Death Wishes at Christmas?

I've always been fascinated by volcanoes, even in young childhood. I devoured every book I could find about them.

When Mount Saint Helens blew in 1980, it was the first volcanic eruption on the U.S. mainland in my lifetime. Needless to say, I was glued to the television screen and everything in print I could find.

Now, the beautifully symmetrical Mount Mayon in the Philippines is at it again. This article from the London Daily Mail highlights the imminent eruption, and something else that's always fascinated — and troubled — me besides the volcanic eruptions themselves.

Why do people insist on remaining in harm's way when they know they could pay with their lives? Why would one want to build a home on the slopes of an active volcano?

It's understandable if the volcano has been inactive for thousands of years. Some volcanoes are extinct, with little possibility of future eruptions. However, other volcanoes are dormant, or asleep. Others erupt quite frequently, such as Italy's Mount Etna, Stromboli in the Mediterranean, and Mount Mayon in the Philippines. Caribbean volcanoes can be quite deadly, as the inhabitants of Martinique and other islands can attest.

With Mount Saint Helens, the eruption in 1980 caught many by surprise, but it wasn't long before it was obvious to all that the thing was ready to blow its top. Yet a stubborn old man named Harry Truman remained put, insisting that he and St. Helens were friends and she wouldn't hurt him. He died along with about 50 others when the inevitable eruption took place. I would venture to guess that most people won't want to build a chalet on the slopes of St. Helens anytime soon.

Any place has its risks. In the Midwest, we have tornadoes. The Gulf Coast has hurricanes. You realize the risks and weigh them when choosing a place to live. But living on the slopes of an active, regularly erupting volcano passes my understanding.

Why this death wish? And right here at Christmas time?

Get out of there, people!!

From the Archives

The following post is from my archives and was originally written back in 2005. As the issues involved are rather timeless, and the political debate in Washington is making me crazy, I am reposting it today. While the emphasis of my commentary is theological, it can certainly apply to the political as "truth" is at stake in both. And that's putting it mildly.


Clarity and Postmodernism


In Ephesians 4:29-5:12, the Apostle Paul writes the following . . .

Let no unwholesome word proceed out of your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption....But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper for saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks . . . Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience . . . Do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

Pretty clear, isn't it? It doesn't take someone of Mensa intelligence to get it. Unless you are a postmodern...or worse yet, a so-called postmodern Christian (an oxymoron in my view).

What is the postmodern mind? Phil Johnson, executive director of Grace to You (Dr. John MacArthur's ministry) put it very well in a presentation he did on postmodernism:

Postmoderns don't like authoritative definitions. Try to define something clearly, and they will nitpick endlessly over every ambiguity, every exception to the rule, and every supposed paradox that challenges your definition. They will exploit every generalization to try and make it appear absurd. They like to blur the line in every dichotomy . . . They would probably call me irresponsible for even trying to simplify and explain something as "complex" as postmodernism (quotes mine). Then they would quibble about every sweeping statement I might make. They would use pettifogging arguments to try and overthrow every definition I give and every dichotomy I make.

Well said, Phil. It is one thing when such mental and linguistic gymnastics are bandied about by and among unbelievers. I can remember when former president Bill Clinton (supposedly a believer, open to question) famously told the grand jury, "it all depends on what the meaning of 'is' is." He knew perfectly well what "is" meant and so did everyone else.

The media might have thought Mr. Clinton was clever, but such games won't fly before the judgment seat of the Lord. As Romans 3:19 says, that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God.

When those who are supposed to be Christians engage in these types of mind/word games and cast question on the very Word of God itself, it is evil . . . and that is the nicest word I could use to describe it. Most evil of all are the so-called teachers who ought to know better -- teachers and authors who are misleading millions through their books and lectures. This mindset permeates our culture today, especially among younger people, and it threatens to gut the evangelical church, which was built on the foundation of Christ first of all, and with the labors of the Reformers, who gave their lives to put the church back on a foundation of biblical truth.

I believe in the Lord who wrote the end of the story from the beginning. "Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?" And later, "it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

We had best not play games with Scripture, nor quibble endlessly hunting for loopholes and exceptions. As far as this believer is concerned, "God said it..I believe it..and that settles it."

Erik Rush vs. Hollywood Lefties

After reading the Chavez account below, you've got to read this. Erik Rush has had enough and is throwing down the gauntlet.

No comment necessary, just applause.

Chavez in Copenhagen

I've been watching the climate circus in Copenhagen of late, at least as much as I can bring myself to stand. This morning, I clicked on the Drudge Report to find this little news clip about Venezuelan dictator/nutcase Hugo Chavez bringing down the house.

I want you to read his words very carefully. I also want you to consider the reaction of the crowd, if this indeed is an accurate story. Then, I want you to draw the appropriate conclusions. This is the brave new world that these malevolent clowns want to impose on you.

Let's hope more people wake up in time.

Mount Hood: Foolhardy Testimonies?

By now, most have heard about the latest tragedy on Oregon's Mount Hood. And it is a tragedy on more than one level.

As with the last time fatalities on Mount Hood made national news, this appears to be a group of young people who were known as Christians active in their churches. Normally, especially so soon after the death of one of the young men, and with the other two hikers still being sought, I wouldn't make comment until later. But this has happened often enough now that I think something needs to be said.

I want to stress at the outset that I have no desire to cause pain to anyone with what I am about to say. By all accounts, these were experienced climbers who thought conditions were perfect to make the climb up the mountain. I have no desire to judge their hearts or their motivations. My intention is to address a general principle while using this tragedy as an example.

I realize that there is something within the human spirit that is drawn to adventure. But for those of us who are Christians, do we ever stop to think that our lives are not our own? The Lord did not give our lives to us to throw away on stupid, unnecessary stunts just to prove how intrepid we are. After all, He bought and paid for us with a very dear price -- His own shed blood.

Do those of us who are Christians consider our loved ones and families when we set out on such adventures? Is it really honoring to the Lord to risk our necks for no good reason, and to cause our children, friends and/or parents the deep, inconsolable pain of loss when our foolhardiness eventually ends up in death or permanent disfigurement?

The danger of Mount Hood is well known. Climbing it is always dangerous, but never more than in the middle of winter, when sudden snowstorms and avalanches make it even more deadly. This was not unknown when this latest group decided to brave its slopes.

It doesn't have to be climbing dangerous mountains in the middle of winter either. This could be directed at any so-called "extreme" sport where there is a high probability of fatality or permanent injury. Cliff-diving comes to mind. There really is no justification for it that I can see. Seriously. I can't see how getting yourself killed doing something dumb brings glory to God. The only thing it really brings is deep heartache.

There will probably be some who will chide me for posting something so harsh and perhaps adding to the grief of a family. To reiterate, that is not my intention. If anything, my hope -- and I have no doubt the climbers would now hope -- that someone might be deterred from getting themselves killed so needlessly to the everlasting grief of their families.

My remarks, if aimed at anyone, are aimed at Christians who are pondering all of this right now. We really, really ought to know better. We've been commanded by our Lord and Savior to place the needs of others ahead of our own. And it's a hard lesson to learn because we human beings are innately self-centered.

So just think a bit before you decide to hike an active volcano, climb a peak in blizzard and avalanche season, dive off of a cliff in Mexico, walk into a snake pit, or anything else you can think of to get your jollies. Remember that you're going to have to explain to the Master why you did it, and to what purpose.