Bin Laden's eternal reward: American religious community considers appropriate reaction to terrorist's death

Mike Huckabee, a 2008 presidential candidate, gave his judgment of Osama bin Laden's eternal reward with the epitaph, "Welcome to hell, bin Laden." While the sentiment may not be legally binding, the killing of bin Laden by U.S. forces has many people thinking about the religious implications of the leader of al-Qaida's death and legacy and whether it is appropriate to rejoice in his demise.

Christianity Today had an article looking at Twitter messages "wondering whether Osama bin Laden is in hell." The article had a sample of tweets from various Christian pastors and bloggers about his death. For example:

— Jared Wilson "the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies." (2 Chron. 20:27).

— Abraham Piper: Osama Bin Laden is dead? I want to see the long-form death certificate.

— Rachel Held Evans: Trying to keep in mind that how I respond to the death of my enemies says as much about me as it does about my enemies.

One commenter on the Christianity Today story quoted Mark Twain: "I've never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure."

An AP story quoted 2008 presidential candidate Mike Huckabee: "It is unusual to celebrate a death, but today Americans and decent people the world over cheer the news that madman, murderer and terrorist Osama Bin Laden is dead."

Continuing, Huckabee said, "It has taken a long time for this monster to be brought to justice. Welcome to hell, bin Laden. Let us all hope that his demise will serve notice to Islamic radicals the world over that the United States will be relentless in tracking down and terminating those who would inflict terror, mayhem and death on any of our citizens."

Blogger Christopher Morgan said at The Gospel Coalition that, "I tend to think that we can rightly grieve that Osama bin Laden opposed the true and living God and will be punished accordingly. But we also can rightly rejoice in the defeat and judgment upon people who are evil — and he was clearly evil and deserving of every punishment earth can give. The dancing in the streets may not merely be American nationalism, but an appropriate response to the partial display of human justice as we await the final and perfect display of divine justice in the coming age."