Last week I wrote a blog on the New Age belief system of the hit movie Avatar and James Cameron in particular. I wrote that the movie is steeped in ancient Gnosticism and promised to follow up this week. That all now seems to be so irrelevant compared to the tragedy in Haiti. Here are some of my thoughts on the horrible hellish nightmare the poverty stricken people of Haiti are enduring.

First, I am deeply saddened, embarrassed, and offended by the comments of televangelist Pat Robertson. He claims that this earthquake is a judgment from God rooted in what he says was a 17th century pact the nation made with the devil and as the result Haiti is a cursed nation. What Mr. Robertson seems to ignore is the fact that there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of Christians, missionaries, and Godly people who are now buried in the rubble dying a slow and painful death, or are already dead. Others are dying of thirst, feverishly searching for their kids, spouses, mothers, and fathers. When God sent the ten plagues upon Egypt, He exempted Israel even though they lived in close proximity. In other words, it was a targeted judgment. Mr. Robertson owes every one of those believers in Haiti and apology - but don't hold your breath.

Second, it never ceases to amaze me that when these horrible tragedies occur, the first place people turn is to America. And we respond with great generosity and compassion. Most civilized Americans are asking what they can do to help. But where are all of the bash America countries in the relief effort? Where is the mad man Hugo Chavez and his oil rich Venezuela? Their people live in abject poverty while he calls President Bush the devil in the one nation where he might get away with such idiocy. Where is the mentally unstable leader of Iran - I refuse to write his name. Where are Syria and the rest of the Jew haters in the Middle East? I could go on but you get the point. Third, when crises like this occur (such as Katrina) the church of Jesus Christ is there years later still feeding the hungry, rebuilding shattered lives, and offering hope. Where are the Muslim countries? Would they even want to help a Christian, the ones they call the infidels? They are nowhere to be found. It seems as though all of their country's miserable failures rooted in their demagogue leaders are passed on to us - it is always America's fault. So sad! But that should not stop us from being there. The church will mobilize, the food will start flowing, and in the end, because of America, Haiti will be a better country than the one just destroyed. You can bank on it.

In His Grip,
Dr. Chuck Betters

MARKINC Ministries, its staff, or volunteers accepts no liability for the content of this blog, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless that information is subsequently confirmed in writing. Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of MARKINC Ministries.

As I write this blog, former Atlanta Falcon quarterback and now Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, Michael Vick, is about to take his first snap since being convicted and jailed for his abusive dog fighting ring. It seems as though the entirety of humane organizations is bending over backwards to make him their voice for the proper treatment of animals.

Does anyone really believe he is truly repentant? Does anyone really think Michael Vick now hates animal abuse with such a passion that he is volunteering to be the new dog and cat advocate for the country? Or, is he merely remaking his image so as to resurrect his football career?

There is but one way to answer that question - he must demonstrate genuine repentance over the course of time. His dog abuse habits were part of a culture in which he grew up. This means that he has the DNA of a culture ruled by punks, hoodlums, and killers who could violently kill an animal for fun, for merely failing to win a brutal fight. Thus, if we are to judge his change of heart, we must see this vicious DNA extracted over the course of time. It did not take him a few days to become such a killer. It will not take him a few days to become the new face for animal rights.

Should we believe that while in prison he had a change of heart? Yes and no! On the one hand, he says that when they locked him up his eyes were opened. On the other hand time will tell. But this is true of any of us who fall into deep sin. Repentance is a two factored process. We must put off the old behavior and put on its opposite quality. For example, a liar is still a liar even though he quits lying until he begins to tell the truth. A thief is still a thief even though he quits stealing until he begins to give away. An adulterer is still an adulterer even though he stops his affair until he returns to the wife of his youth. And a dog abuser is still a dog abuser even though he quits abusing dogs until he becomes humane to animals.

