Plane Crash

Dear Victor,

How should we think about this guy who crashed his plane into the office building (in Austin, TX) recently because of a dispute he had with the IRS? Or how about the guy who was in the news for demolishing his own house to keep the bank from getting it in foreclosure? Can there be a Biblical perspective on these types of situations?

Ian T. - Miami Lakes, FL

Dear Ian,

There is always a Biblical perspective on any situation. Remember the Bible is God's Word, intended to be our "user manual" for life. So whatever we encounter in this world, you can be sure the Bible will tell us how to respond to it. And there are no exceptions to that either.

The guy who crashed his plane into an office building because he was made at the IRS also destroyed his house just prior to that. Then there is, as you mention, the guy who rented a bull dozer to take down his own home that was in foreclosure. What we have in both cases (and in mot similar cases) is sin. It's that simple.

The sin includes violation of the two most important commandments in the Bible. The first is to honor God ... and we do that by obeying Him. He told us, amongst other things, that we are to submit to the laws of our government (Romans 13:1-7) The second is to love others as you would want to be loved. Add to these the fact that Jesus told us to be peace makers, lead with forgiveness, abstain from violence (i.e., turn the other cheek), be reconciled, be kind to strangers, etc. You have a whole list of sins committed in these acts of human stupidity and atrocity.

Christ-followers pay their taxes. They follow the rules. The obey the government. And if they're accused of doing wrong, they work through the system to prove themselves innocent. If they are guilty, they take their lumps and make amends for their wrongs. These men are not behaving like Christ and should not be regarded as anything but worldly fools who are injuring innocent people with their sin.