So, What About Katrina?
 In
the last several weeks much has been said and written
about Hurricane Katrina. Some say the storm was just
another storm and that no real biblical significance
should be associated with it, while others say it definitely
was a form of judgment from God. I can find no middle
ground; either it was allowed or sent by God for a purpose,
or it was not. I believe it was indeed something God
used in an attempt to get the attention of not only
the Gulf Coast region with all its ills but the entire
nation, and I also believe any spiritual message intended
to be associated with it has mostly been ignored.
A Heavy Hitter
Prior to the hurricane season FEMA
listed the three most potentially cataclysmic events
that could impact America. First was a powerful earthquake
along the California coast, next was another horrific
attack by Moslems and third on the list was a category
five hurricane hitting New Orleans. Though Katrina was
a category four storm, its devastation was something
beyond comprehension.
The impact a hurricane has at landfall is dependent
upon several factors including storm strength, population
density, land elevation, previous rainfall, etc. Katrina
weaved several of these factors together to form a very
formidable storm when it made landfall on August 29
at 6:10AM with sustained winds of 145 mph and higher
gusts.. The pressure was 27.108 inches (918 mbar) with
a storm surge of 30 feet at Biloxi, the highest to ever
hit the U.S. Many historic buildings were destroyed
that day. The cost is estimated to approach $200 billion
which is over twice that of Andrew, Fifi, Hugo and Charley
combined.
New Orleans is below sea level with many commercial
and residential areas constructed on land that has been
back-filled with millions of yards of dirt. The land
is so mushy that pilings had to be driven into the ground
in many places to prevent poles supporting TV antennas
from sinking.
One of the greatest reasons for the number of deaths
is that many people refused to leave this lowland. Those
who had no personal vehicles were offered transportation,
but such help was refused by many. The death toll was
nearly 1300 total with over 1000 in Louisiana alone.
Katrina — Punishment as opposed to Judgment
But, there is more to the storm and what it left in
its wake than mere meteorology and physical damage.
For those who take the time to look more closely it
is clear that Katrina, Rita, the recent earthquakes
out west, the Asian tsunami, the AIDS epidemic and a
host of other heretofore common occurrences are not,
in fact, simply common. In the minds of many these are
signs...signs that point glaringly at an imminent event
that is too wonderful for words for Christians, and
likewise has no precedent in its horror and evil for
those who will be left behind. Commonly called the rapture
of the church, it is when Jesus will remove His church
from planet earth and begin a seven year period of sustained
judgment upon this earth and all who rejected His offer
of grace. If all this sounds too unbelievable, implausible,
preposterous and bizarre to imagine then you have pretty
well sized it all up. But, it is true. And Katrina is
just the latest in God’s warnings. Warnings most
ignore.
Though it might seem trivial, there is an importance
difference between punishment and judgment. Punishment
is a warning, an act of mercy which should cause one
to recognize his sin and turn from it thus putting himself
in a position for God’s blessings. Judgment, on
the other hand, is an act of justice wherein a person
gets what he deserves; the time of mercy is over. Moses
warned Pharaoh nine times to let the Israelites go.
Each time Pharaoh changed his mind and kept the Hebrews
in slavery with the result being that God, knowing he
would not relent, judged both Pharaoh and his country.
The tenth event was not mere punishment — it was
a judgment. The first-born of both man and beast, including
Pharaoh’s family, died on the night of the Passover.
You see, God became fed-up with Pharaoh’s rebellious
heart and sent an event that had all Egypt weeping and
wailing at dawn. Not an act of mercy in a form of punishment,
but only the falling shoe of judgment.
Is this the way things are in the U.S.? Have our people
pushed God to the point that He is sending punishments
in order that we might repent of our national sin thus
bringing us back to the place where He can bless us?
Though it is not politically correct in some circles
to say so (and not religiously correct in other circles),
yet it is very clear to me that this is indeed the case.
Take a look at what might be some reasons.
