Early one morning last week (OK, early for me), I wiped the crust from my eyelids after a night of restless sleep, and turned on the TV before getting out of bed. I always do this to hear the top news and weather of the day. As I squinted to read the scrolling text at the bottom of the screen, I thought I caught something about Steve Irwin, AKA "The Crocodile Hunter", was dead. My reaction was somewhat unexpected. I jumped up, said aloud, "Crocodile Hunter died?" Then I went into the living room to watch the full details on a bigger screen in a brighter room (nearer to the coffee maker). There was (I am embarrassed to say) a deep sense of sadness in my heart as I listened to the story unfold.
Now, understand, I am not a frequent viewer of his show. I could not tell you the day nor the hour in which it airs. But occasionally, as I was channel surfing, I would come across this beloved Aussie as he was entwining himself in a python or something equally dangerous, saying, "What a beauty, mate!" I would chuckle at what his bravery, his enthusiasm, and the all-out passion he had for the animals in our world. Sometimes, I even said, "What an idiot!" But I just couldn't change the channel.
A couple of days after his death, I began to wonder, "Why is America and the world still going on about the death of a crocodile-hunter?" Several answers came to mind --
1. He is Australian, and for some reason, Americans love Australians. Enter Crocodile Dundee (who should have stopped before the first sequel), the Wiggles, the Crocodile Hunter, the Sydney Olympics, etc.
2. He was extremely entertaining. His combination of humor and bravery drew viewers by the millions.
3. He was happily married and a proud daddy. Many questioned Irwin's judgment when he was videotaped with his baby in his arms while feeding a crocodile, but I always thought it was kind of neat that he involved his family in his work.
4. He died doing what he loved. If Steve Irwin had died of cancer or a heart attack, we would have had a two-minute piece on the tail end of nightly news, and an all-day tribute on Animal Planet, and casting call for his replacement. But Steve Irwin died as only Steve Irwin could. A poisonous barb of a sting-ray punctured his heart. And whether or not any of us have ever desired to swim with stingrays or not, we have to admire a guy who does what he loves, even when its dangerous, and dies in the process.
Let me dwell on this for just a moment. The Lord Jesus Christ promised this to the church at Smyrna in Revelation 2:10 -- Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life (NIV). The three of us here at Sacred/Secular all had a professor in Bible College who told us that this until, unto, even to the point of death (depending on your English translation) does not necessarily mean that our faithfulness should endure until we die, but it may also include the idea that our faithfulness would be the cause of our death. Now, with that in mind, think about Croc-Hunter. Do what you love, embrace the danger, and be willing to die for it. I remember John Piper saying something like, "You don't have to know alot of things. Know one all-important thing, and be willing to die for it." Now, here's the point: Do I love Jesus Christ as much as Steve Irwin loved stingrays? That is a barbed question that I hope will puncture my heart every time I see a crocodile, a stingray, or anything else that reminds me of Irwin's commitment to animals and nature.
I have been thinking a lot lately about the beauty of the earth and all that is in it. I guess it is because every Friday for the last several weeks, I have been assuming my new responsibility as homeschool science teacher. We've been studying biology -- the science of life. And we are talking about animals using age-appropriate reference works that have big colorful pictures of all these amazing animals. Do you know how many colors of kangaroos there are? Did you ever realize how many different varieties of weasels there are? Do you know that God did not have to give us beauty. He did not have to give us color or variety in nature. He could have put us in a mundane monochrome world. There is much more variety in nature than necessary for the survival of species. So why did God grant such excessive variety? For the beauty of the earth. He created man and gave him a job -- to be stewards of a beautiful world full of wonderful plant and animal life. But it is a heartbreaking indicator of the depravity of man that we have by-and-large understood our God-given dominion only as permission to drain the world of its natural resources for the enhancement of our own standards of living. But every now and then someone comes along like an unlikely prophet to point us to the beauty of the world. They are intriguing. They take us places our luxury cars won't travel, far outside the life of the suburbs. They show us animals we can't keep on leash and plants we can't grow in a pot. And we learn from them. And we envy them. And we change the channel and return to the self-inflicted mundane monochromatic existence rather than enjoying the technicolor world God has given us.
But what if, just what if, we loved life as much as Irwin? What if we loved nature as much as Irwin? No, not loving nature INSTEAD of loving Jesus, but loving nature BECAUSE we love Jesus, and He has created us to have dominion over this beautiful world. And that is irony of Steve Irwin. There is no external indicator that he knew Christ. The article in Kairos Journal that I read today (which sparked this article in my imagination) indicated that, "he and his wife welcomed their children into the world with Buddhist ceremonies." Why is it that those who do not know the Creator have more regard for His creation than those who do know Him? And so the Kairos article concluded: "[Irwin's] life is one long rebuke to Christians who take little delight in their Father’s world. If a man could love the creation this much and not know the Creator—how much more should those who love God take delight in the work of His hands?"
Folliott Pieroint penned one of my favorite hymns in 1864. If the words were written today, they would be ill-appreciated by evangelicals. But because they are 142 years old, we tolerate them for tradition's sake (but rarely sing them). Shame on us. For Folliot Pierpoint understood the gratitude that we ought to daily bring to the Creator "For the Beauty of the Earth."
The refrain is familiar: "Lord of all, to Thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise." The verses enumerate the reasons for this praise:
- For the beauty of the earth.
- For the glory of the skies.
- For the love which from our birth over and around us lies
- For the beauty of each hour of the day
- ... and of the night
- ... hill
- ... and vale
- ... and tree
- ... and flower
- ... sun
- ... moon
- ... and stars of light
- For the joy of ear
- ... and eye
- For the heart ...
- ... and mind's delight
- For the mystic harmony linking sense to sound and sight
- For the joy of human love
- ... brother
- ... sister
- ... parent
- ... child
- ... friends on earth
- ... friends above
- For all gentle thoughts
- ... and mild
- For each perfect gift of Thine to our race so freely given
- ... graces human
- ... and divine
- ... flowers or earth
- ... and buds of heaven.
P.S. If you want to watch a good movie that will make you laugh and stir up in you a love of God's creation -- see Life Aquatic. Beware of strong language and brief nudity, but see it anyway. I have been wanting to post an article about it here, but I can't seem to find the words to describe how much I loved the film.
4 comments:
Dear Russ, your love for God rings loud and clear. But it leaves a hollow ring just the same. Why? You have used the death of another to preach some empty platitudes.
The earth and the fullness thereof belongs to God. Late Steve Irwin was a conservationist first and foremost. He did his best to take care of His creatures while the pulpits ring with prosperity theology. (Yes selling the natural resources of the earth and making money at the misery of the indigenous people serve some. They call it God's blessing. Irwin served God in a manner you may not appreciate. That only explains your level of understanding.)
He stood for what he preached and went out of his way to make the law makers from passing a law that would have allowed tourists to hunt some endangered species on hefty fees. More than revenue he had concern for their wellbeing. The fact that the legislators bowed to the pressure does credit to them. It is not like ravaging Alaska for the sake of oil.
Your barbs at his mode of death makes me wonder if you do really understand the love of Christ? Anyway God searches the hearts and minds and I shall let that tasteless dig pass.
Having stood for his convictions and entertained as well as educated millions around the world, the Crocodile hunter left this earth. Where he shall be is neither you or I can adequately answer.
The brave dies once but the cowardly and the poltroons of this world (with the bible tucked under their arms or under their pillow) live long. In their life they die million times over. It may come in the form of panic of terrorist throwing a bomb in a crowd; or it may be, of being caught in an ebola pandemy. To such any scare is enough. You mouth verses from the Bible and perhaps may want to witness your God in your extremities. You have to prove, Russ what stuff you are made of.
I would rather be among bushmen than with the humbugs.
benny
Dear Benny,
First of all, thank you for reading my post and for leaving a comment. The intention is to spark dialogue, and I am grateful for the effect.
I shall respond to some of what you shared. First, I hope I understand the motives of my own heart well enough to know that I am not trying to capitalize on the death of a beloved figure, or use it as an opportunity to preach "empty platitudes." The platitudes, if that is indeed what they are, are full of depth and meaning to my own soul, and if they do not ring with yours, then so be it. However, you cross a dangerous line when judge another man's motives.
Second, my pulpit has never rung with prosperity theology. Read some other posts I have written and you will understand that this is not the case. Prosperity theology is no theology at all. It is a heresy. I would point you to Bonhoeffer's "Cost of Discipleship" in which he states that it is our suffering which marks us as true followers of Christ.
