You may have heard about the mauling death of Kevin Kammer, a 48-year-old man camping at the Soda Butte Campground outside of Cooke City, Montana, on July 27th. Grizzly bears are noted for their aggressive behavior, but concerns are growing that the culprit responsible for Kammer's death was a photographer baiting wildlife in the area. Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department officials are looking into allegations. There was no food in Kammer's tent, and officials called the attack "highly unusual and predatory." They were mauled as they slept, which is anomalous, unusual behavior. Experts cannot shake baiting as the likely cause of the attacks.
Whether or not officials are ever able to conclusive prove the currently prevailing theory, one thing is certain. It is not smart to bait a grizzly bear. Courting danger is foolish, but not uncommon. Most of us, to one degree or another, have a sense of adventure; however, there is a point in which the word "sense" is not appropriate to describe the situation. At some point, behavior is risky, dangerous, and foolhardy.
Temptation is a common problem (cf. Heb. 4:15; 1 Cor. 10:13). To encounter it, all you have to do is live and breathe. What is foolhardy is a mindset or philosophy that courts temptation, that puts oneself in places with people doing things that are highly likely to produce sinful, destructive outcomes. Grizzlies have size, claws, and demeanors that make them obvious threats. Sin, while more deadly, comes in more subtle and oftentimes very attractive packages.
Let us be Joseph's, ready to literally flee at the dangers of temptation (Gen. 39:12). "Flee" is a watchword repeatedly uttered in the New Testament, regarding sin (1 Cor. 6:18; 10:14; 1 Tim. 6:11; 2 Tim. 2:22). Baiting ourselves or flirting with spiritual danger is not the behavior of born-again, heaven-bound people. Let us recognize the schemes of the devil (2 Cor. 2:11) and go out of our way to avoid him. Any other approach to life does not make good, spiritual sense.
Whether or not officials are ever able to conclusive prove the currently prevailing theory, one thing is certain. It is not smart to bait a grizzly bear. Courting danger is foolish, but not uncommon. Most of us, to one degree or another, have a sense of adventure; however, there is a point in which the word "sense" is not appropriate to describe the situation. At some point, behavior is risky, dangerous, and foolhardy.
Temptation is a common problem (cf. Heb. 4:15; 1 Cor. 10:13). To encounter it, all you have to do is live and breathe. What is foolhardy is a mindset or philosophy that courts temptation, that puts oneself in places with people doing things that are highly likely to produce sinful, destructive outcomes. Grizzlies have size, claws, and demeanors that make them obvious threats. Sin, while more deadly, comes in more subtle and oftentimes very attractive packages.
Let us be Joseph's, ready to literally flee at the dangers of temptation (Gen. 39:12). "Flee" is a watchword repeatedly uttered in the New Testament, regarding sin (1 Cor. 6:18; 10:14; 1 Tim. 6:11; 2 Tim. 2:22). Baiting ourselves or flirting with spiritual danger is not the behavior of born-again, heaven-bound people. Let us recognize the schemes of the devil (2 Cor. 2:11) and go out of our way to avoid him. Any other approach to life does not make good, spiritual sense.
--Neal Pollard
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