Some People are Stupid

It's just another Friday night here in Oklahoma. We are expecting rain tomorrow, but all in all it has been a pretty good day here. I emphasize here, because tonight the Texas coast is bracing for what looks to be a pretty major hurricane. Ike is supposed to make landfall at Galveston, Texas in a few hours, and the talking heads are expecting a 20 foot storm surge, which if they are right, and we are praying that they aren't, is going to be a catastrophic event for coastal Texas, and Galveston in particular. This is of particular importance to me, because I have a lot of friends in the Houston area and I have been thinking about them and praying for them for the last couple of days. Almost all of them evacuated, and the ones who didn't live quite a ways inland. 

Galveston is a city on an island in the gulf that is basically one long street named Seawall Blvd. Seawall Blvd. got its name, because it runs immediately beside the 17 foot high seawall built to protect the island from just such an event as they will experience tonight. For those not aware of the history of Galveston, the seawall was built in response to the most devastating hurricane in US history, which struck the island in 1900. In fact, the Galveston hurricane is the 

deadliest natural disaster ever to strike the United States. That hurricane killed more than 8,000 people. For perspective, Hurricane Katrina killed just over 1,800 people. I have great compassion for the people killed in that hurricane from 100 years ago, and how could you not. They had no radar, and thus no warning. The water rose, the winds raged, and the city was destroyed. 

Now we are a long way from 1900, and you cannot look at a TV or computer without seeing a map of North America with a huge red swirl spinning toward Galveston. The people of Galveston were told to evacuate or face "certain death." Certain death...that is the direct quote. Now you would think this would motivate everyone and the only people left on the island would be dumb network reporters who get paid to hug telephone poles in torrential rains and gale force winds and try to yell into their microphones and compare this storm with the last one for their loyal viewers. But even with the warning of certain death, many people have chosen to stay and ride out the storm. Those deciding to ride out the storm have been mandated to write their name and social security numbers on their arms in black markers so the authorities will be able to identify their bodies in a couple of days. 

These people enjoying a couple of beers have decided to stay in Galveston to watch the storm. They are not alone. Fox news is estimating that more than 90,000 people in the mandatory evacuation zones of coastal Texas have decided to stay and ride out the storm, despite the severe warnings.

So why take time to write about an impending hurricane on a blog devoted to missional thinking? I am glad you asked. Many of those staying to ride out the storm are giving theological justifications when asked why they chose to stay. Some of the trite answers that I have heard already are: "I told them I believe in a man up there, God...he will take care of me," "I am just enjoying the serenity really...you never know what the aftermath might hold, but right now it is really peaceful...and besides, worrying is a sin," and my personal favorite, "whats gonna happen is gonna happen." Now for the record, I hope the weathermen are wrong. I hope it is a gross overestimation and that no one has to be identified by the sharpied names and numbers on their arms, but what if they are not? What if it is not a case of "the weatherman who cried massive storm surge?" What if everyone of those people who made such dumb statements are washed up on shore on Monday afternoon? Are we to feel sorry for them? 

I for one will not shed one tear for a person, who knowing the danger chose to stay and ride out the storm and then didn't make it. In truth, it is a just end for those who choose to stay having been confronted by overwhelming reason to leave. And so it will be for those who after numerous times of being confronted with the Gospel, make the foolish choice to reject it. And though it will be trendy to blame God for the catastrophic damage inflicted upon coastal Texas, it will be a baseless claim. The claim will have no merit, because the same God who brought the hurricane also brought about the means of rescue from its devastation. The God who created hell also created an avenue of rescue when he sent his son to suffer and die for his children. And so the question goes, "how can a loving God send people to hell?" In truth, he doesn't. He simply lets them have exactly what they asked for...a chance to freely reject rescue, face the storm alone, and live, or die, with the consequences.