The Winds Of Katrina.

By now virtually no one in the US is unaware of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina.  An interesting article was posted to the "Christianity Today" E-Zine web site regarding the church's response.  It was an article entitled "The Parable Of The Good Church".  It's a good read and I recommend it.

The article dovetailed quite nicely with a conversation I had at work yesterday concerning Katrina and the cleanup afterward.

I work among a group of folks, some of whom are very liberal minded folk who pride themselves on bashing the current administration.  They are certainly entitled to their opinion and their pontificating allows me the freedom to speak boldly from a Biblical perspective.

So when I spoke yesterday about the government's responsibility about "taking care of the people" who've suffered from Hurricane Katrina, I think I shocked them.

I said that it was not the job of government to bail these people out of the mess they found themselves in, it's the church's job.  The look I got was so priceless, I wish I'd had a camera to capture the moment. 

Have you ever seen a puppy when they're confused about what you want them to do?  They cock their little heads to the side, raise their eyebrows and ears and have this complete dumbfounded look that screams, "HUH"?

That's the look I got.  "You don't think it's the government's job to protect it's citizens?". 

Yes, of course I do.  That's why we have an armed forces and law enforcement agencies, to protect the citizens from all enemies foreign and domestic.  Hmmmm.... that sounds familiar.  Oh yeah, it's a part of the oath of public office.

The government is supposed to provide BASIC services to the citizenry.  Internally the government insures the proper maintenance of law and order, emergency services and infrastructure so legal commerce can thrive and the freedoms of it's citizens is intact.  Externally, the government protects its citizens against outside enemies by raising an armed forces and providing aid and influence to other countries.  I think the constitution states it this way, "To provide for the common defense, to insure domestic tranquility..." It's about peace, not welfare.

The founding fathers NEVER intended the government to be the provider of welfare or "social security". We must be careful that we don't view the government as a cow to be milked as opposed to a watch dog to be fed.

Unfortunately we are way down that path already. The number of people on the public dole has produced generations of totally dependent individuals, many of whom were in the path of Katrina when she came to town.

The job of the church is to be the representation of the Lord Jesus Christ in flesh.  Jesus taught us that we are the ones who need to love our neighbor as ourself.  James chapter 2 is replete with verses that speak of "walking the walk" not just "talking the talk".

I was overjoyed at hearing that several churches in our neighborhood banded together to gather essentials and personnel to drive down to the Katrina effected areas to love on them and provide help where needed. Operation Starfish is in full swing as I write this.  Please keep the team in your prayers.

Other faith based operations have started as well.  Focus on the Family is raising money, the Katrina Response Initiative is coordinating efforts of an army of volunteers.  There are simply too many organizations and churches to list.

I say Praise God, Hallelujah!  This is what is supposed to happen when our brothers and sisters are in need.  I'm glad that the church is responding and I pray that the response does not stop when Katrina is cleaned up.  I pray that the government and the church learns valuable lessons from Katrina.

I pray that the winds of Katrina, are winds of change in the church.  Though violent and destructive, they shook the church out of its slumber to minister to the needs of the masses once more.  I pray the giant never sleeps again, but shows the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus through continued ministry towards the millions untouched by Katrina, but touched by personal catastrophe instead.

May our newfound compassion towards the victims of Katrina spark a flame of revival in the church and in this nation.  Rom 8:28