I know nothing of Irwin's religious convictions other than what I cited from Kairos Journal. If, as they intimate, he held Buddhist convictions, then it is inappropriate on your part to suggest that Irwin served God, for the true Buddhist system acknowledges no God. In fact, in spite of what may be an impassable chasm of doctrinal differences between myself and the Croc Hunter, I wrote this piece out of honor and respect for him and his memory. I make no personal speculations on his destiny or his convictions. However, you should know that this forum, The Sacred In The Secular, is built on the foundations of Biblical Christianity, and we affirm what Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no one comes to the Father but by me" (John 14:6). If you disagree with that, it is your choice. But it is not fair to criticize my intelligence or intentions when I write from the convictions of my own worldview, a worldview I might add that has been shared by many of the world's most intelligent people.
I made no barbs at his mode of death, except to say that I hope the searing question of "Do I love Christ as much as Irwin loved stingrays?" would puncture my heart like a barb. If that is making light of his mode of death, then you have done the same by using the word "barb" to criticize me. I will overlook your poor taste in the use of the term if you will overlook what you evaluate as poor taste on my part in drawing the analogy. I appreciate your willingness to "let that tasteless dig pass."
Now I wish to expose flawed reasoning on your part. I agree with the platitude (whether it is empty or not, another will have to judge) that the brave dies once and the cowards and poltroons live long and die a million deaths. However, are you saying (indeed you are, but I shall let you respond) that everyone with a Bible tucked under their arm or pillow is a coward? I fail to see that when the Christian faith has inspired many acts of fatal heroism throughout the centuries. I would point you to Foxe's Book of Martyrs for starters, and bring you up to modern times with numeous examples once you complete that one.
I would wish to join you with the bushmen rather than the humbugs, and repent of all humbuggery in my own life. Christ came that we might have life and have it abundantly, and humbuggery reduces life to miserable existence. I wonder, would the impartial judge who reads my article carefully before launching into unfounded tirades would find me or you to be more of a humbug? I have attempted to use the heroic legacy of a departed soul to inspire in us a love for life and for the creation of God. You have made unfounded criticisms and judgmental attacks on me for doing so, indicating either a misunderstanding on your part of what I wrote, or a humbuggery that you have failed to recognize in your own soul.
Indeed, I and every other person who still has life in his body, have to prove the stuff of which we are made. Realization of that fact drives me ever closer to the Cross, where I find a covering for my own depravity and an anchor for my soul. If in the end all that can be said of me is that I trusted Christ and His word, it shall be enough.
An Associated Press story appeared in my local paper this morning. The story reported that an estimated 100,000 acres of private forest is destroyed in North Carolina each year. According to a Raleigh based environmental group, the annual loss is roughly the size of the city of Durham. The story reports that North Carolina’s cities are in the middle of a “great crescent” that connects Atlanta to Washington DC making the area in between one great suburb. The growth of this great suburb is creating a great amount of urban sprawl. A debate is erupting in North Carolina between conservationists and county governments. Conservationists are urging local governments to lower the property tax rate for property owners who own large tracts of hardwoods and are committed to conservation of forests. If taxes are lower on large tracts of forests, property owners could afford to keep their property rather than selling it to a developer. Unfortunately, county managers aren’t willing to adjust their budgets to accommodate such lower tax rates (You know... that whole serving “mammon” thing that’s found in the uuhh... yeah! That’s right! The Bible!).
I bring this news story to the attention of the discerning reader because the main article mentions conservation. After all, I don’t think God had in mind the destruction of 100,000 acres of timber per year in an area the size of North Carolina when he commanded the human race to have dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:28). With dominion comes stewardship and responsibility. Destroying timber at such enormous rates and covering the land with concrete and asphalt is neither good management nor responsible. Turning a forest into a shopping mall turns the “good” that God created (Genesis 1:31) into something that is extremely ugly. It all boils down to much of the human race serving mammon rather than God (Matthew 6:24).
Thus, I am an environmentalist of the highest order. In fact, I’m almost a radical environmentalist. However, my environmentalism is informed by the Bible alone because it is the Bible that reveals to us who the Creator is and how creation speaks to His glory. Without the Scriptures, my environmentalism would have no philosophical underpinning. Thus, as far as I’m concerned, you can’t be a philosophically consistent environmentalist without a Bible tucked under your arm.
Billy, I think we need to put your comments here on the main page as a separate post so more will read it. Your point is too good to be lost in the comment section.
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