So now for the post-Osama world

Osama bin Laden is dead. Nothing to really rejoice in, though we could be satisfied justice has been done. What difference will it make? Is the media celebration of popular uprisings across the Middle East justified? Will democracy win? Or is this even the real issue?

For me as a Christian theologian, Osama is one more lost sinner who failed to turn to Christ, was captured by an extremist ideology and used to bring a lot of grief to the world. We can pause to mourn with all those who suffered because of his actions, and sometimes because of foolish counter-actions.

But behind bin Laden there is a much bigger issue in play and a greater war in progress. It has been won already but not yet over. At stake is the eternal destiny of millions and the cause of true justice under the only legitimate ruler of the world, Jesus Christ. And all of us are involved: as a combatant, POW or fellow-traveller. At least we can choose whose side to be on.

I see the current unrest all over the earth, including the recent “natural” disasters, as moves in the defeat of the devil and the liberation of a lot of lost souls. Al Qa’eda probably arose out of the devil’s realisation that his long hold on Muslims is coming unstuck: more of them are turning to Christ than ever before.

So what we can all do now is turn to Christ ourselves, then pray for the defeat of the devil and the advance of the kingdom of God through the preaching of the gospel by all possible means