1. REFLECTIONS ON THE KENNEDY-BESSETTE PLANE CRASH (by guest, Tom Warner *)

As you know, John F. Kennedy Jr. (38), his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy (33), and her sister Lauren Bessett (34) lost their lives in a plane crash recently while on their way to a wedding in Martha's Vineyard, MA. John was at the controls of the small plane flying on a hazy night.

It was somewhat surprising to see the amount of news coverage the event was given. Here are some reasons I see for that, as well as reflections from Scripture about its significance to us:

a) THE FAMILY CONNECTION.

Certainly, the original interest in JFK Jr. stemmed from the fact that his former president-father was assassinated in his prime. And, from our amazement at how many Kennedy family members have died at a young age. "How is it that one family can experience so many tragedies?" we wonder.

Our hearts certainly ought to go out to them. And, to the Bessette family, who lost two daughters in one day. It is right that we "weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15), and that we pray for the relatives and friends who are overwhelmed with grief. May the "God of all comfort" give them his peace (2 Corinthians 1:3).

b) THEY SEEMED ALMOST SUPER-HUMAN.

Another reason for the news coverage is the widespread fascination with the human "glory" that the Kennedy name embodies: political power, wealth, fame, good looks, etc. The death of John Jr., as well as Carolyn and Lauren, reminds us that those things don't last long. "People are like grass that dies away. Their beauty fades as quickly as the beauty of flowers in a field. The grass withers, and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the LORD. And so it is with people. The grass withers, and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:6-8 NLT). God's plans and promises last, but human glory fades away.

Some news reports pointed out how his mother Jacqueline raised John Jr. to avoid snobbishness, to use his wealth compassionately, and not expect special treatment, or treat others with disrespect. As a teenager he cleaned cages at a zoo. When checking into college, he stood in the long lines with everyone else; and then he and his famous Mom carried suitcases up to his room. After graduating from law school, he flunked the bar exam twice, but didn't give up till he finally passed it. A close friend reports that John Jr. and Carolyn were funding a project to make Harlem a better place for those who live there, but that they didn't want that in the news. I can't help but admire all of that. It suggests that John knew he wasn't super-human, even if others became enmeshed in such a fantasy.

We need to humble ourselves before God, and to follow the Bible's counsel in our attitude toward wealth. "Tell those who are rich in this world [which includes most of us, compared to average third world income] not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may take hold of real life" (1 Timothy 6:17-19 NLT).

c) THIS TRAGEDY REMINDS US OF OUR MORTALITY AND LIFE'S FRAGILITY.

That's another reason it grabbed the attention of the nation, I believe. Even the famous, rich and beautiful lose their lives when death calls. Riches can't prolong life--or make it satisfying. "A person's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions" (Luke 12:15). The New Living Translation puts it this way: "Real life is not measured by how much we own."

When people who are relatively young and in good health die unexpectedly it is especially sad. So much potential is now gone. People are left to wonder, "Why?" We are all left with the realization, "I don't know the day of my death" (Genesis 27:2 NIV). We like to think we have all kinds of time, but that's not guaranteed. "How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog-it's here a little while, then it's gone" (James 4:14 NLT).

Life is short, death is sure; sin the curse, Christ the cure. His death and resurrection promise us forgiveness and the defeat of death, if we belong to him. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23 NLT). So, make sure you're right with God, right now. We can only be "made right in God's sight by faith… because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us" (Romans 5:1 NLT).

John grew up in a Catholic family, hearing about Jesus. He knew of the fragility of life. I hope that he, Carolyn, and Lauren were ready to go.

How about you? Are you ready? Make sure that you are trusting and following Christ, prepared for death-and for living life to its fullest. The only thing that's more tragic than a person dying in his/her prime is a person who lives to a ripe old age, but wastes the years with trivia.

Believers need not morbidly worry about our own death. Christ is risen! And he promises to walk us through the "valley of the shadow of death," and bring us safely to the other side. For the present, walk with him through life. Don't let anyone or anything turn you from the Lord and from doing the things that count for eternity. Enjoy God's world. Use your talents, gifts and resources to glorify him and bless others. Live your life to the fullest and trust God with the ending.

