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“Out of the south cometh the whirlwind . . . He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or
for his land, or for mercy” ~
Job 37:9, 13 Once
again, America
and the world have been given an
awesome reminder of the power of God’s creation.
This power is so great that many men without faith stop to ponder its
magnitude and come to the inevitable conclusion that the creation is mightier
than they are. Incredibly though,
they fail to see God who created such power and come then to the sound grasp of
the infinite power of the Almighty who created and directs all things.
“By
the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright
cloud: And it is turned round about
by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of
the world in the earth” (Job 37:10-12). Some
have erroneously supposed that God began the processes of evolution and then
held Himself aloof while they ran their own course.
They do not see God conducting the affairs of the earth.
But, they are amiss for, “He
sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.
He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?
He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow,
and the waters flow” (Psa. 147:15-18).
They can easily see a major storm as nature
run amok. However, not only is the
storm not
beyond His control, but it actually comes from God and accomplishes His purpose.
“The
LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust
of his feet” (Nah. 1:3). In
the aftermath of Hurricane
Katrina, numerous theological lessons beg to be drawn out of the
rubble and that which was, and is, and is to come.
Undoubtedly, many will rise to that challenge and bless us with
observations likely dominated by the morbid and morose.
However, let us not take up the form of the strictly theological, but
rather consider some biblical worldview and Christian commentary on current
events—a sort of cultural exegesis. The
Sensationalists In
the days leading up to the storm, we were treated to numerous “doomsday”
scenarios of the storm’s potential. Words
like ‘catastrophic’, ‘devastating’, ‘disastrous’, ‘nightmarish’,
et
al, were the common fare. Of
course, viewing images of the storm’s actual damage makes the vocabulary seem
lacking. For the most part, the
forecasters were fairly accurate in their assessments prior to the storm’s
landfall and this raises an interesting question. When
evacuation orders were given to the However,
a number of people who could have left clearly chose not to leave.
So, here is the question: Why did people remain in target areas when they
were informed of the imminent danger from the storm and they had the wherewithal
to leave? From many of those
folks’ own statements, they just did not believe the reports nor that the
storm would be that bad. Their
disbelief is at least in part a reflection of the lack of credibility of the
news media in general. They have heard these sorts of warnings many times
before, only to find the media’s predictions exaggerated and their facts
askew. Why would this time be any
different? It is somewhat
understandable that people did not believe the report, though it turned out to
be valid, because the message had its feet cut off according to the true proverb
(Pro. 26:6). The
news media is full of sensationalists who seldom let the facts stand in the way
of a good story. Their reports
often tend toward morbidity and shock—a fact that is evident merely in their
selection of what to report. Sensationalism
sells media and makes gains of power, prestige, and payola.
When the ball starts rolling on a story like this, there is a frenzy of
competition to stay ahead and gain the audience.
The lust for gloom has also been manifest in the wake of the storm.
Adding much unneeded stress, reporters have hammered away at government
officials for fatality statistics in the midst of massive search and rescue
operations, disorder, flooded cities, and time-critical needs—a thing that
common decency winces at. I
suppose also, the fact that this stuff sells, is a statement about our culture
today. There is not a lot of value
put on plain honesty. And, the news
media is not looked to as purveyors of such honesty.
When was the last time you heard a person who is dependable and honest
being characterized as being as
right as a reporter? Here
the Christian faith stands in direct opposition to the culture.
We are responsible to “Provide
things honest in the sight of all men” (Rom. The
Opportunists The
early reports of the storm damage were followed hard by a multitude of
tongue-wagging liberals who sought to seize the opportunity to advance their
agenda. Some have been general in
blaming the fabled global
warming for the storm, but all have agreed in their effort to lay the
blame for this storm in the lap of some despised person or group. The
criticism continued to be leveled against the Sadly,
it is quite common in our culture for people to seize opportunities to advance
their personal interest or receive the self-satisfaction of “I told you so.”
Capitalizing on the bad circumstances of others for braggadocio is
completely anti-Christian. Christ,
the Messiah, was given “the
tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him
that is weary” (Isa. 50:4). Solomon
wisely observed that there was a proper time for everything and he proclaimed, “A
word spoken in due season, how good is it!” (Pro. 15:23).
