- the aftermath of hurricane Katrina

A recent commentary by Jay Ambrose (Washington Times, 1 Sept. 2005) titled Just another primate? was quite interesting in it’s assessment of the human species, and I agree with it in part. Here is a portion of the article:

In the London Zoo, eight scantily dressed people have been frolicking in an exhibit that bears an explanatory sign, “Warning: Humans in their natural environment.” I am sure the whole thing is funny and pretty harmless, but I am far surer the purpose behind the exhibit is defamatory to an excellent species. “Seeing people in a different environment, among other animals…teaches members of the public that the human is just another primate,” a zoo spokesman told the Associated Press. That’s about as wrong as it can be. Humans are not just another primate. They are beings with a capacity for awareness, knowing and calculating that leaves other primates so far back in the dust as to be laughable.
End of article portion.

The article goes on the state how superior we are: creative enough to produce the philosophy of Aristotle, poetry of Shakespeare, music of Mozart, art of Michelangelo and science of a Newton. I agree that Humans are not just another primate, but this is where we (Mr. Ambrose and I) part company. None of the attributes above produce perfection in the human species and we are capable of stooping lower than animals. Let’s use the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina as a test case; on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being perfection, consider how we humans view perfection:

• 10 - well, no body’s perfect – we like this one as it covers a multitude of sins
• 9 - local good Samaritans who, while suffering, help others
• 8 - local law enforcement, military and humanitarian organizations
• 7 - local government response time
• 6 - federal government response time
• 5 - those who give monetarily and prayerfully
• 4 - federal and local government handling of levy project
• 3 - mayor’s response (cursing, literally, to gain support to relief efforts?)
• 2 - those who say “they were warned to evacuate, they deserve it”
• 1 - looters, rapists, murderers, gangs and other idiots
• 0 - well, no body’s perfect but we are evolving and getting better, right?

The human perspective is quite different than God’s. God requires a 10 from everyone. As depicted above, we all fall short. We are seeing Humans in their natural environment on the gulf coast, and the reality is that we all are capable of stooping lower than looting. Mr. Ambrose’s article attempts to position us as the apex of creation without acknowledging a creator. Without objective truth and absolute right and wrong we end up with, as New Orleans demonstrates, a State of Emergency, Marshall Law or something worse. We need God’s perspective.

Everyone needs an objective model for moral excellence. God has provided such a One, Jesus Christ. He died a substitutionary death and was resurrected so all that believe might be perfected in Him. Becoming a 10 is impossible physically and naturally, but is possible spiritually when you acknowledge personal sin and repent by asking God for forgiveness. After surrendering your life to Christ, only then can you discern truth and be content, no matter the circumstances. The purpose in life for the human species is, to please God. We were created for His pleasure. Anything that doesn’t please Him falls short and cannot co-exist with a perfect and Holy God. As we work for the long-term needs of evacuees, consider, what is long term? What we all need, here and anywhere, is Christ:

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:36-37

Conclusion of the article:

If these just-another-primate positions carry the day, if we start thinking of ourselves as creatures with no dimension beyond the animal, look for us to forget our specialness imposes special responsibilities, that it calls us to high achievement and noble purpose, that if affords us rights and confers magnificent blessings. Don’t look for us to be suddenly kinder or somehow better.

Rebates?

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