So what should we say about the terrible situation in Haiti? Why did this happen? What would Jesus say about it? Let's look at Scripture:
- The "Natural Disasters" that happen on earth (tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, etc.) should probably be labeled "un-natural disasters" because they were not part of God's original plan in Genesis 1 and 2. This Scripture in Romans 8 shows us that all of creation is groaning in pain, as it too, awaits the second coming of our Lord Jesus.
- So why did the earthquake happen? Because of sin. Creation is suffering from sin just like we are.
John 16:33 - "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
- We are going to have trouble in this world. Why? Because of sin.
- Even though we will have trouble, Jesus is offering us peace in Him. He has overcome this sin of this world and will reveal His victory when He comes again. At that time, there will be no more earthquakes, pain, or sin.
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. 2Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4Or 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? 5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
- In this passage from Luke, Jesus is telling us that BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN... so how should we respond? Repent!
- Stop trying to figure out everything that happens on this side of eternity... think about the big picture... James 4:14 says "this life is a VAPOR." Eternity is a MUCH BIGGER DEAL than this life! Confess your sins and your need for Christ! Repent and secure your eternity in heaven!
- Jesus never answers WHY these things happened... he just says, "REPENT."
10 comments:
I dont think the earthquake happened because of "sin"...it probably had a little more to do with the shift in tectonic plates, or something else that probably makes sense.
I agree with what ryan posted. I also think we should be doing anything we can right now to help the people in Haiti. God didnt intend to hurt people; he has always loved us and always been there to help us. Now its our turn to give back, we need to help.
Why would a loving god kill, injure,and separate, tens of thousands of people that have nothing to begin with? Nothing but complete devastation and horror because god wants us to suffer??? That's not the god I want to worship. These natural phenomenons have been occuring on earth way before Jesus was placed on earth. I guess 9-11 would be punishment from god also?
Anonymous #1 - if you don't think sin had anything to do with the earthquake, then why did it happen? Do you think it is possible that all of creation is suffering, just like man-kind. awaiting the renewal of the earth when Jesus comes back? That is what I think the passage from Romans 8 is saying.
What is your view of the Bible? Is it your ultimate authority in life? Is it the place that you draw your answers from? Just wondering, because if we don't agree on that, then this conversation has no point. I am drawing my conclusions from what I think the Bible says... Just wondering your thought there...
Thanks
RC
Anonymous #2 - Why do you think God killed these people? Why do you think He is the one who did this? I think Scripture is pretty clear that even Jesus suffered BIG TIME when he came to this earth... Why did he suffer? Because this is a sinful, broken world. Who made it that way? We did!
God doesnt want us to suffer... God doesnt want us to be separated from Him for eternity... that is why He sent Jesus. Jesus is our way to getting back into right standing with God while we are here on this earth and for eternity in heaven. God does not want us to suffer.
What god do you want to worship? If you dont like the God of the Bible, which one do you like?
You are right, these disasters have been happening on earth before Jesus was here. But do you think they were happening in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1 and 2)?
I dont think 9/11 was punishment from God.. I think 9/11 happened because of sin as well. How can you hold God responsible for the choices of a group of terrorists?
Let me ask you one question: Since you seem to blame God for everything bad that happens... who do you give credit to when something good happens. It sounds to me like God might be your scape-goat when you have no one to blame.
Thoughts?
RC
Kennedy, you're so brave to post your name :) I enjoyed reading this...good questions and good answers Ryan.
Thanks Jennifer!
Thanks for the response.
I don't believe god killed, destroyed, and damaged the country of Haiti. I also don't believe that humans and their sins caused the earthquake either. If god has control over every aspect of our lives (provides,keeps safe,ect), why would he let this devastation happen? I'm sure thousands of innocent children were killed. Why would god take a child's life because of the sin of humanity? It makes absolutely no sense.
I know Jesus suffered immensely before his death. Don't you think some of these people are suffering just as bad or even more? Being trapped under rubble with crushed bones for days waiting to die isn't the easiest way to go.
One of the most important commandments is, thou shall not kill. We all know that God can do anything, right? Why would he let 9-11 to happen knowing there would be a war with thousands of more people killed? If god has the ability to do anything, why wouldn't he allow the sinners to deal their own sins and not humanity's as a whole?
I thank god everyday for what he gives me and my family. I never said I blame god for all our problems. You said our sins is what caused the death and destruction. What if none of us were sinners? Would we live in a perfect world? That wouldn't make sense because heaven would just be a continuation of earth, perfection. Wouldn't it have been easier to create a peaceful earth without death, destruction and suffering? Therefore, if humans must suffer random bouts of suffering and death from our sins, who or what is causing the destruction to happen? No matter how hard we try as humans to create peace in this world, there will always be evil. I assume that is just part of the story.
Dear Anonymous,
Your heart is wrestling through what SO many people struggle with as followers of Christ. I have a few thoughts... I tried as best as I could to hit most of your questions.
When we as humans decided to choose our way over God's way in Genesis 3, we opened up the door to the powers of Satan in this world. Is God still sovereign and ultimately in control? Yes! But, as we live in this in between time, Satan does have power over this physical world. He and his demons have the power to oppress believers in Jesus and to possess those who do not believe. Unfortunately, we live in a world now where bad things happen to good people. It's one of the biggest conundrums of the Christian faith. Yet, I choose to think of it this way... Jesus was the ultimate "Innocent Life." He truly was the only one who ever walked a perfect and innocent life and He laid it down so that we might be in perfect fellowship with God one day. So, until this world is redeemed and brought back to a place of perfection, other "innocent" people will die and innocent places will be ruined. Compared to Jesus though, no one and nothing is truly innocent. Romans 3:23 says we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. I think that God so desperately wants to save us from all of this pain that we experience in this world, but He is not going to force Himself on us. We must call on His name to experience eternal life... something far greater than being saved from anything in this world. Truthfully, I think that God IS allowing us sinners to deal with our own sins and that's why bad things happen.
One more thought... the word sin means missing the mark. We missed the mark of perfection when we chose our way over God's ways. So sin as a whole is what left our world in shambles. Try to think about sin in a broad term as being what has left so much pain surrounding the world we live in today. If none of us had sinned, we WOULD live in a perfect world, which is what God intended us to live in when He created Adam and Eve in Eden.
I know it's hard... it's downright complicated sometimes. However, God IS faithful! He DOES have a plan. He has purpose in pain and promises to be there with us as we walk through hard times. Now is the time to pray more than ever that we will all be led to pursue a relationship with Christ... we are not promised tomorrow.
Thanks for your reply. :)
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