Monday, May 2, 2011

Osama Bin Laden is Dead

As an American, I join in with the rest of the country in breathing a collective sigh of relief in knowing that Osama Bin Laden has been removed from the world stage, and I applaud the obviously successful efforts of our (American-born) Commader-In-Chief (who has had a very good week, by the way) and the amazing soldiers who executed a virtually flawless raid on Bin Laden's Pakistani mansion/compound. I wish it hadn't taken so long to find him, especially since he has obviously been hiding in plain sight, and I regret that we are still at war in Iraq and Afghanistan...but at least he's gone, and at least it happened before the up-coming 10th anniversary of 9/11.

Being as patriotic as the next guy, I was moved by the spontaneous celebrations that broke out at the White House and in Times Square and at Ground Zero last night, and I certainly don't want to be insensitive to the pain of the families who lost loved ones on that horrible September morning a decade ago...families that will never have full closure from the attrocities of that day, no matter who is assassinated...but I am sober today. Relieved? Yes. Happy? Not really...at least not totally...

Just yesterday I preached on "The Fruit of the Spirit is Kindness", and how we live in such an unkind world...people killing one another...hating one another. Even though what was done in Pakistan in the last few hours apparently had to be done, I can't in good conscience really rejoice in the death of anyone, no matter how evil they are. Am I glad he's gone? No doubt about it. I'm glad to know that we don't have to dread another of his videos coming out that shows he's still alive and still a threat to our safety. But I am grieved that we live in a world where this kind of thing still has to happen at all.

The President gave a short but brilliant speech last night, in which he pointed out that Osama Bin Laden does not represent Islam, and he's right about that. In fact, Bin Laden has killed more Muslims than he has any other group. But where my mind is today is that the real enemy is not Osama Bin Laden or any other person, for that matter...it's religious fundamentalism.

Fundamentalism kills...be it Muslim or Christian or that of any other religious persuasion. The Crusades, The Spanish Inquisition, the Holocaust, the violence between Protestants and Catholics in Ireland, the Ku Klux Klan, the Taliban, etc...it's all about religious intolerance that stems from fundamentalist interpretations of holy writ.

Today I'm proud to be an American. I'm proud of our President and of our troops. I love this country, and I want it to be safe. But I'm really, really tired of religious fundamentalism, and all the hatred and death that it inevitably causes.

Terrorism happens every day in the name of religion...believe me, I know of what I speak.

Just wanted to share some thoughts.

Love never fails...

The Fruit of the Spirit is Kindness...

God bless America...

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cedric McNeal said...

Wow!

Anonymous said...

Linda Coleman said...

so very eloquently stated!

Anonymous said...

Dave Hershey said...

Thank you Jim! I think your words surrounding this event has stated perfectly how many of us feel today. Thank you again. Much love to you!

Anonymous said...

Skip Higgins said...

There stands "a man of God." Do you recognize him?

Anonymous said...

Wendy Lynne Efird said...

Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Rhonda Freeman said...

Thank you sir. That is pretty much exactly how I feel, but I could have never put it so eloquently.

Anonymous said...

Gary Durden said...

Perfect commentary

Anonymous said...

Pastor Chuck Breckenridge said...

Praise God! I got almost 200 emails last night because of my post...Keep up the great work my friend!

Anonymous said...

Owen Fields said...

God bless you Bishop Swilley---well spoken.

Anonymous said...

Jasmine Soni said...

Humanity !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Sharon Shepherd said...

Thank you Bishop, you ALWAYS deliver a right NOW word...that's what I LOVE about YOU!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Karl McIntosh Cobos said...

yup.

Anonymous said...

Renae Mitchell Watts said...

Beautifully said. My sentiments exactly.

Anonymous said...

Keith Mitchell said...

This is the best thing I've read sense they got him last night. Thanks

Anonymous said...

Mark Pridmore said...

I agree with Keith. I'm going to share this so my FB friends can have the benefit of your wisdom.

Anonymous said...

Donald Cofield said...

You have written my thoughts.

Anonymous said...

Dan Rafferty said...

I am so SHARING this on my page. Bishop, you are amazing!

Anonymous said...

Joseph LovinMe Mitchell said...

Bishop thanks for speaking a great truth...I so greatly appreciate the love you show and the word you spread....I want to share this on my wall as well if you dont mind....love you much

Joseph

Anonymous said...

Douglas Equality Sanders said...

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

Anonymous said...

Linda M Curtis said...

Yes, Bish ~ that would be all fact and truth, right there ~

Anonymous said...

L Dianne King said...

Well said, Jim.

Anonymous said...

Jean de Sousa said...

