It’s been over a decade now since Hollywood produced the movie "The Perfect Storm." If you watched it, you may recall that the perfect storm was a true story about the convergence of three violent Atlantic storms off the Grand Banks in which a boatload of fishermen were trapped and in the end died.
So what does it have to do with us? For many Christians it represents how they too have entered into a perfect spiritual storm. That is to say, storms created by our culture that seek to capsize Christianity, and thus Christians, by converging on them on several fronts.
The three storm fronts that are often cited are the political, sociological and spiritual storms that Christianity is facing.
For example, the political storm of socialism, communism, fascism and other ism’s that are rising in our culture are by virtue of their philosophies seeking to undermine or, worse yet, trying to remove Christianity altogether since Christianity provides a groundwork for life that is contrary to their teachings.
Sociological norms also, such as the undermining of the family structure through the wholesale acceptance of wanton abortion, cohabitation, homosexuality and transgenderism as legitimate life choices, also create a storm front that Christians must face since these choices contradict the will of God.
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And thirdly, the spiritual storm that teaches that all gods are equal to Christ, or when Christ’s teachings are distorted by claiming that sin is no longer sin so that together these three storms have many Christians fearing being drowned in the midst of them.
But we must remember that these three storms have always converged throughout history. Political realms have risen and fallen, sociological structures and their immoral compasses have pointed men in many sinful directions.
And spiritually, men have always tried to undermine God’s truths, both that of His Law and Gospel by promoting human reason and sin as being superior to God’s love for man through Jesus Christ.
Proof of this is clearly recorded in Scripture as St. Peter wrote of Lot’s dilemma while living in Sodom and Gomorrah:
“And if God reduced the entire cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes, when he sentenced them to destruction as a fearful example to those who wanted to live in defiance of his laws, and yet saved Lot the righteous man, in acute mental distress at the filthy lives of the godless - Lot, remember, was a good man suffering spiritual agonies day after day at what he saw and heard of their lawlessness - then you may be absolutely certain that the Lord knows how to rescue good men surrounded by temptation and how to reserve his punishment for the wicked until their day comes." (2 Peter 2:7-9 Phillips Modern English)
Indeed, we as Christians must not only face the storms created by our sinful nature, but those created by this sinful world.
And so, when we find ourselves in the middle of a perfect storm as we do right now, there is hope. For hope rests in faith in Christ who promises to protect us from all harm and danger whether caused by our sin, our physical environment or that which is imposed upon us by the choices of sinful men.
So here are several verses in which to find comfort in the midst of these stormy days:
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- “And the Lord, he it is who doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee; fear not, neither be dismayed.” (Deut. 31:8)
- “My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26)
- “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven …” (Eccl. 3:1)
- “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they shall comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)
And finally:
- “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be trouble, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.” (Psalm 46:1-3)
So have no fear, cling to God’s Word of truth and be blessed with God’s peace! For, God promises to keep you afloat in this perfect storm and in all others.
Leslie Uhrinak is pastor at Mission of the Cross Lutheran Church in Crosslake.