Now, here is the key to measuring true repentance - it must be time-tested AND the change of heart must be reflected in other areas of his life. There is only one way this sort of "repentance" can be genuine, when Christ changes our hearts from the inside out. It is similar to the story of the demon possessed man who battled with the disciples. They could not drive out his demons. When they told Jesus about this he said, "This kind does not come out but by prayer and fasting." We should all be WILLING to forgive Michael Vick. But we should do so with an eye on time tested change. Now that he is surrounded by the right crowd with the likes of Tony Dungee we can have hope. But we also need to be wise and not expect that, if Vick has given his life to Christ (which I have not heard he has), his sanctification will be immediate. It will not be. He will fail again. But, we should allow for a second chance. When your knee jerk reaction is to condemn and refuse redemption to anyone, look in the mirror and ask God to give you a glimpse of your own heart without Jesus. After all, hasn't God given each of us a second, third, fourth, fifth, and one hundredth chance? May He have mercy on Michael Vick. And mercy on us as well.

In His Grip,
Dr. Chuck Betters

MARKINC Ministries, its staff, or volunteers accepts no liability for the content of this blog, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless that information is subsequently confirmed in writing. Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of MARKINC Ministries.

Here are two names that will elicit a reaction from just about everyone in America - Michael Vick and Mike Tyson. These are men who arguably had the greatest athletic skills of anyone in their respective fields. During Vick's troubled career he could never really win the big one. He was cheered and booed by the same people. He could run like a deer and escape the grasp of linebacker in Houdini-like excitement. One of the last recollections many have of Michael Vick's antics was when he exited the field and gave an obscene gesture to the fans. He was a punk and just plain bad man off the field. A multi-millionaire - he was addicted to gambling via illegal dog fights? He appeared to me to be a kid who never grew up, got in with the wrong people, never was told "no," and never became all he could be.

The same can be said of another Mike. Mike Tyson. He was known as Iron Mike. His early fights were a joke. No sooner did one sit down and start eating his popcorn than the fight was over. Tyson was unstoppable. Then along came James Buster Douglas. Douglas entered the contest as a 42-1 underdog. With six seconds remaining in the 8th round, Tyson floored Douglas with a right uppercut. Douglas could barely stand up after a nine count when the bell sounded. In the 10th round, after a vicious five-punch barrage from Douglas, Tyson, to the shock of the world, was dropped. The portrait of a defeated Goliath will be forever impressed upon the minds of sports fans everywhere. There he was, a dazed Tyson on his hands and knees, groping for his mouthpiece. If the beginning of the end for Tyson was this fight, the actual end was the "bite fight" when he tried to bite off the ear of Evander Holyfield who at that moment was giving Tyson an old fashioned whipping.

What do these two Mikes have in common? Certainly, neither of them realized their full potential as athletes. But there is more. They both heard and received the Gospel only to walk away from it when they chose to become the companions of fools. They both went to prison. They both lost their careers. They both became tragic figures of "what might have been."

Now, my team, the Philadelphia Eagles, has signed Vick to a contract. After the brutal massacre of many dogs at Vick's hands he now is "rewarded" with a contract to play again in the NFL. The uproar is predictable as fans from all over the country hop aboard the "hate Michael Vick band wagon." The press and talk shows daily remind us in vivid detail how Vick tortured, electrocuted, hanged, drowned, and clubbed to death these animals when they could no longer serve his gambling interests. Outrage over this cannot be over exaggerated. Vick was a dog killer and America could not stomach him; and rightfully so.

Many loyal Eagles fans are now questioning if they can support a team with such a criminal playing. But now I ask you this - where is the outrage over the burning, scraping, mutilating, and even brain sucking of innocent babies from the womb? Not hundreds. Not thousands. Millions. Millions upon millions of babies killed before they breathe their first breath of air outside the womb. Where is the shock? Are dogs more valuable to our society than little babies? Apparently so! How sad! How terribly sad! We should all be weeping. What has happened to our society? But wait. Maybe we shouldn't ask that question about a society where many believe God is dead and oh, yes, some believe that Elvis is alive.

(Next week - Should Michal Vick have a second chance?)

In His Grip,
Dr. Chuck Betters

MARKINC Ministries, its staff, or volunteers accepts no liability for the content of this blog, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless that information is subsequently confirmed in writing. Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of MARKINC Ministries.