Pastor
Dick Brookes
Interim
Senior Pastor – The Coila Church
There
is no doubt that the Biblical record provides numerous references to
natural disasters that God did send as judgment against sin – the
flood of Noah’s day and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah are
perhaps the two that most people can quickly think of.
But
are ALL natural disasters “sent by God?” That is a more difficult
question. Many of the examples of God sending destruction on earth
were with a specific cause and effect intent – i.e. man sinned…God
sent judgment. However, not all such events are “clearly” sent
for such purposes. Scripture does not teach that EVERY tornado,
hurricane, or earthquake; are to be signs that sin is being judged.
We
are told that when human history reaches its end, there will be an
increase in catastrophic activity as a sign that we are reaching the
end of human history. In Romans 8:19-21 we are told that all of
creation was thrown “off kilter” by the sin that entered the
world in Genesis 3; and that the “groaning” of the universe for a
day of restoration is the undergirding theological principle behind
what we understand as “natural disasters.” The created universe
is in many ways like a newborn child. At times it is beautiful and a
great joy to experience; but every once in a while it’s selfish,
willful side erupts and we realize that even our beautiful child has
been affected by sin – so too the creation when it “let’s off
steam.”
The
“nagging” question however, is not whether God sends natural
disasters, but how we find God in the midst of them? Where is God
when a classroom of children is wiped out by a tornado? Where is God
when a flash flood wipes out part of a family? Where is God when a
tidal wave rips through Bangladesh? Where is God when a drought
devastates part of a continent?
As
a young pastor, I tried to provide answers to these questions. Now
after 40 years of ministry, I realize how foolish I was to try and
how infinitely incapable I am of answering these soul searching
questions that demand a response, and yet yield no satisfactory
answers – at least within the limits of our own human
understanding.
The
closest I can come is to say that somewhere between the magnificent
nature of God that is BEYOND our ability to understand, and the
unfathomable value of what it means to be a human being created in
the IMAGE OF GOD lies insight which provides hope.
Hope
for lost victim who have an eternal future which outweighs any pain
they may have suffered here. Hope that provides those of us who
remain that the goodness and holiness of God will overshadow whatever
our limited understanding could grasp. And hope that in Jesus we find
the bleeding, dying savior who is our ultimate source of identity
when pain and sorrow take us to the brink of despair.
“What
a friend we have in Jesus. All our sin and grief to bare.”
–are not empty words; but the truth of a foundation upon which we
can rest all of our unanswered questions and deepest sorrows.
Acts
of God?
Pastor
Jim French
St.
Luke's Church
When
a tornado or an earthquake or a hurricane strikes it's natural to ask
“Why God? How could a good God do this? Is this God's judgment?”
Sometimes we even refer to natural disasters as “Acts of God”
blaming Him for occurances that elude our understanding.
I've
heard it said that Hurricane Katrina was God's judgment upon New
Orleans for its sin and corruption. Indeed, with every new disaster
we hear rumblings of God's judgment. Is God a God of judgment? Yes,
the Bible makes that very clear. However, there is something else
going on here.
I
believe that natural disasters are not necessarily God's judgment
upon the earth, but rather creation's reaction to the sin of
humankind and God removing his hand of protection from us. The Bible
tells us that mankind was given dominion over the earth through Adam
and when he sinned not only did he and Eve fall, but all of creation
fell too. “For
the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of
him who subjected it [Adam], in hope that the creation itself will be
set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the
glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has
been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.”
(Romans 8:20-22 ESV) There is a spiritual connection between the
earth and humanity and with the increase of sin in the world, the
earth reacts, often violently.
For
hundreds of years the United States has received God's grace and
protection because we were founded as a Christian nation built on
Christian values. In the first 150 years of our existence we blessed
and honored God in nearly every area of society. But in the last 50
years we have told him to leave our government, our schools, and our
public forums and he has complied. God gives us free will and he
will never violate it. So in accordance to our wishes he has, in
many areas, left us. And when he leaves, his hand of protection
leaves with him. We have told him that we no longer want or need him
and he will give us what we ask for.
What
is the answer to averting more natural disasters in our nation? God
gives us the answer in 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If
my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and
seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from
heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Are
these natural disasters “Acts of God”? No, I don't believe so.
Since we are ultimately responsible perhaps they should be
more appropriately named “Acts of man”.
