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RECAP NEWSLETTER - 9/26/5 Issue 43
"CALAMITIES & THE POOR" "Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished." One of the great dangers that lies in hindsight upon events such as Hurricane Katrina (or other disasters) is to get the smug impression that they deserved what they received, and because of that we can be puffed up and look down our noses at those involved. Granted, events may be for judgment. Several times in the Bible, examples are given of nations judged for their sin. Sodom, Gomorrah, and the cities of the plains were judged for their sin. But, the Bible states that it is not to be cause for a morbid celebration or to get a pumped-up attitudes of righteous superiority. In Luke 13:4-5 Jesus recalled a recent disaster (at that time), and commented on the response. "Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Disasters and calamities may have earmarks of judgment, or none at all, but we are to remember that we are nobody special. In a sense, we deserve it as much as others. In the weeks after Katrina, we have looked at how God is angry with the wicked, and does punish sin, especially gross immorality. He shows mercy and longsuffering, but He is still Just. I have watched several articles from the secular arena who are shocked by the sheer volume of articles that blast New Orleans for its wickedness, and directly attribute the hurricane to God's judgment on the city. In one sense they are right. There is an air of self-righteous smugness that can arise from such labels. We have covered that perspective as well. However, our attitude and reaction should not be "glad at calamities", but a soberness. Jonah set up a shaded spot where he would sit and watch the city of Ninevah get blasted. His morbid curiosity was eager for the city to be erased from this world. Yet, God rebuked him for that attitude and showed His mercy toward the people that repented (Jonah 4:11). That brings up the other point: the poor. When God questioned Jonah, He mentioned that the people in the city "cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?" Most of the city was not what we might consider those with "higher education." Many of them were simple. For a city as big as Ninevah was (Jonah 3:3-4), it probably had many 'poor' sections of town, lower-income areas, or 'ghettos' as they are are referred to today. Yet, God desired to show them mercy. As Christians today, our attitude and response to the poor is very important. It is interesting that the Psalmist included both the poor and calamities in the same verse. Oftentimes, it is the poor who suffer the most during calamities. I have done a lot of reading about the hurricane, and its effect on New Orleans, and the poverty there. Many people who have commented have made disparaging remarks regarding the poor of that city. There is a huge difference between being poor and being what the Bible calls 'slothful'. Yes, there is much to be said for the effects of welfare, and there are many whose work ethics (and ethics in general) can be attributed to welfare systems. However, there are still many people who are hard working individuals, who just go through hard times. With our current economic situation, it it understandable that many have jobs that are not paying enough. We will get to that later. Proverbs 14:31 says, "He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor." As Christians, we should not be quick to lump people together and to look down on them just because of their economic status. There will always be 'poor' people. Chances are, I would be considered 'poor' compared to some of you. Many times it is in the eye of the beholder. What is our attitude toward the poor, the destitute, the desolate, the refugee? Psalm 72:12-13 says, "For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy." Do we as Christians have a heart of compassion? Do we have a 'respect of persons' which the Bible warns against? Do we refrain from helping people because they are not in the same bracket as us, or because they come from the 'ghettos'? Does our church look down their nose on the family who comes in dressed in clothes from the local mission? Folks, I've lived in the inner-cities of Philadelphia and New York. You want to see people that most churches would rather avoid? I lived there. However, to the glory of God, many of them made better and more zealous Christians than I see in many opulent churches. Christ does not look at one's wallet, He looks at their heart and relationship to Him. Christians today have it backwards. We have churches so large that honest, one-on-one fellowship with the family of God is rare. Clothing, appearances, and performance has become the judge that people go by. When you stop dealing with people, you stop caring for people. Who should we help? This next section is for the naysayers who lump the welfare crowd and the poor together. Many people see the damage that was done in New Orleans as 'improvements' getting out the 'rip-raff'. In some ways, from an economic and city-planning point of view, that is correct. However, that relegates the people to