Have you heard of Ash
Wednesday? And Black Saturday? These are the names of two infamous and deadly
bush fires, in 1983 and 2009 respectively, that have left an indelible
impression on the ‘land down under.’ Bush fires are not unusual in this
bone-dry continent. However, the yet unnamed ‘Bush Fire Season 2019-2020’
is shaping up to be the worst on record.
To give some
perspective:
Ash Wednesday Fires
of February 1983: Affected
the Australian states of South Australia and Victoria, burning 418,000 hectares
or 1 million acres, destroyed 2,400 houses and killed 75 people.
Black Saturday
February-March 2009: Affected
State of Victoria, burned 450,000 hectares or 1.1 million acres, destroyed 2029
houses and 2000 other structures, and killed 173 people (including respected
Melbourne newsreader Brian Naylor).
2019-2020 Bush Fires
- Burning since September
2019. New South Wales and eastern Victoria are worse affected, with 12
million acres or 50,000 square kilometres burnt. As of New
Year 2020, 1400 homes destroyed and upward to 20 killed, with dozens missing
and unaccounted. And, worse of all, there is no end in sight. Until the winds
change and the rains come, the bush fire emergency continues. The nation’s
capital, Canberra, is being smoked out by fires in neighbouring New South
Wales. The world is noticing with concern the bush fire crisis and Australia is
receiving some international help already.
The causes: Weather over the last decade is pointed to
as the worse culprit. The Indian Ocean Dipole has delivered hot, dry spells.
Record high temperatures of 42 C (107.6 F) have been recently recorded. Add to
that a decade-old drought, especially in New South Wales, makes parts of the
state bone-dry. Major regional communities are in danger of running out of
water. Menacingly, there are reports that some fires were the result of arson.
HOW SHOULD CHRISTIANS RESPOND?
POLITICS: It is conventional wisdom that in the face
of a national emergency, politics should be kept out completely out of the
picture. This is not the time for grandstanding, virtue-signalling, or other
forms of woke behaviour. It is a time for the country to pull together.
Unfortunately, it
appears that is not the case here. Some loud voices are crying ‘climate change’
and ‘global warming,’ as if legislation and paying money now will immediately
solve the problem. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been abused, sworn-at, and
heckled, when he visited fire-ravished places like Cobargo NSW. Yes, he
appeared to have an ill-timed holiday in Hawaii while Australia burned, but
there is more to the unrest and it is sinister. Inner city cultural elites, who
are no where near the fire scene, are stirring up the pot, simultaneously
criticising the Prime Minister for not doing enough while also criticising
former Prime Minister Tony Abbot for actually fighting the fires personally.
It’s a ‘can’t win’ scenario, reminiscent of criticism Jesus received in Matthew
11:17-19.
What should we do?
Let’s support the fire-fighting effort, pull together as a nation, and have a
national conversation later. Now is not the time for debates.
Apparently, Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has been very honourable
in this regard, supporting the fire-fighters on the front, while refusing to
throw mud at the Prime Minister during this national emergency. And so it
should be.
GIVING: In our current political culture where the
dominant progressivist view looks to the government to take care of everything,
in some cases ascribing powers to it that belong to God Himself (omnipresent,
omni-rich). We recognise and honour government, as we are commanded to do in
places like Romans 13. However, there are many things government cannot
do, like make rain. Also, the national bank balance is not inexhaustible,
especially where there are deficits.
A very constructive way
to respond is through giving to the fire fighting effort. There are several
worthwhile places you can donate. Here are a couple:
Community Enterprise
Foundation
Australian Christian
Churches Bushfire Appeal
PRAYER
For people of faith,
this should be the first and last port-o-call. History and modern events prove
the effectiveness of heartfelt prayer. James 5:16 affirms that the
effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. II Chronicles
7:14, the classic verse on revival, promises that if God’s people will
humble themselves and prayer, seek God’s face, and turn from their wicked ways,
God will hear, forgive, and ‘heal the land.’
How shall we pray? Here
are some points:
1.
Fire-fighters:
Pray for the health,
stamina, protection, and effectiveness of the fire-fighters as they valiantly
put out the blaze. This is like a war and they are the foot-soldiers. They
deserve our continuous prayers.
2.
Danger:
Pray for the people and
communities that face danger, that God’s peace and fearlessness will be there
portion. May they face the days ahead with courage, and may they experience
divine protection and supernatural deliverance from the fire, smoke, and
destruction.
3.
Loss:
Pray for those who have
lost loved ones and homes; that they will receive sufficient support and
resource to rebuild their lives (Matthew 5:4).
4.
Leaders:
Pray for our local, state,
and federal leaders, including Prime Minister Scott Morrison, New South Wales
Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and all in
authority, that they will have the strength, wisdom, and courage, to lead their
respective constituents through this national crisis.
5.
Weather:
Since Jesus has authority
over the winds, rain, and elements of nature (Matthew 8:27; Luke 8:25), pray
for the winds to change and rainfall to come.
Without question,
Australia will get through this crisis. Not just because Aussies are a ‘tough
lot,’ but more importantly, because it is the ‘Southland of the Holy Spirit.’
Let’s pray that the natural rain is followed by revival rain.
Comments
Post a Comment