Why God Allows Earthquakes
77,000 dead, and officials say the death count could double once post-tsunami disease takes its toll. "How does a loving God allow such a tragedy?" I asked yesterday. A number of good, well-thought answers to this question came in overnight.
From Adrian Warnock:
Jesus' reply to a disaster of his day.......
We must not fall into the age old trap of thinking that the recent disaster was a specific judgement of God on either the victims or the world. Jesus made it very clear his view on that when asked about a disaster of his time. In fact he made us realise that the reality is far worse- we are all under threat of death and "perishing". That threat is commuted every day. God said that on the day that Adam sinned he would die. In a way God never kept that promise, and the fact he didn't is grace. Every breath, the fact that we werent swept off a beach somewhere, food, a home, a job, a family, it is all grace. We have no rights. Our first sin took them away. Maybe God allows events like this to shake us from the lie that we are immortal here on earth. The bell will toll for me one day. What will they say at my funeral?
I thank God for second (and third, fourth, fith etc....) chances, and that the gospel really is good news to the hopeless.
There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” ESV Bible Online: Passage: Luke 13
And a hat tip to Anne at Palm Tree Pundit, this from Krista at Theology Mom:
Good God, Cruel World?
I have been deeply saddened by the reports of the devastation from the recent earthquake/tsunami disaster. The death toll is over 59,000 now. That boggles the mind.I was particularly struck by this quote in today's AP news wire store: "Why did you do this to us, God?" wailed an old woman in a devastated fishing village in southern India's Tamil Nadu state. "What did we do to upset you? This is worse than death."It raised the theological question in my mind: Are natural disasters and disease the result of God's divine judgment? Jesus answers this question quite clearly in the negative on at least two occassions.
Tower of Siloam – Luke 13:1-5 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them — do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Man born blind – John 9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”
My boss, Hugh Ross, also makes an interesting observation. A more sadistic God could have created a planet that would have been devastated by such natural disasters of this magnitude, or worse, on a daily basis. In fact, Mars is a great example of this which has hurricanes which never cease. Instead, God graciously fine-tuned the earth to undergo a minimum number of natural disasters. Here are a couple of articles on the topic (sorry, an annoying registration is required to view the articles):
"Hurricanes bring more than destruction," by Hugh Ross
"Good God, Cruel World?" by Krista Bontrager
None of my comments here should be in any way construed as to diminish the tragic loss of life that our Asian friends are suffering right now. The world, especially Christians, have a responsibility to rally to their aid.
Krista's right, not just on her theology, but also on her conclusion. Here's a link to a good place to contribute: World Vision.
From Adrian Warnock:
Jesus' reply to a disaster of his day.......
We must not fall into the age old trap of thinking that the recent disaster was a specific judgement of God on either the victims or the world. Jesus made it very clear his view on that when asked about a disaster of his time. In fact he made us realise that the reality is far worse- we are all under threat of death and "perishing". That threat is commuted every day. God said that on the day that Adam sinned he would die. In a way God never kept that promise, and the fact he didn't is grace. Every breath, the fact that we werent swept off a beach somewhere, food, a home, a job, a family, it is all grace. We have no rights. Our first sin took them away. Maybe God allows events like this to shake us from the lie that we are immortal here on earth. The bell will toll for me one day. What will they say at my funeral?
I thank God for second (and third, fourth, fith etc....) chances, and that the gospel really is good news to the hopeless.
There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” ESV Bible Online: Passage: Luke 13
And a hat tip to Anne at Palm Tree Pundit, this from Krista at Theology Mom:
Good God, Cruel World?
I have been deeply saddened by the reports of the devastation from the recent earthquake/tsunami disaster. The death toll is over 59,000 now. That boggles the mind.I was particularly struck by this quote in today's AP news wire store: "Why did you do this to us, God?" wailed an old woman in a devastated fishing village in southern India's Tamil Nadu state. "What did we do to upset you? This is worse than death."It raised the theological question in my mind: Are natural disasters and disease the result of God's divine judgment? Jesus answers this question quite clearly in the negative on at least two occassions.
Tower of Siloam – Luke 13:1-5 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them — do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Man born blind – John 9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”
My boss, Hugh Ross, also makes an interesting observation. A more sadistic God could have created a planet that would have been devastated by such natural disasters of this magnitude, or worse, on a daily basis. In fact, Mars is a great example of this which has hurricanes which never cease. Instead, God graciously fine-tuned the earth to undergo a minimum number of natural disasters. Here are a couple of articles on the topic (sorry, an annoying registration is required to view the articles):
"Hurricanes bring more than destruction," by Hugh Ross
"Good God, Cruel World?" by Krista Bontrager
None of my comments here should be in any way construed as to diminish the tragic loss of life that our Asian friends are suffering right now. The world, especially Christians, have a responsibility to rally to their aid.
Krista's right, not just on her theology, but also on her conclusion. Here's a link to a good place to contribute: World Vision.
posted by Laer at 9:25 AM
<< Home