the level of garbage. The best way to 'clean up' a city area is to clean the hearts first. Get vibrant, effective churches planted, witnessing and evangelizing - that will change the people. Changed people will change ethics as well. As I said before, I have seen effective inner-city church work change lives that city planning boards had given up on. Druggies, prostitutes, murderers, thieves, gang members, spousal abusers, and much worse had their lives changed for the glory of God! Some of them have made the best deacons and church planters that I have seen. So, who should we help? Does this mean that we are obligated to give a quarter to every homeless person, and give money to every Katrina victim? No. First of all, money is a gift that is too easy to abuse. Food, temporary work, shelter - these can be given. Around my area, there a dozens of hitchhikers and train hobos always asking for a handout. To give your money to an individual who sits beneath the bridge all day smoking cigarettes and drinking beer is not good stewardship. Giving them a warm meal, sharing the Gospel, and providing clothing and work will help them, and be better stewardship. The Bible has much to say about individuals who beg for handouts but do not want to work. While there are many families on welfare that work hard, there are many along for the ride, and expect something for nothing. Proverbs 10:4-5 "He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame." 2 Thessalonians 3:10 reminds us of the famous adage, "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." Proverbs 24:30-32 remarks, "I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction." Proverbs 18:9 "He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster." Slothful equals poor, but poor does not equal slothful. Luke 21:2-3 "And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all" There are many Christians and unsaved (widows, fatherless, single parents, etc.) who are destitute and poor. That should not label them in our mind as being lazy or slothful. Galatians 2:10 "Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do." As Christians, we have a duty and obligation to care for the poor - those who cannot or struggle to help themselves. 1 Timothy 5:16 "If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed." There are many who have the means, and support, to subsist. However, many can be shown the love of Christ by our actions. Do not let the world's stereotypes of the poor cloud your compassion. Do not rejoice when calamities come - but take note. Jesus Christ was the poor of the poor. He had no qualms about going to the inner-city neighborhoods and showing compassion and love to those the world had turned their back on. What about you? What about your church? I know of one large church right near me who made the decision not to have a bus ministry just because it would bring in children from the lower-income areas, and they might damage their nice, pretty buildings. If Jesus Christ came to reach the poor, cannot we? If God was willing to show mercy even to Nineveh, cannot we? If God was willing to save me, cannot I have compassion on the poor? James 2:5 "Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?"
UPDATES In light of recent current events, I will also be trying to finish the "When Freedom Fails" article. Please pray for me this week, that the Lord will give me the rest that I need, the alertness necessary, the time in His Word, and that distractions will not hinder me in this work. Thank you always for your prayers.
CURRENT EVENT RECAP With the civilians already used to the military presence in New Orleans, why shouldn't they be involved in the next disaster? Our American populace is already indoctrinated by the image and stereotype of the soldier and military discipline and efficiency as portrayed in current movies and media themes. Does the average American see a problem with the increasing militarization of disaster response, especially in replacing state and domestic responsibilities and powers? No, they probably don't. They are too consumed with the latest LSU game, upcoming sports events, the next depraved movie, or caught in a rat race with credit cards. Americans have got to be the most distracted people on this planet - which is perfect soil for a host of power grabs. Most people barely know the events and significances that have transpired since Hurricane Katrina. Precedents for gun seizure, foreign troop involvement, the imminent removal of Posse Comitatus, population control, ID chip usage, management of food resources, the toppling economy, and the imminent suspension of our Constitutional laws. We are so close to the declaration of a national emergency. The Red Alert situation. The moment when the situation is said to be so great that the government of the people sits down when the military stands up. Don't think I am making this stuff up. It is clearly documented that FEMA, Homeland Security, and other entities will take the reins when the President declares a National Emergency. He knows that. In order to get people used to it, they have to have a blending of authorities. With Hurricane Katrina, it