Katrina, Iraq, and the War of the Kingdoms

I regret my inability to find time to post anything meaningful on the events that have been occurring throughout the world. This past week has been crazy, emotional, and extremely busy. Through it all I have been able to learn much—in fact, I have been experiencing an information overload as I have been constantly reading for school, taking in all that has been taught in class (which has clashed with prior ways that I have been taught of understanding Scripture and God (the Bible is becoming far more holistic to me and tough passages are making far more sense than ever before)), and I have been trying to work and wade through the issues of life. So writing this comes upon the heals of great anticipation and concern.

There is nowhere to turn this week without coming face to face with the fallen-state of the world in which we live. China has recently been hit by a typhoon; Iraqi’s have faced a catastrophe of unprecedented loss of innocent lives; and here in the United States the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has shown the depths of human depravity and the destructive forces of a world that is out of its proper order—under the lordship of mankind (cf. Hebrews 2:5-8).

I have little reason to inform you (and so I will keep this part short) of the state of Louisiana and Mississippi. An entire city has virtually been submerged under floodwaters. The people who remain there and are alive have been forced to evacuate the city amidst polluted waters and dangerous conditions. The National Guard along with supplies had to be sent in to provide relief in this suffering. The loss of human life appears to still not be known—though the numbers are sure to be haunting and a grim reminder to all of us that life is merely a fleeting vapor. Those who survived are being relocated to other cities and into conditions which will have to temporarily make-do—though they are hardly conditions in which humans should ever have to live.

Amidst the aftermath we see chaos. Without the common grace of government the utter corruption of humans is being made clearly manifest. People are being shot for nothing more than a bag of ice. Looting, mugging, and raping are forcing people to go to desperate extremes just to remain alive and unshamed. This is truly a disgraceful show for humanity—and it should show us the depths of sin—that we normal humans, left to our own ways, are unrighteous and evil—and yes, it is normal people who have done these deeds of licentiousness. This disaster must remind us that judgment is coming; and this gives us a picture of a lesser degree as to the suffering awaiting sinful humans in hell.

Of course there have been shows of God’s common grace to humanity. People are reaching out, National Guardsmen are risking health and possibly even life to help those in distress, and churches in the areas the people are fleeing are providing assistance (a show of uncommon grace).

Yet leaving the Southern US we see more signs of the disgrace of Eden. In Iraq, approximately 1000 Shiite Muslims died gruesomely by be trampled during a religious observance. This brings great pain to my heart, being a Christian who has compassion upon humans, being in the image of God, and for the lost and their eternal estate. The Bible makes clear that none can come to God except through Jesus Christ, the Mediator (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 1 Timothy 2:5-6). It is in light of this that I we Christians must view this horrible incident. Because Muslims reject Christ as Lord and God, they will face an unfavorable judgment. Thus, 1000 people (though perhaps not the extremely young children—in light of their natural inability) have died and now stand before their Maker and Judge (Hebrews 9:27)—and to stand before Him to bear the punishment for their own sin. Either Christ takes the wrath of God as your substitution, or you will face the wrath to come at the final judgment on your own.

This brings me to my main points.

1. To those who are currently not trusting Christ alone for salvation: “Do you suppose that these” in Iraq who were trampled to death “were greater sinners than all other” people, including yourself? “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those” in New Orleans “were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem,” or in America, or throughout the world? “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Taken from Luke 13:2-5, adapted to meet the context). Jesus is speaking concerning the final judgment to come. These people who have faced these disasters are no worse than you. You have the same sinfulness in yourself, being restrained by God’s common grace, as has been shown here. Repent of your sinfulness and believe in Christ—trust in Him and be found in Him. Flee from the wrath of God that is coming upon those who remain in their sinfulness!

2. To believers: Pray for those in these tribulations. Pray for the common grace of governmental order to be restored. Pray that true churches would open their doors and hearts to accommodate and comfort those who are hurting. Also provide for those in need at the sacrifice of your own desires (cf. 2 Corinthians 8-9; 1 John 3:17 4:8). Pray that God would stay the storms so that no more would hit these areas in the midst of the cleanup efforts. Also, pray the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers in light of this for the furthering of the gospel. Pray for the nations—as 1000 people in Iraq (we do not know how many in New Orleans) have died without submission to the gospel. Pray for God to help those who are helping out in relief efforts. Pray for wisdom for those who are leading the efforts for relief.

3. God's absolute control in all of this: I am not going to make any comments on this, but I am going to put the links of two other times I have posted on this topic in similar situations. Post 1, Post 2