<* Tom Warner is an Advent Christian pastor in California.>

2. THE URBAN LEGENDS OF CHRISTENDOM

We've all been exposed to the peculiar form of myth known as the "urban legend." Alligators flushed down toilets and grown to gigantic proportions in sewers, the "kidney harvest" story circulated on the internet, a coming "tax" on e-mail, and so on. Such stories are told, then retold, then believed - to the point that even the ones doing the telling are themselves believers.

Well, we Christians have such "urban legends" as well! Unfortunately, we are often quite the gullible lot. It is bad enough that we often misquote passages, give skewed apologetic arguments, and overstate our case in theological dialogue. But when we start embracing any and every story that comes along to share with each other, and (God forbid) pass along to our unbelieving friends - we open the Church up to ridicule. I have selected a few examples to debunk here. Be aware that there are many more.

a) CHARLES DARWIN REPENTED ON HIS DEATHBED -

The story that Charles Darwin, credited with the theory of evolution, 'repented' and was converted on his deathbed, has been widely circulated. Unfortunately, the story is false. A female evangelist named 'Lady Hope', a contemporary of Darwin, told this story to some Moody Bible students in 1915, and it was printed by the 'press' of the day. From there, the story spread among believers of every kind. However, it is a fact that Lady Hope was NOT present when Darwin died, and also that all who were present deny that any such thing occured!

b) PROCTER & GAMBLE HAS A PACT WITH SATAN -

I've been hearing this one since the third grade! The story is that the P&G symbol, a bearded 'man in the moon' with 13 stars, is a satanic symbol and that P&G has some sort of affiliation with the occult and/or satanism. WRONG. It is false. Actually, the symbol originated in the 1800s as a way of distinguishing P&G's products from counterfeit 'knock-off' products. From what I've gathered from my research, the story started with some extremist 'fundamentalists' here in the South. Some versions of the rumor even have the president of P&G appearing on the Phil Donahue Show and daring Christians to stop their "satanic agenda"! Competing companies, notably Amway, have used the rumor to hurt P&G and increase their own sales. P&G has stayed in court with high-dollar attorneys defending themselves against this one baseless rumor!

c) NASA DISCOVERED SOME "MISSING TIME" PROVING JOSHUA'S LONG DAY -

This is another one I've been hearing for a long time. In fact, I've received notice of it via e-mail at least twice! Supposedly, the miracle recorded in Joshua 10:12-14 (the sun 'stood still') was proven when some NASA scientists 'discovered' (by use of computer) a chunk of 'missing time' in world history - time corresponding to that of Joshua's 'long day.' Again, the story is a myth (NOT Joshua 10:12-14, but the NASA story - lest I be misunderstood!). It never happened! The story, ironically enough, came from a tabloid called "The Evening World" out of Indiana. The story was printed in 1970, and could never be verified (of course). In fact, NASA *denied* this when the story was investigated by William Willoughby, then religion editor for the Washington, D.C. based "Evening Star." The story originated with a Charles Adiel Lewis Totten, a scientist of the 1800s who had embraced Adventism and was also a Anglo-Israel theorist (of course, the NASA and computer elements were not present in the original version). Totten's attempt to prove the "missing time" was based on a highly questionable chronology of the Bible that he had devised.

These are all examples of "urban legends" circulating among believers. We do not need them! There is plenty of genuine evidence for our faith without resorting to telling such "tall tales"!

As believers, may we - by His grace - strive to be both truthful in the arguments we present for our faith, and knowledgeable concerning what we are representing as truth. No one is helped by the spreading of baseless rumors and inaccuracies. Jesus Christ is no myth. The truths revealed in Holy Scripture are not myths. Our God is truth. May we ever represent Him in truth. Truth does not require the service of talebearers. Selah.

<NOTE: documentation for the above refutation of my examples is provided in the online BIBLIOGRAPHY.>

* Friesen, Gary & Maxson, Robin, Decision Making & the Will of God: A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional View (paperback, 452 pp.; Multnomah Publishers, 1983) - If you have already been exposed to the "finding the will of God for your life" ideas that permeate much of the modern Church, this book offers a better way. In fact, the authors set forth a more Biblical way. Taking full account of the absolute sovereignty of God, Friesen and Maxson present a very practical and thoroughly researched case for their position. Subjects include: defining God's will(s), a Biblical model of Divine guidance, and the place of wisdom and counsel in making life decisions. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

"For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them." 2 PETER 2:20-21 (KJV)

This is one of many passages often set forth by my fellow believers who hold that a Christian can "lose" their salvation. It is not my purpose to here "prove" my own conviction - that believers are secure in Christ. What I will do here is address this particular passage.

