September Productions Blog

“Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. Jn. 9-1-3

“You are to be found in the lowest, darkest depths, and that all who find you are thereby transported to the loftiest, birghtest heights.” – Malcomb Muggeridge

“In a time of natural disaster, bad theology always makes an appearance,” said the Rev. Douglas Brouwer, who discussed the earthquake Sunday at First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale. “It’s time to face up to the mystery. There are parts of God that we don’t understand. His intentions are not always clear to us.”

Does God control natural disasters such as the devastating tsunami that may have killed as many as a quarter of a million people in South Asia and most recently the earthquake in Haiti ?  If God is not in control of such things, what is the faithful person to think in the face of such tragedy?  There are plenty of Biblical passages that would suggest God does micromanage the forces of nature such as earthquakes, or the resulting waves that have caused such havoc lately.

The Majority View
From the perspective of a majority of people living in biblical times there was little doubt that God was responsible for every turn of events in the natural world, whether it be drought or flood, earthquake, wind or fire. Perhaps the ultimate example of how this “majority view” found itself even into the pages of the Bible is the story of the great flood in which every living creature on earth was annihilated, save those who were gathered by Noah onto the ark. From this perspective, storms and natural disasters are thought of as punishment for bad behavior.  For an interesting perspective on the parallels between the compromises being made in Israel and the timing of natural disasters I recommend reading http://www.nightingaledesign.org/blog/

The Science View
Since Biblical times we have come to see that there are other explanations for why a hurricane arises and other names for the forces that direct it. Hurricanes arrive, not because God has a habit of punishing “left-leaning East Coast liberals” every September, but because the prevailing winds, ocean currents and frontal zones combine in ways that make tropical storms more likely in late summer or early fall. The same is true of earthquakes, tornadoes, or floods. Likewise, Asia’s tsumani was caused, not because God wanted to punish people in that region of the world, but because of shifts in tectonic plates beneath the surface of the sea. The same forces could also cause devastating earthquakes in locations such as San Francisco or Seattle. This will have nothing to do with the changing mood of God. All such events are directed by the forces of nature and can be explained by science. This is so in good times and bad and without respect to the moral climate or condition of the people who happen to be living in a region where disaster strikes.

The Minority View.
Even within the pages of the Bible, there were those who challenged the majority opinion that every adverse condition of nature was an “act of God” targeted at people who had done wrong. Job, for example, was a good man who suffered greatly. And he argued with those who suggested that he had done something to deserve the wrath of God.  As one reads through the Bible one begins to see emerging a minority opinion that suggests one cannot draw a cause and effect relationship between the circumstances a person faces and whether that person has done evil or good. (With the resulting view that if a person suffers from misfortune, the suffering must be deserved.) For example the prophet Isaiah comforts the people of his day and time with the assurance that far from seeing the hand of God in every misfortune, they could be assured of God’s presence to guide them through the eye of any storm. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” (Isaiah 43:2)
Likewise, Jesus urged people to look beyond the surface of circumstance to find God even in the depths of suffering or pain. Here Jesus suggests not only that God does not target storm or rain as a punishment for evil, rather God “sends rain on the just and the unjust.” But, even more remarkable, he uses the fact that natural events happen to the “just and the unjust” equally. Moreover, Jesus went out of his way to identify with lepers, the lame, the blind and other victims of tragic circumstance, insisting that far from deserving punishment, such persons were deserving of love and respect. It is probably more expedient not to wonder what tsunami or earthquake victims may have done to bring the wrath of God upon themselves, but instead to join with others in bringing comfort and relief to the afflicted.

The Bible says that there WILL be trials and, specifically, an increase in earthquakes just before the Lord’s return. Nothing happens without God allowing it so I guess on that point you can hold God responsible, but the bottom line is that God uses all things for the good of those who trust in Him. So which view is correct ?  All three, the majority, the minority, & the science views.

On a side note, It seems odd that those who give Him no credit for the good times blame Him most for the bad times. If it is foolishness to thank God for blessings, is it not foolishness to be angry when he allows struggles and strife?

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