was portrayed as a bumbling local government that tried to control the situation, but failed miserably, so armed forces were brought in to correct the perceived local ineptitude. I say perceived, because there is numerous evidence that FEMA (Plan B) was more detrimental and actually hindered private relief efforts so that their Plan C (armed forces) was welcomed and perceived as very organized. Then, lo and behold, a few weeks later, another looming crisis appears. This time there is further blending. They did not have to backtrack. They took two steps forward during Katrina, and no steps backward. They are only moving forward now. Now they could put the military involvement as part of Plan A, albeit not quite up front. The traffic snarls and standstills certainly marked against the local and state planning. A brief side note here: If you need to evacuate from anywhere, avoid the main highways as much as possible. Use back roads. Have a very good map of your area and state, and use it! There were people on those highways who were just following the person in front of them. Just because a road is not marked as part of the evacuation route does not make it off-limits. I think it goes without saying that you should also make sure that you always have enough gas in your vehicle to get out of an area or region. In the days ahead, we will see even more blatant blending. But not many more. Perhaps only one or two. You see, the military has been working at this for many years. Operation Urban Warrior and other urban exercises have been observed and documented. Alex Jones (infowars.com) has good coverage of the military increasing in their urban warfare training. When Rita was approaching, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff classified Hurricane Rita as an "incident of national significance," which justified the activation of a so-called "National Response Plan "(NRP)." Now, Bush and other are publicly and boldly calling for a greater military involvement in domestic emergencies. Unfortunately, the closer we get to the permanent suspension of our Constitution, the more practice drills the military will get. In 2000, with the Operation Urban Warrior exercises, the military had to have hundreds of actors play the parts of civilians demanding food, water, and their rights. Now, military involvement with Katrina and Rita are getting much hands-on training and real-life scenarios with population command and control. The best part for them is that the civilians want it to happen. Hurricane Rita did not have to necessarily hit at full force for the desired effect. Just with the damage that it did, the economy is taking a hit. When the hurricane struck in that area, it created a different fallout than Katrina. In this region, it did more damage to offshore oil platforms than to the refineries. The problem then becomes that there is not as much oil to refine when the refineries themselves are also damaged. Oil imports need to increase, which also creates a strain logistically with supply and demand. The impact on the oil industry is already rippling through our nation. Several states, and even the government are encouraging car pooling and gas conservation. Several major airlines are having to cut a number of flights due to the increase in aviation fuel costs. Another strain on the fuel supplies came when a large portion of Houston fueled up their cars and left en-mass - and then had to drive back. One of the reasons why the refineries were taking so long to get operational is power and the fact that their employees were still trying to get back. Already the heating bills for this winter are projected to be very high. So, what can we learn so far? Number One, you are the 'first responder' for your family. All throughout the Gulf Coast from Texas to Mississippi, families are still coping with loss of power and other utilities. Even FEMA's Chertoff states that you should expect to be on your own for the first four days! Four days is a very long time when your utilities are gone. On top of that, you have to deal with damage or security situations. Up to fifteen percent of New Orleans' law enforcement deserted their duty in the flooding and the aftermath. Do not depend on Uncle Sugar to be able to dole you out of a situation. Informedchristians.com has a PrudentLiving section, not for those who want to be 'self-sufficient', but mainly because we are in what the Bible calls 'the beginnings of sorrows'. It will not get better! Things will not smooth out! Scientists may explain it as cyclical events in nature, but when we look at the signs and events happening CONCURRENTLY, we should be sobered as we realize that Christ is soon returning! This will get worse. The Bible mentions earthquakes as being one of the notable signs. As Pastor David Meyer reports in his monthly newsletter, Last Trumpet Ministries, (which I highly recommend) - just in a thirty day period this year, there have been 348 notable earthquakes. This world will see more. We are also definitely seeing them in more diverse places, so do not think that you are exempt. The chances that you may experience some type of natural