News

The Theology of Osama bin Laden’s Death

Christians call for solemn reflection and thanksgiving.

Justin Clemons

Download a PDF of this article here

Copyright © 2011 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

Previous Christianity Today coverage of Osama bin Laden’s death includes:

‘Do Not Gloat’ over Osama bin Laden’s Death | Remember how Americans felt after watching the jubilation after September 11? (May 2, 2011)

The Death of Osama bin Laden: What Kind of Justice Has Been Done? | The news should again remind us of the difference between the City of Man and the City of God. (May 2, 2011)

Yes, Justice Has Been Done in the Killing of Osama bin Laden | But our response as Christians must be marked by knowledge of our own depravity. (May 2, 2011)

‘Do Not Gloat’ vs. ‘Joy to the Righteous’ | The verses most quoted on Twitter and Facebook after the news of the death of Osama bin Laden. (May 2, 2011)

Engaging the Islamic World After Osama | Living the message of reconciliation in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and everywhere. (May 3, 2011)

How Should Christians Respond to Osama bin Laden’s Death? (May 1, 2011)

CT previously spotlighted Reformed hip-hop, church value, Christian names, how evangelicals give, evangelical vs. mainline politics, today’s pilgrims, President Obama’s faith, the future(s) of missions, health-care reform, Africa, American Idol, Haiti, Robert Park, persecution, Supreme Court and crosses, international religious liberty advocates, and church violence.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

The Search for the Historical Adam

Richard N. Ostling

My Top 5 Books On Technology

Shane Hipps

Ayn Rand Led Me to Christ

Bishop Edward S. Little II

Contemporary Music: The Cultural Medium and the Christian Message

D. H. Williams

Civility Under Fire: Chuck Colson & Timothy George Revive MLK's Legacy

A Variety of Religious Composition

Lawrence R. Mumford

Wilson's Bookmarks

John Wilson

Review

The Heart Has Reasons

Michael McGowan

News

Go Figure

Excerpt

A Meal with Jesus

Tim Chester

The Joyful Environmentalists: Eugene Peterson and Peter Harris

Review

Working on Eternity

Scot McKnight

News

Super Natural: Josh Hamilton's Comeback

Dan Reed

Should Christians Smoke Medical Marijuana?

Brett McCracken, Dónal O’Mathúna, and Ed Welch

Hardworking Sloths: Disguising Spiritual Laziness

The New Pro-Life Surge

Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra

News

Fleecing the Faithful—Again: Former YWAM Leader Defrauds Many

Ken Walker

News

Jerry Dykstra Resigns, Susan Billington Harper Appointed Westmont Provost, & More

Readers Write

Prison Partnership: Byron R. Johnson on Christian Criminal Justice

Interview by Joe Carter

Alternative Capitalist: How a Coffee Business Brews Reconciliation

Mark Moring

Editorial

No Adam, No Eve, No Gospel

A Christianity Today Editorial

Adam, Where Are You?

News

Quotation Marks

News

States' License to Pill Increases Conflicts

Bobby Ross Jr.

News

Shouwang Church Members Keep Meeting, Court to Hear Seminary Tenure Dispute, and More News

News

Public Enemy: Iran's Persecution Backfires

Trevor Persaud

News

Should the China Ambassador Worship at a House Church?

Compiled by Ruth Moon

Martyrs Trilogy: One Too Many

Mark Moring

A Sensory Revelation

Brett McCracken

News

Standing on Shaky Ground: Pastor Tax Break Threat Lessens

Ken Walker

Who Gets Left Behind?

Matthew Dickerson

View issue

Our Latest

The Rebellious Act of Rolling Back the Stone

Richard Mouw

From Jesus to angels to the apostles, Resurrection Day instructs us on earthly and heavenly authority.

Review

‘The Christ’ Audio Drama Testifies to Easter

You can’t ‘come and see’ this depiction of Jesus, but you can definitely come and hear.

The Bulletin

Therapists’ Free Speech, Grads’ Careers, and Hegseth’s Imprecatory Prayer

Clarissa Moll, Russell Moore

Supreme Court ruling on conversion therapy ban, high unemployment rates of college grads, and the theology of praying judgment on enemies.

Review

Manifest Destiny Was an Act of Volition

John Fea

Three books on early American history.

The Scandal and Grace of Christ’s Saturday in the Grave

Hardin Crowder

How Fyodor Dostoevsky saw the whole story of redemption in Holbein’s painting of the dead Jesus.

The Cross that Saves and Heals

Jeremy Treat

Good Friday’s message to a wounded world.

Wonderology

Cosmic Plinko

Are we here by chance?

News

Churches Try Drones and Skydiving Bunnies for Easter Outreach

“We want to make it about Jesus and getting people excited about the Easter season and going to church somewhere.”

addApple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseellipseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squarefolderGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastprintremoveRSSRSSSaveSavesaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube