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Sit down with me as we think through some tough topics in a reflective way and examine some of the difficult issues that can trouble followers of Christ. My hope is that you’ll always come away with more to think about… RBC Ministries
Myanmar's Second Disaster
Posted by Mart De Haan
May 14th, 2008
Filed in Nations and Politics, Social Issues
10 Comments »
As authorities in China mobilize relief efforts in the catastrophic aftermath of a magnitude 7.9 earthquake, the plight of cyclone devastated Myanmar is growing.
According to an AFP news agency article, the United Nations is warning that Myanmar is now facing an even greater disaster that could push the death toll far beyond the current estimate of 100,000 unless the ruling junta opens a wider door to international relief agencies. The United Nations Secretary General said, “Unless more aid gets into the country very quickly, we face an outbreak of infectious diseases that could dwarf today’s current crisis.”
The article goes on to say that, “Myanmar’s generals remain deeply suspicious of the outside world and fearful of any foreign influence which could weaken their control on every aspect of life in this poor and isolated nation, formerly known as Burma.”
In this developing crisis, what could be worse than for a ruling regime to block help for desperate mothers, fathers, and children– because leaders are afraid of losing control of what they will eventually lose anyway?
The reaction of the generals has within it echoes of what happened when Jesus offered relief to the oppressed and dying people of his day. Religious leaders hated him for it. They envied his growing influence, and feared that they were losing control (Mark 15:10; John 7:31-32).
As I’ve continued to think about that envy, and fear of losing control… I’ve found it not only in the streets of Jerusalem, and not only in the government offices of Myanmar– but staring at me from within my own heart…
Part of me wants to see how often I’ve acted on such impulses. Part of me doesn’t want to know.
What I do know is that the apostle James wrote, “For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every kind of evil” (James 3:16). In an earlier post I suggested that the Bible can be better understood if we assume that whatever it urges us to do– is the opposite of our fallen human inclination. By this logic, ever since the fall of our first parents, self-protection, even at the expense of others, has been a default setting of our own hearts.
What do you think? Am I being too negative? Or would such inclinations help to explain the worst case scenarios of the world: our shared tendency to resist the principles of Christ and his kingdom– for fear of losing control– of what we will eventually lose anyway.
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Mart, the parallel you make between the Myanmar’s regime’s desire to control and our own personal control issues is striking. My response to your point is one of agreement. The solution to this personal tendency in all of us is most likely found in a correct understanding of the Kingdom of God. Alva McClain’s book The Greatness of the Kingdom traces the rule of God in our hearts from the time of Adam to the Eternal State in the future. One principle I have gleaned from the book is “the rule of God is our hearts” dethrones our own selfish control. It is to be replaced with a yieldedness to God’s mandate to love him and others as ourselves. I wish I could say this principle is consistent in my own life, but my old sin nature competes with it on a daily basis. Your thoughts today are a reminder that we are to refocus on God and the needs of others (Phil 2:3-4)
Good Morning everyone, Mart, I believe as human being, our natural instints are to never let anyone have control, even after being born again, i believe most of us are like Pauls desciption of his life, what i desire to do, i do not do, but what i do not desire to do, that is what i do, always a constant battle of control.
I have mentioned this before, and subjects like this one bring it to the surface for me, God has given us free will within His Sovreignty, but i believe God desires for me to relinquish my free will back to Him, by cutting a covenant with Him, declaring to give Him my life as freely as He gave me His life whereby i can have Eternal life with Him.
I will not say this is an absolute for a person to have Eternal life with God, but i believe this is the life God desires for all of His children to do, let God have full control, knowing that God knows best, and our FAITH in Him can grow, as we begin letting God have more control every day.
I believe with all my being, this is the Key to the abundant life Jesus offered when He was on earth, OBEDIENCE, which means giving up control, and let God open up the windows of heaven to us.
The Royal Law “Love God and Love your neighbor” is very simple and yet so difficult. I agree Mart, the leaders in Myanmar would do well to seek help but it appears pride and fear have bound them. We must continue to pray for the people who are suffering and the leaders that their hearts would be open.
Myanmar’s problems are multiplied by its corrupt regime and the dilution of relief efforts because of the massive China earthquake. As hard as it is to understand, God does have a way that is beyond our understanding of eventually working things out for the good. Perhaps there may be more coming to Christ after these catastrophes. We can’t know. I pray for God to have mercy, ease the suffering of the living and to make way for His Word to reach more people in the oppressed world of today. I too suffer from vain attempts to control my life. Fortunately I do remember mostly to ask for God’s guidance and care but it’s far from a perfect record.
Be it the ruling junta of Myanmar or the stubborn Pharaoh of Egypt or the stiff-necked children of Israel or the sin nature of our very own hearts…it all comes down to the original sin of ‘pride’ that always seeks to resist the principles of Christ and His kingdom. As always God has His own ways to make every evil work for His own Good!
good afternoon to all two things stick out at me when reading your thoughts [ SIN OR THE WRONG IS EXPOSE & OUT COME OF THE HEART SHOWS ] i can only speak of my own sinful nature and how it works when the holy spirt exposes my sin most times i justfy my action no matter if i hurt others god has showen me what i have to turn away from and listen to him i hope people in this country get the help they need now that the corruptoin is exposed ps; sometimes it takes something bad to happen to see the need we all have for GOD !!!!!!!!
I do not think we have to look across the world to see corruption. The leaders of anything that can be ruled look out of their windows everyday and see their own Bathshebas. There is a certain pride in possessing more than what one already has: For many, it is just a matter of accumulating things. What kind of thrill can their possibly be behind owning so many things that you are never able to use half of them? That is like accumulating knowledge and never putting it into practice!
When my faith has had all of its dross burned off, I want to take whatever gold is left and give it to God in thanks for all of the blessings he has given me–including this wonderful planet that our leaders are busy exploiting. I have met so many wonderful, ordinary people in my life and I have enjoyed activities like fishing and gardenig that have kept my mind on him. Although I struggle to provide extras for the family, I am content with what I have and with what I can dream about.
I currently live in Northwest Indiana, which combined with the southside of Chicago makes up the largest toxic waste dump in the world. Sure, I would rather be somewhere else, but how many people can honestly appreciate the humor in listening to people brag about owning the most expensive real estate in a toxic waste dump? At the risk of sounding cynical, where is the pride in that?
Romans 5:19 (NIV)
19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
Isaiah 53:6 (NIV)
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
It doesn’t take me long, looking at the ten commandments to realize that I am not a good person as most non-believers think that they are if you ask them.
The total depravity of man is taught throughout Scripture. There is none righteous. I do not think you are being too negative with your comments. I believe you are capturing the true nature of the problem. We are all sinners. Praise God for His grace which abounds far beyond our sin.
There is a difference between a believer’s heart and that of a non-believer. We live by grace – they live without hope. It is so sad that they will allow people to die instead of receiving assistance. I have been bought with a price, and I received the gift of eternal life. Jealousy and selfish ambition can be in the life of anyone, but a believer will be convicted.
Ouch! How true…as I look in the mirror of God’s Word…I see how desperately wicked my own heart can be. Struggle with control? Self preservation? You bet! Who can deliver me from this ‘body of decay”? (as Paul so well put it)…Thank God who did it thru Christ! Amen and amen!