disaster are increasing. With that said, what event might lead to a declaration of a National Emergency? Two concurrent disasters of notable size may trigger it, or a notable natural disaster concurrent with a 'terrorist' attack. Two concurrent events would create panic, especially if they are in separate regions. They may occur in heavy traffic corridors, creating massive ripples in commerce and the economy. A massive earthquake in California would most likely put many ports out of operation, greatly hindering trade and supply. A terror attack in an area would require a different approach and handling than a natural disaster. It may be a further blending of a 100% military operation and a separate civilian/state response. If you think large events cannot happen concurrently, look at how close Katrina and Rita occurred. Or, it could be three concurrent events: natural, biological, and terrorist. While these are hypothetical, I hope you see how such events would quickly lead our citizens to allow draconian measures, even including the suspension of the Constitution. Under such circumstances, who could argue that such measures would be unprecedented. Nobody would listen. Whether they are solely acts of God, or manipulated by man, we may find out in hindsight and later investigation, but you might have other problems to worry about. With the media beating the drums regarding Avian Flu, the opportunity they are looking for may come in a way that people are not expecting. In regards to that, I highly recommend that you stock up on natural means to combat a potential Avian Flu. There are several powerful antibiotic/immune builders available. Do not go to Wally-world for them. Find a reputable herb or alternate health store in your city. One item you can ask about would be Wild Oregano. It comes in various forms and potencies. Christian, what is your church doing to prepare? I am not talking mainly about physical providener. What is your church doing for spiritual providender? Does your church have a disaster plan for outreach? Chances are, your church may find itself in a disaster area some day soon. Do you have appropriate tracks and materials ready? Do you have a plan for outreach via physical needs such as food, water, and essential clothing? When the world looks sullenly on disaster, Christians should have a different attitude! I saw an editorial cartoon recently, where a family was standing on the remains of their house. The man was remarking that they lost their house, vehicles, etc. - but, as he hugged his family, he said, "but nothing important." Christians should have a similar attitude. We are only sojourners on this planet. Yes, God blesses us with material gain here, but if we lost it all, our response and attitude should be different. In the news we hear time after time that the hurricane victims have lost everything. When your church ministers to them, don't just give them items that they will lose again some day. Meet their needs, but make sure that they get what is eternal. Share with them the Good News. If your church is not active in sharing the Word now when times are 'good', they probably will not do it when times are difficult. In our devotion, we looked at how Christ values even what we may consider the poor and desolate. In Mark 10:46, Jesus is about to have his Triumphal Entry in Jerusalem. On His way there, a poor, destitute, blind beggar named Bartimaeus cries out, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." And the next verse shows the heartbeat and compassion of our Christ: "And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called." Christ was never too busy for anybody. Nothing was so important, not even the plans for the Triumphal Entry, that He would not hear the cry of the poor. What about you? Are you too busy going to your little church social club activity that you do not see the lost and dying around you? As Christians, we are not on a pleasure cruise toward Heaven, but we are on a battleship stationed near the gates of Hell! It is our 'reasonable service' (Romans 12:1) to save the lost, to witness, and tell others of His saving grace! This world is a ship that is sinking and going down. We are the stewards responsible to hand out the lifejackets. Our Rescuer and Hope is coming soon! How many lifejackets have you handed out?
REMINDERS & PRAYER REQUESTS Have family devotions instead of watching television. Pray that missionaries in foreign fields will get their support increases, due to the rising inflation discrepancies with the US dollar. Pray that missionaries will have the grace, support, protection, personnel, and health to win the lost in their area. Pray that we will have the boldness that we need to share the Gospel. Pray for the churches affected by the Hurricanes, that they will be able to find facilities or areas where they can meet, and also ways in which they can uniquely minister in light of their circumstances. Pray for the requests in PrayerList, and also in iChurches.
Pray for us here at informedchristians.com for wisdom, guidance, time,
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energy
May God richly bless, |