America’s Track Record
When our country was founded our forefathers built
it upon biblical principles. I know humanists cringe
and get migraines each time they hear this, but it is
a fact. Examine our founding documents. Read the Mayflower
Compact. Consider what great men like Patrick Henry
and James Madison wrote and said. The Bible was a reading
primer in those days. But, all this is now obsolete.
The godless secularists say America is now liberated
from those early Christian principles and can now bask
in the warm light of freedom and self-indulgence. They
say we are much better off today because we are now
free to kill babies before they are born, free to gamble,
free to live together without marriage, free to practice
homosexual perversion, free to do all sorts of things
that would have been unthinkable even 50 years ago.
America dismissed prayer from government schools in
1963. It is interesting to note that when teachers and
students could pray there was no fear in our schools.
Today it is unlawful for teachers and students to mention
God, Jesus, Easter and even Christmas in schools. No
cross, empty tomb, carols, manger or wisemen; no nothing
that has anything to do with the person of Jesus. God
was told to leave. He did. And He was replaced with
fear, horror and moral and educational degradation.
America’s Middle East Policy
But, there is another public policy that brings God’s
chastisement and that is our official policy toward
Israel. As a matter of policy President Bush forced
Ariel Sharon to give up part of Israel to the Arabs
for their “state”, and the giving is not
nearly over. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said
it must really hurt for Israel to have to do this, but
it just had to be done for the sake of peace and she
said a lot more must be given up in the near future,
too. She told Israel not to worry, though. She said
when the Palestinians have their own state and become
involved in civic affairs like building playgrounds
and filling in potholes they will give up the practice
of murdering Jews. And just think, some people call
her brilliant! And all that was only after President
Clinton put the weight of our country behind the foolish
and disastrous Oslo Accords.
Consider what is God’s Middle East Policy. First,
He said Israel is His land (Isaiah 14:25; Jeremiah 2:7;
Ezekiel 36:5, etc. ). Second, He said He gave it to
Abraham’s descendents through his only legitimate
son Isaac (Genesis 21:12; 22:2,12). Third, God pronounced
a blessing on those who bless the Jews and a curse upon
those who curse them (Genesis 12:3). Fourthly, God said
He would judge any nation that had a hand in dividing
up His land (Joel 3:2). And as a result of years of
misdirected American foreign policy we find ourselves
cruising on the very borderline between God’s
present punishment and ultimate judgment. A blind man
can see this. Is there any real question that the natural
and political events we have suffered in our country
of late are divorced from the will of God?
The promises of blessing along with the threats of
judgment upon any nation that puts itself at odds with
God’s foreign policy regarding Israel are as sound
and valid today as they were on the day they were made.
They simply need to be believed. Joshua made a decision
to circumcise the men of war as they entered Canaan
to do battle though doing so was an extremely foolish
decision militarily speaking. Obviously the warriors
would be unable to defend their nation while they were
healing (Joshua 5:1ff). But, Joshua did do it, and he
did so because that is exactly what God said to do.
You see, he was more concerned with obedience to God
than he was about maintaining a good defensive perimeter.
Has this eternal principle grown too difficult for the
self-professing Christians living in Washington to understand?
New Orleans and the Gulf Coast
One of the reasons people refuse to see Katrina as
a punishment from God is the death of so many innocent
people and the destruction and hardship many good and
upstanding people are having to endure. Consider several
thoughts in this regard.
The suffering of the innocent is the result of sin
in the world. A very heart-breaking yet very simple
premise. Herod killed little children in Bethlehem.
Thirty-six innocent men died as a result of Achan’s
sin. Innocent people die when a driver gets drunk and
crosses a centerline. The common refrain is that the
death of innocent people is not fair. True, but life
in general is not fair. The crucifixion of Jesus was
the most unfair thing to have ever happened in human
history. The innocent often suffer as a result of the
sin of a few or even only one; millions suffered and
died as a result of Hitler and whole families can suffer
as a result of an abusive husband and father. There
are other aspects of this that could be addressed, but
I’m sure you get the idea.
Gambling was rampant along the gulf coast. And gambling,
like prostitution, is not a victimless crime. Politicians
and many citizens point to the millions gambling brings
in to the public coffers—about $500,000 per day
in Louisiana. But, it is not without serious problems.
