Field Report - NY 9/18/01
From LCMS Chaplain in Pennsylvania
By Rev. Dean Kavouras

(From Texas Concord www.concordtx.org)

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This report comes to you from Somerset PA. It's now evening and the crews have ended their 12 hour shifts. The Pennsylvania State Police are on duty all night guarding the sights and the surrounding areas. Security is very tight, the watchful eye of God's ministers (Rom. 13) is vigilant! May He give them the strength to do their duty to God and country.

I started out this morning at the place where the families of the deceased are staying, which is one of three sights being maintained. The airline has emergency response teams who come to such scenes and provide every conceivable service to the families. Though it's never just routine for these folks, this event is even more personal and special to them. Like many others, they're asking two questions: 1) why, and 2) what good thing will come of this? Both marvelous opportunities for answers of rock solid truths from God's word, answers of Law and Gospel. As one good brother noted on the sermon list recently, Lutherans don't have one message for good times and one for bad. Rather our message is always the same: the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 6:23). I did not visit with any of the families today: however a memorial service is planned for Thursday for the families who have not made it in yet.

My next stop was the morgue. This is the place to which all human remains are brought. There are pathologists and technicians of every type, doing what they do in such a situation, making indentification as best their science can. The FBI personnel are assisting in this process through finger prints and other forensic sciences. It's notable that on the entrance door to the actual large room being used as the morgue there is a prominent posting of Psalm 27:1-3 "The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?" Read that (whole) psalm again in the light of this event (remembering that the LORD, is Christ) : what true comfort it gives.

Many of the FBI agents and Evidence Response Team (ERT) personnel were most happy to see their chaplain! I also spoke with other personnel on scene : airline, medical, military, police, marshals etc. I was able to speak to these folks about how we should interpret this event, and to hand out simple, yet solid, Christian literature to them. This will do them much good and bring them true comfort because it comes from the mighty Word of God! What a difficult job they have. Pray for all involved. I've also encouraged them with Romans 13 to encourage and inspire them with their work in God's left hand kingdom : a kingdom which is by no means unimportant to our Father, Creator and Sustainer.

While other chaplains and the wretched clergy around our country have nothing to give but their"presence" and their "pixie dust", this chaplain has, in addition to his presence, the Balm of Gilead, the saving and healing Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has the all-sufficient, life-giving Word of God, apart from which his presence means little.

At the crash sight itself, I dare say that the Pennsylvania State Police preached a truer Gospel than any other person onsight. Last week they erected a huge cross which appears to be about 16 feet tall, made of two sturdy 8x8 beams, and draped with a white shroud. Though I was not present, I was told that when one person objected (will we never learn where true peace lies?) a trooper said to him: we're in charge and that's how it is. That cross still stands.

It's a reminder of the blackest, most unjust and tragic death of all history, that of the innocent Son of God; but also the reminder of humanity's finest hour, for on that cross the sins and guilt and curse of all the world, of each person, no matter how great their transgression, was expunged; and on that cross death and hell were conquered. In Christ, God opened His loving arms and embraced the whole world (John 3:16).

In the shadow of those two pieces of wood, I preached the Word to a number of people. Many of the airline folks were brought from the family sight to the crash sight today to pay their respects. When they looked at the memorial, the pictures, the momentos, and received an explanation of the work going on, I asked if they'd like to join in a prayer. I read Psalm 27 in its entirety along with 1 Peter 5:6-10 (check out these fine words below!). We then prayed the Lord's Prayer, and all joined in.

One particular trooper was overtaken with grief. I talked with him and told him that Christ died on a cross like the one before us, for the sins of the world, and that on Easter Sunday He rose from the grave; and that all who put their hope in Him, will likewise rise to everlasting glory. I explained to him that there is no other hope and no other message in all the world which can help us now; that no psychologist or politician or financial wizard can make sense out of this. I quoted and talked on John 11:25-26 where Jesus says: "I am the resurrection and the life, he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and he that lives and believes in Me shall never die." I explained to him that in his baptism God had made an everlasting covenant of peace with him and would never let him go, not now, not ever.

My biggest frustration is that the words of Romans10:14ff are coming true before my very eyes."How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" Best I can tell, few if any Christian clergy, here or anywhere else, are preaching the one, true faith; which imputes the righteousness of Christ to us by faith; and delivers men from eternal death.

Christian priests, pastors and ministers are preaching about an unknown, un-predicated supreme being, who is without true name, true form, or any sure word upon which we can rely in the hour of our deepest need! "You may know him", people are told, "as allah, or yahweh or jesus or bhudda"! I had very strong words with two Christian clergymen today, upbraiding them for this and telling them that here is: "no other name under heaven! given among men, by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12); that further, there is only one God: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and all other imposters; that there is no other word which can heal these poor people than the words of Christ our Lord. And I reminded them of John 6:68, the words of Peter: "Lord, to whom shall we go, for you have the words of eternal life." I told them that while the flowery orations of the world may soothe one's psyche for a few minutes, only the Word of God, as found in Scripture can heal their souls and restore them to some modicum of peace.

In closing I leave you with words worth memorizing, posting on your wall, teaching to your children and keeping very handy for days like these:

1Peter 5:6-10 " Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, and He will exalt you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. Be sober and alert, for your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you! and make you strong, firm and steadfast!"