Two Tails to a City, Understanding the Times We Live In

By Olivia M. McDonald, Ph.D.
Regent University

CBN.com – No, it’s not Rome, but Paris burning….

Amidst calls for punitive measures to await all of those responsible, the flaming calamity facing Paris and other parts of France today is not unlike a situation once described in the Bible. No, not Armageddon, nor Nero; but rather the consequences of a judge of Israel being upset with the Philistines. It would seem that there was the possibility of Samson would be economically benefiting from a wager on a riddle. Samson, a newly wed, shared the answer to riddle with his new wife. The Philistines decided to put pressure on Samson’s new wife---a member of the Philistine camp, and she gave them the answer to the riddle. Well, after a series of events including the Philistine murder of Samson’s new wife and her family, Sampson decided to pay back the Philistines with the use of two foxes. And, here is where the Sampson saga becomes relevant. It is the strategy Samson employed to get even with the Philistines. Sampson, driven by his own uncontrolled internal burnings for power and lust, uses two foxes the replay what best describes our current situation in Paris.

Sampson decided to travel to the area where the Philistines own very dry agricultural fields. Sampson, spotting two foxes, then decided to tie those two foxes together by their tails. Sampson then extended his arm, holding these two foxes at a safe distance away from his body. As Sampson held the tied foxes together in one hand, he with the other hand lit those two tied tails aflame. Progressing with his plan, Samson then began to swing the two tied lit tailed foxes around as if winding up to throw a baseball or better yet a javelin. Then, Sampson threw those flaming tied tailed foxes into the dry field where those poor panic stricken foxes proceeded to run all over trying to get away from their burning tails. One would run one way. The other would run another way. Each restricted in there ability to move because they were tied together. Mobilized by the pain yet unable to put the fire out, these foxes traveled all over the dry field. Everywhere they went they brought destruction. The destruction was not so much the direct intent of the foxes as it was that they were driven to put that flame out. And, it is noteworthy that the field they found themselves in offered no relief. Can you see it? The foxes pulling away from each other, dashing and burning---burning as they dash, and bringing tremendous destruction all the while to the fields in which they now find themselves.

The above tied tail scenario is being replayed among people in France today. The recourse of the French government, or any government, is limited in this situation. You see, the most government can do is either capture the inflamed foxes (people) with the goal of conviction, incarceration, and then if so motivated killed. In the event of not capturing, the government may attempt to contain the problem by putting up a boundary, wall, or border that serves to restrict the mobility of those inflamed people. Although quite a bit of damage will have already been done, such a contrivance jurisdictionally may serve to prevent further damage---that is assuming the boundary, wall, or border they use itself is not combustible. At no point does government have any remedy for the foxes themselves short of death. Why? Because governments are not designed to put out the flames that have now engulfed the people themselves. Governments are only designed to keep those inflamed foxes from harming others and property. As such, France has a problem.

France does have a problem and has had this problem a long time. It is a problem that is more evident for her today; but, also exists in every other nation. The difference is that many of the western nations have not yet experienced the release of the flaming foxes in their respective metropolitan jurisdictions. Terrorist organizations, Islamic extremist leadership, etc. are winding up. Government can and will continue to preemptively restrict the ability to have foxes thrown into their territory. Governments can and will continue to profile and expel and do all manner of maneuvers in the interest of preservation---as well they should. However, that will not put the fire out.

No, it would seem that with all that humanistic eclecticism proclaimed, spouting that all religions, philosophies, and gods are created equal; Yes, with all of that “intellectual” open mindedness, they have no viable answer except blame and service provision. The winds of this humanistic speech have left the nation of France dry. Unfortunately, the one institution that was designed to put out such burning enmity since humanity can not quench itself, has also become fuel for the fire. The European church---the real living water dispensary whose primary mandate was to offer a way to put out those flames--- has long become dry and barren. Majestically clad with trite tradition, spiking steeples, and cultural conformity, the “why can’t everybody get along” utterance under her breath is all that can be faintly heard. It is the same echo that was been heard in the past out of another burning situation, Los Angeles.

What is the answer? Not more service deliver, but spiritual deliverance. Living water!

What France, all of Europe, all of the Americas, all of the world needs are folks who know the Living God, fired by and for Him, that can serve as a firewall for the souls yet to be inflamed and to do what we who know Jesus Christ are commissioned to do. The spreading of the Gospel is the only effective extinguisher; the only way to the spiritual deliverance for the souls whose help by the way is long overdue.

So, what is the answer? What is needed is not for the church to mumble, nor become a faith-based extension of government. What is needed is for the church to be the CHURCH. Soli Deo Gloria. Amen!

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Dr. Olivia M. McDonald is Associate Professor of Public Policy in the Robertson School of Government and the Director of the Center for Applied Domestic and International Policy Studies at Regent University. Her areas of expertise include public policy analysis, international and domestic policy relations, and policy evaluation. She is also a Senior Public Policy Research Fellow for Joint Forces Staff College, National Defense University.