It hurts families. Just look around at the children
who suffer because of the lottery and video poker. Gambling
causes people to focus on materialism which in turn
causes people to forget God. Faith in God is replaced
by faith in a $100 million lotto ticket; i.e., people
think money will do a better job at taking care of them
than God. In gambling many people must loose a lot in
order for one person to win a little. Remember: the
house never looses!! The bottom line is that games of
chance are in direct opposition to godly principles
of living.
New Orleans is known for its debauchery and depravity.
In fact, the city wears this label as a badge of honor.
Mardi Gras is all about living with the morals of a
pot-licker hound until midnight of Ash Wednesday then
at the sound of the tolling bell it suddenly becomes
sin. The idea is “live like you want” then
go get absolution the next day. Women are thrown worthless
trinkets and beads from passing floats if they flash
their breasts for the men doing the throwing. Video
cameras are constantly filming the activities and some
are eventually posted on the internet much to the chagrin
of some women.
Perhaps the most infamous celebration in New Orleans
is called Southern Decadence where homosexuals come
from all points of the compass to take part in parades,
parties and public activities that would make a demon
blush. Not only has the last three mayors endorsed this
celebration, but Mayor Ray Nagin (of Katrina fame who
said he was a target for execution by the CIA) proclaimed
a couple years ago, “There is no place like this
on earth! Southern Decadence XXXII is an exciting event.
We welcome you and know that you can anticipate great
food, great music and great times in New Orleans.”
(worldnetdaily.com) John d’Addario said in “Southern
Decadence 2005: A How-To Guide”, “Southern
Decadence may be most famous for the displays of naked
flesh which characterize the event...While police have
started to crack down on public lewdness and pressure
from a local crackpot conservative religious organization
has caused the five-day festival to become a little
more sedate than it was in years past, the atmosphere
of Southern Decadence has stayed true to its name and
public displays of sexuality are pretty much everywhere
you look.” (emphasis mine) A local preacher videoed
homosexual acts on public streets and sent copies to
the city council. It was ignored. You see, SD brings
in lots of money to the city, and the city fathers believe
it is OK to put up with a little perversion if it increases
revenue. Surely God understands.
Looting, murder and rape were common after Katrina.
Of course, in New Orleans murder is common most all
the time. The looting was obvious with large numbers
of people caught on tape, and the items they were most
often stealing were not “necessities”, unless
you consider drugs, jewelry, electronic equipment, etc.
necessities during an emergency. Rape is not often reported
at any time and a number of police officers said perhaps
many of the rapes were not reported for obvious reasons
such as the loss of phone service and the scarcity of
police. Most people have no idea how much tax-free money
can be made selling pharmaceutical-grade narcotics on
the street immediately after such a disaster. That is
one reason they were killing each other in order to
be the first to loot a drug store.
Space will not allow referencing some of the comments
about Katrina by celebrities (goes to show you don’t
have to have much sense to make it big in Hollywood)
atheists, homosexuals and others who believe their opinion
counts for more than yours or mine. But, I will mention
Billy Graham. Mr. Graham said some good things about
God and His love and mercy, but I could not find one
single reference from him about God’s anger regarding
debauchery.
Inevitable Punishment
Call it what you will, when all the facts are laid
out it seems without question God is working through
such natural disasters to bring us around spiritually.
Though we see mercy in Katrina in that it could have
been a category five and gone straight up the mouth
of the Mississippi, yet very few acknowledge that. And
as far as bringing us around morally and spiritually
as a city, state or nation — it won’t happen.
Unfortunately the damage is done and we will never be
what we once were or what we could be. We still see
the patience and mercy of God with such punishments,
but it is not known when He will say “Enough!”
and allow our alienation from Him to have its natural
end — destruction. One thing is for sure. Such
disasters along with AIDS, bird flu, mad cow disease,
etc. will increase both in intensity and number. And
the sad part is most people are saying “peace
and safety” with sudden destruction looming (1
Thessalonians 5:3). It is only a matter of time. DLM |
