Funny how these things work. This morning I was reading 2Peter 2 when my thoughts turned once again to Myanmar and the horrific disaster that has left tens of thousands dead and many more will die unless the government of that country loosens their tightfisted grip and allows the rest of the world to help with relief efforts. Just a few days ago I shared some thoughts on Myanmar. If you missed it you can read it here.
Here’s the passage that sparked my thoughts. In the context, Peter is giving characteristics of false teachers that infiltrate the church.
These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 2Peter 2:17-19
Just as Islam has its fanatical zealots that do terrible deeds in the name of God and religion, Christianity also has had its share of false teachers, cult leaders and political despots that kill and enslave in the name of Jesus. This passage in Peter gives great insight about identifying these evil leaders. Just as there are false teachers in the church, I am convinced there are evil people in government who have the same characteristics.
I don’t offer an exhaustive commentary on the passage, but here are a couple of thoughts that came to mind as I read Peter’s words. A leader corrupted by sensual desires or arrogant thoughts is a slave to them, no matter how much power may be exercised over others. They often come to power as Peter suggests here by promising liberty or freedom. The problem is that one cannot give what one does not have. One who is a salve to passion and pride can offer freedom, but can only deliver slavery.
Last Friday Cheryl and I met with a lady who was in town visiting a friend. She and her husband are missionaries in a certain country in Southeast Asia. We had been connected through our mutual friend Trev Gregory, a speaker at last year’s Summit. They minister to persecuted peoples including some in Myanmar (Burma). She showed us video and told stories that left indelible impression and also brought back memories from some of our experiences many years ago in Central America. She confirmed that the military government of Burma is having both governmental and non governmental relief agencies deposit desperately needed supplies on the tarmac of airports where it does not go to those affected by the disaster, but to enrich the coffers of the generals. She told of extensive government efforts to rob, rape and kill members of ethnic minorities including one particular group that is comprised almost in its entirety of followers of Christ.
As I was praying last Sunday (I can’t remember which service), I prayed for those affected by the earthquake in China as well as for those in Burma for whom we prayed the previous week. It was as I was praying that the following thought occurred to me. There are plenty of natural disasters so that God doesn’t have to “invent” any to accomplish his will. But I believe that in his providential power he uses naturally occurring events in this sin-twisted world to accomplish his purposes. Perhaps God will use this horrible disaster to expose the evil government of Myanmar and reveal these generals for the corrupt despots they are. That is precisely the prayer that I recorded in my journal this morning.
We can discoverer another purpose for such disasters if we learn to see world events as a guide for prayer. There is not a misery-free day on this earth. Human suffering and catastrophe abound, and it would not be realistic to think that we could realistically pray around the world every day. However, when God brings us into contact with such tragedy, we should learn to look for divine perspective that leads us to pray.
More On Myanmar
Funny how these things work. This morning I was reading 2Peter 2 when my thoughts turned once again to Myanmar and the horrific disaster that has left tens of thousands dead and many more will die unless the government of that country loosens their tightfisted grip and allows the rest of the world to help with relief efforts. Just a few days ago I shared some thoughts on Myanmar. If you missed it you can read it here.
Here’s the passage that sparked my thoughts. In the context, Peter is giving characteristics of false teachers that infiltrate the church.
These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 2Peter 2:17-19
Just as Islam has its fanatical zealots that do terrible deeds in the name of God and religion, Christianity also has had its share of false teachers, cult leaders and political despots that kill and enslave in the name of Jesus. This passage in Peter gives great insight about identifying these evil leaders. Just as there are false teachers in the church, I am convinced there are evil people in government who have the same characteristics.
I don’t offer an exhaustive commentary on the passage, but here are a couple of thoughts that came to mind as I read Peter’s words. A leader corrupted by sensual desires or arrogant thoughts is a slave to them, no matter how much power may be exercised over others. They often come to power as Peter suggests here by promising liberty or freedom. The problem is that one cannot give what one does not have. One who is a salve to passion and pride can offer freedom, but can only deliver slavery.
As I was praying last Sunday (I can’t remember which service), I prayed for those affected by the earthquake in China as well as for those in Burma for whom we prayed the previous week. It was as I was praying that the following thought occurred to me. There are plenty of natural disasters so that God doesn’t have to “invent” any to accomplish his will. But I believe that in his providential power he uses naturally occurring events in this sin-twisted world to accomplish his purposes. Perhaps God will use this horrible disaster to expose the evil government of Myanmar and reveal these generals for the corrupt despots they are. That is precisely the prayer that I recorded in my journal this morning.
We can discoverer another purpose for such disasters if we learn to see world events as a guide for prayer. There is not a misery-free day on this earth. Human suffering and catastrophe abound, and it would not be realistic to think that we could realistically pray around the world every day. However, when God brings us into contact with such tragedy, we should learn to look for divine perspective that leads us to pray.