Those who use the passage in this way say that these verses represent true believers who turn away from Christ and are lost again. I must admit that these verses, taken alone, certainly seem to suggest this. But is this really the case?

Hardly.

First of all, let us note that Peter is speaking of one group throughout the entire chapter: false prophets/teachers. Please observe some of the things Peter states of these men prior to our verses:

(1) They have "privily brought in damnable heresies" (v. 1). In other words, these teachers were in this condition from the very start! They brought these heresies with them into the church, having a 'secret agenda' all along. Furthermore, did you see the key word? They not only brought heresy with them, but damnable heresies. Now, if the heresies are 'damnable' and these teachers brought these teachings with them - in what possible sense could they be truly saved? In fact, their ways are contrasted with 'the way of truth' (v. 2).

(2) Notice who Peter compares these teachers to: fallen angels (v. 4), 'the world of the ungodly' destroyed in the flood of Noah (v. 5), and Sodom and Gommorah. None of these comparisons fit the idea that these teachers were ever true believers.

(3) Peter describes these as 'natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed" (v. 12; cf. Prov. 16:4 and Rom. 9:21-22, referenced in 2 Peter 3:15-16). The point is also made that they have no understanding of the truth.

(4) In verse 13, Peter clearly represents these men as intruders, as being fundamentally different from the believers among which they mingle: "Spots [they are] and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you."

(5) Verse 14 - they 'cannot cease from sin' - i.e., they have no new nature (see comments on v. 22 below); they are unregenerate. These are 'cursed children' (= 'children of wrath', as in Eph. 2:3).

(6) Verse 15 - they have 'forsaken the right way' - not after walking in it, but from square one.

(7) They are "wells without water" (v. 17) and "servants of corruption" (v. 19). They are not what they appear to be; they are empty.

Now, before any of you start knocking my explanation, remember that such false converts are clearly spoken of by Jesus:

"And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, 'Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some [seeds] fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them ... he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he no root in himself, but endureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful." (Matthew 13:3-7,20-22).

That such are indeed false converts is clearly set forth in Luke's parallel:

"Therefore, take heed how you hear: for whoever has, to him shall be given: and whoever has not, from him shall be taken even that which he seems to have" (Luke 8:18).

Is there anything here in 2 Peter 2 that suggests that these are of such a class? Yes! Verse 22, immediately following our verses, reads (quoting Proverbs 26:11):

"But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."

What is Peter saying? Quite simply, that these men are fakes. Although they gave the appearance of being genuine for a time, no real change in nature ever took place - they were always "pigs" and "dogs." In turning away, they have simply acted according to their nature. These are false prophets, of which class the Apostle John was very clear that:

"they went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would [no doubt] have continued with us" (1 John 2:19).

This is no different from what Jesus stated of false prophets, describing them as "wolves in sheep's clothing" (Matt. 7:15). Are they sheep? Well, no. Do they appear to be sheep? Yes they do!

The clincher comes when we consider Jude's Epistle. See, Jude and 2 Peter 2 have long been recognized as parallel messages (if any doubt this, read them side-by-side sometime). Jude's words concerning this same group cannot be mistaken:

"For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men .... denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 4).

Then, as Peter, Jude compares these men to Egypt (note the words, "them that believed not"), fallen angels, and Sodom & Gommorah. Verse 10 is decisive:

"these speak evil of those things which they know not, but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves."

Verses 11-12 are amazingly parallel to Peter's description! Note especially: 'without fruit'; 'twice dead'; and 'plucked up by the roots' (see Matt. 15:13)! In verse 15, these are 'ungodly sinners'; in verse 16, Jude describes how they fool the elect in presenting their doctrines by taking advantage of them. Jude closes the case with verse 19, as he describes these as 'having not the Spirit.' They are lost (cf. Rom. 8:9).

Thus, in verse 20, their 'escape' is only temporary, the 'knowledge' is mere head knowledge, the 'seed' having 'no root' (remember Matthew 13?), they are again 'entangled' (again, as Jesus described in Matthew 13), their 'latter end' is 'worse' simply because of the light which they have possessed and forsaken. In verse 21, they have turned away from the 'holy commandment', a term never used of salvation. I suggest that 'the holy commandment' was the commandment to submit themselves to Christ.