The article I'd planned for Grape Leaves this month will have to wait. Instead, my heart and prayers are drawn to the people of the US Gulf Coast who have been decimated by hurricane Katrina. Although the city of New Orleans assumed that the worst was behind them when the eye of the storm hit to its east, the aftermath with the flooding waters of Lake Pontchartrain and subsequent storm surges have left the city and its residents inundated with water and suffering. Further along the coast into Mississippi and Alabama, the destruction is so immense it has been compared to the aftermath left from the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II. It all seems unimaginable.
Sitting in the comfort of our homes watching the devastation play out on TV, we are overwhelmed trying to take it all in. How can something so devastating as this happen? Why didn't people leave? What could have been done to prevent so much destruction and death? Is God behind this? Is it some sort of judgment?
Arm chair quarterbacking is certainly not unknown in the Big Easy, home of the Superdome and the New Orleans Saints. Perhaps that's part of the fun of watching football. But when it comes to human suffering, especially of the magnitude we are seeing in the Gulf States, it is inappropriate and insensitive to say the least. And as for whether or not this natural catastrophe is an act of judgment from God, well, do you really think that's significant with regards to how Christians should respond to the hurting millions in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and beyond? I think not.
In Matthew 25, Jesus speaks of the judgment - His, not ours. It's a familiar passage that we cannot allow to become cliche. He tells the faithful to enter into His Father's kingdom because they gave Him a drink when He was thirsty, clothing when He was naked, and that they visited Him when He experienced adversity. In response, they ask Him when had they ever seen Him in such circumstances. His reply is that "as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me" (Matt. 25.31-40).
Hurricane Katrina has provided opportunities beyond comprehension to give a drink of water to someone who has been without fresh water for days; to provide clothing to those who have lost everything but the clothes on their backs; to reach out with love and compassion to touch the lives of thousands of broken hearted people. It's not enough to sit and watch TV and hope that someone will help. Each of us is someone. Back to Matthew, those who took such an attitude of complacency were ushered away into eternal separation from the Lord to suffer for ever (Matt. 25.41-46).
Lest we forget, let's recall Christ's command to obey the law of true, selfless love.
You have heard it said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matt. 5.43-48).
Please go back and read that again. As followers of Christ, it is our duty to show love and mercy. We are not to be selective. Our benefactors need not pass some litmus test to assure us that they are of our ilk and persuasion before we extend to them our love.
The Apostle John puts it best when he says, "By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But if any one has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little Children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3.16-18).
Additionally, consider these passages from James who obviously concurs with John's call to demonstrate our love to others and not just talk about it.
1.27 - Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
2.1 - Show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
2.13 - For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; yet mercy triumphs over judgment.
2.17 - So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
We should never fail in our efforts to live out daily what is so well known as the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Luke 6.31). So I encourage everyone who reads this to show mercy to the victims of Katrina even as God himself is a merciful God (Luke 6.26). Spend time in the Word and in prayer asking the Lord to show you how you should respond. And then act. As followers of Christ respond unselfishly, without condemnation, and show unconditional love to people affected by this incredible storm, miracles will happen, hearts will be moved, and God-s kingdom will be advanced.
My prayer is that God will miraculously protect and comfort each person impacted by Katrina. May He bring joy in their affliction, liberty to their captivity, comfort for their mourning, and a spirit of praise to replace their anguish.
If you have suggestions for how to reach out during this crisis, please use the Comments option at the bottom of this page so that I can post your thoughts to encourage others.
