the enemy rejoices, but we choose life

When death strikes, demons may revel. But the Church remembers: death has been swallowed up in victory.

Dearest Gentle Reader,

The only ones who rejoice in senseless bloodshed are demons.

History has shown us this. When planes struck buildings on September 11, 2001, some darkened hearts rejoiced while millions wept. And even now, after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, I’ve seen numerous voices foolishly cheer. It is a chilling reminder that the thief still comes “only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10).

To clap at murder is not courage. It is not justice. It is not holy anger. It is simply echoing demonic cheers.

Demons rejoiced
when Jesus died, too. 

But heaven just started
counting to three.

I remember once scrolling through social media after a tragedy and seeing people make memes out of it. Something in me turned cold. I thought, How can hearts become so numb? It made me realise how easy it is to lose our humanity when we let bitterness, racism, wokism, tribalism… eat away at compassion. But that is not the way of Christ and His body.

For the Ekklesia, death wears a different face. Paul’s words cut through the shadows: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Death is not the final curtain for those in Christ. Death is the opening of eternity. Yeah, it is the long-awaited homecoming. And so we do not laugh in the face of tragedy; we grieve, yes, but we grieve with hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

That is the difference.

While demons may revel in destruction, the Church sings a louder song of life and resurrection, and of victory and eternal glory. For it is written, “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54).

And here is where our witness matters. When the world shouts mockery, we whisper prayers. When others make cruel jokes, we extend comfort. When hate rises, we hold fast to love. To follow Christ is to resist the pull of cruelty and to choose compassion even when our culture rewards callousness.

So let us be known as people who do not dance at graves but kneel beside them. We should be a people who, instead of celebrating death, point to the One who conquered it.

Dearest reader, may your heart never harden to the point of clapping for bloodshed.

—Jaachịmmá Anyatọnwụ

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