Amen and Amen!!!

Anonymous said...

Ethel Higgins said...

I can't celebrate in the death of anyone....however; I am "settled" to know he won't be spreading anymore destruction and pain to any group.....Bring our troops home.....let the mending and healing begin.....GO PRESIDENT OBAMA!!!

Anonymous said...

Calvin Thompson said...

I am very Proud of our troups and our American Born President...Amen to them all....

Anonymous said...

Dea Smith said...

Love never fails....thanks...

Anonymous said...

Claudette Perry said...

Bishop, thank you for considering ALL involved and I was so proud of the speech Pres. Obama delvered.

Anonymous said...

Rhonda Perry said...

ditto.

Anonymous said...

Renee Thomas said...

‎"I can forgive the Arabs for killing our children but I cannot forgive them for making our children killers"
- Golda Meir

Anonymous said...

Renee Thomas said...

While it may have been necessary the killing of anyone is a tragedy and a failure. It's not something to rejoice over - it's something to somberly reflect upon for however far he strayed into the utter darkness of hate, he was a child of G-d too.

Anonymous said...

Will Byrd said...


Jim, your post is worthy of a standing ovation!!! We both have a background in the same denomination, and we both know ALLLLL too well what "Christian Fundamentalism" is all about. Few people that I have met say it as well as you, and with such clarity ... however I will simply say that I am VERY tired of that mentality and it's committment to rudeness, hatefulness, and literally "shoving religion down the throats of society" with no love whatsoever. Bless your continued ministry and the words of life that flow forth from you!!

Anonymous said...

John W. Brumlow said...

Your walk with Spirit is very deep and meaningful friend. Your words convey much peace to the many who need them. Our power of words spoken for peace combined will continued to bless all the world, even those who don't think they want it. The power of love prevails.

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

Thanks for the feedback...I also posted this on the other blog...here are some of the comments posted there...



Theresa Ellson Renner said...

Amen, Bishop. All this ghoulish glee is a little disturbing. Osama bin Laden should NOT be seen as a representative of Islam, but as the head of a terrorist organization. Sadly, we still have terrorist organizations that CALL themselves "Christian." But "Love never fails". I'll be borrowing that. God bless.



Roxanne Wisniewski said...

Captures well the emotions I've felt. Thank you



Angela Featherstonem said...

say it!!!! xxx



Mindy Nancarrow said...

ditto. i feel sober, not gleeful.




Mary W. Black said...

Well said.




Vince Downing said...

Preach. Well said, Bishop.




Louis 'Chic' Ramirez said...

Thanks Bishop. May I share a quote here by MLK?



Rob McFarland said...

That is one of the best things I have ever read! AWESOME WORD!



Russ Noe said...

Brilliantly articulated. You wrote how I feel—somewhat relieved yet knowing that the battles rage on.



Roy Isom said...

Thank you so much for your efforts to articulate this in a positive manner.

Anonymous said...

Robyn Snyder said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xB4dbdNSXY&feature=fvsr

I think Jesus understood Lennon and what he was trying to say [non-fundamentalism, but love.. really, love]

Anonymous said...

Robyn Snyder said...

I Cor 13:13.

Anonymous said...

Robyn Snyder ‎... but, Ecclesiastes 3. It's true.

Anonymous said...

Robyn Snyder said...

OK, good night. sorry for the rant. :)

Anonymous said...

Yvonne Fuller said...

I hope it is okay to repost...beautifully conveyed

Anonymous said...

Jeremy Lopez said...

Bishop Swilley, I applaud you and stand with you on your comment. it is hard to live in a world where people are killed in the name of God. My heart is glad to that Osama bin Laden is no more a threat to us as a nation and a people but still grieve how Christians and or other religious groups applaud and celebrate the death of a human life. Love is something our world desperately needs towards one another. The world would be a better place if love was the standard in our lives. I stand with you my friend. ......Truly, love never fails....

Erik said...

Fundamental Religious Terrorism (Abrahamics seem to be the majority of these terrorists) is in its death expelling, with noticeable spiritual smelliness.

It has gone away very soon.

Intolerance comes from fear and insecurity. That is dissolving each day.

God encourages All of Us, in Her love, to Go, Do, Enjoy -- since the beginning. We Do!

Anonymous said...

Yvonne Fuller said

‎-thanks Bishop for being authentic, as you see many of us re-posted, and my reason was that your messge would get out to my friends and family who weren't your fb friends, it was beautifully written and I really felt your heart on this...and totally agree...thank you

Anonymous said...

Mark Alan Fout said...

Amen! Amen Amen!

Anonymous said...

Daisson Hickel said...

I agree. Well said.