The tongue is powerful and can be used to pull down, pluck up, and
destroy. But, it can also be used
to lift up, to help up, and to build. We
do not shrink back from having to deal honestly with hard things, but our “speech”
is to “be
always with grace” (Col. 4:6). The
Lawless Katrina
destroyed much with wind and water, but was unable to dampen depravity in
humanism’s disciples. With vain
imaginations, many have been looting the homes and businesses in the damaged
areas. This reality is more
confounding in I
know what the mantra is with the liberals: Don’t pass judgment on people in
desperation. I am certain there are
people who are seeking desperately for basic sustenance and are likely availing
themselves of whatever essentials they find in the open.
I am not commenting about them one way or the other.
I am referring to those I have seen on internet video feeds who are
wading through water that daily becomes more toxic, carrying televisions,
stereos, computers, bicycles, etc. These
can hardly be considered life-saving necessities. In
all of this, the irrationality of covetousness is clearly seen.
God called the man a fool who had joy in his possessions and was about to
die. There is no electricity to run
these things. There is no place to
take these things. What consolation
will a stolen 54” plasma television be to one who dies of starvation, thirst,
or disease? In these kinds of
scenes, there is no community, only a radical individualism, every man doing “that
which was right in his own eyes” (Jud. 16:6). Law and proper authority are needed to maintain civil society.
Paul told us that the law is made “for
the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and
profane, for murderers of fathers, and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For
whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for
liars, for perjured persons” (I Tim. 1:9-10).
The law restrains the wickedness of man, but the law of God stands
whether there is a presence of human authority or not.
The Christian faith prays imprecations for the lawless as well as
intercessions for the helpless. The
Petulant We
were hardly over the shock of the initial images of destruction from the coast
before the wagging fingers came out toward Is
this a sanctified whining? Should
Christians join in the chorus singing, “Woe to the World”?
First, let me say that I am not commenting on whether other countries
should or should not help us at this time.
Neither am I contending that we as a nation have not done anything to
help other countries. What I am
considering is whether it is Christian to join the popular sentiment of bashing
these other countries this way. Frankly,
these complaints come from a presupposition that runs afoul of what the Bible
teaches concerning giving and charity; it makes no difference that it is on an
international scale, and it actually betrays an attitude of un-thankfulness. It
is decidedly anti-Christian to congratulate oneself for acts of charity.
This is unprofitable self-flattery.
Paul said, “Though
I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing”
(I Cor. 13:3). He stated clearly
that charity “vaunteth
not itself” and “seeketh
not her own” (I Cor. 13:4-5).
To vaunt our own actions in order to receive credit and praise is to play
the hypocrite to be seen of men. Christ
taught, “But
when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know that thy right hand doeth: That
thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall
reward thee openly” (Matt. 6:3-4).
This precept is violated when we tout our own giving to shame others for
their lack of giving and failure to measure up to our standard. Furthermore,
the Christian does not give in order to get a reciprocal gift.
Christ taught, “But
when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And
thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be
recompensed at the resurrection of the just” (Luke The
Beneficent Not
all of the commentary arises from the negative.
One of the early arrivers at the disaster site was the disaster relief
unit of the Southern Baptist Convention. They
deployed quickly and set up shop to distribute hot meals and needed supplies to
the helpless. You may take issue
with the SBC on various points, and you may have valid reason for doing so, but
in this at least, they are getting the faith right.
The Bible explains, “Pure
religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the
fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from
the world” (James This
storm has made some children fatherless and some spouses widowed.
To extend the hand of charity is to bring God to these people—to bring
them “A
father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows” (Psa. 68:5).
Faith does not consist merely in a set of abstract principles.
Real faith lives and works in the real world and does not omit the things
that are important in life. Jesus
said to the abstract religionists, “Woe
unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise
and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy,
and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone”
(Matt. 23:23). Judgment, mercy, and
faith have to do with loving our neighbor as ourselves, as demonstrated in the
parable of the Good Samaritan. I
certainly pray that many good Samaritans will relieve the distress of the
hurricane victims. The
Summary I
have not entered into speculation as to why this storm did what it did; I will
reserve that for others. I have no
doubts that it came from God, for “He
causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy”
(Job 37:13). I will not speculate
about the secret things that belong to Him.
I do not doubt that it will ultimately result in God’s praise. I
am also sure that despite the scenes of the many who are hopeless while they
look to their god—the government, there are many whose faith will not lead
them to despair while they faithfully look to the God who made the universe.
They will not sorrow as others and they will not murmur.
They are suffering a trial that I have not endured, neither can I
understand, but I pray for them and seek ways to help.
I am sure that the pagans mock them and say, “Where
is thy God?” (Psa. 42:10). But,
faith looks into the pagan brow and replies, “Though
he slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job Your
Servant For Jesus’ Sake, Jeff
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