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. But 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 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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