In our country we have had our share of natural disasters. One thing that is sure to come up in conversation with those suffering is why did this happen? Some take things further by asking God, why did you let this happen?
There are so many theological answers to this question but generally it’s not what the grieving individual wants to hear at that time.
An interesting observation though is that it seems to take a natural disaster to bring out the best in people. A generous spirit that should be there all the time but doesn’t seem evident or prevalent. People stop and think about others first for a change. They gather to help clean up en masse. It makes a huge difference to the morale of those affected.
We live in a culture that is inherently selfish and in inward looking. The generosity is immense yet brief, until the next disaster occurs.
The nations media with their blanket coverage are in awe of the multitude of feel good stories to tell. It needn’t be the case as this immense sense of community should be the case all the time.
There are so many theological answers to this question but generally it’s not what the grieving individual wants to hear at that time.
An interesting observation though is that it seems to take a natural disaster to bring out the best in people. A generous spirit that should be there all the time but doesn’t seem evident or prevalent. People stop and think about others first for a change. They gather to help clean up en masse. It makes a huge difference to the morale of those affected.
We live in a culture that is inherently selfish and in inward looking. The generosity is immense yet brief, until the next disaster occurs.
The nations media with their blanket coverage are in awe of the multitude of feel good stories to tell. It needn’t be the case as this immense sense of community should be the case all the time.
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2 comments:
This deviates a bit from this blog, but along similar lines, can I just take a moment to slam Earth Hour, which happened on March 26 (yesterday)?
It's like society's involving itself in Earth Hour in a bid to stop these Natural Disasters that are allegedly brought about by our shameless 'global warming'. Slap om the wrist, world. You've changed the climate to such a statistically insignificant extent that you're creating all sorts of calamities. Look what you've done! Oh, but you can take an hour out of your life to sit in the darkness and contemplate your misdemeanours, whilst paradoxically feeling better about yourselves for rectifying the situation by switching your lights off. Let me tell you something: No wisdom ever came out of darkness (Ecc 2:13). We are feebly attempting a veneer of togetherness by participating in the same mind-numbing frivolities like Earth Hour, when, as Tim identified, really we're all soaking in our own puddles of awesomeness because we all coped of our own accord for an hour without lights. Bravo.
Nice rant Meaghan! :-)
Regarding the title of this blog, I wish Christians would give an answer when people ask this rather obvious and admirably intelligent question. Instead, most of us would rather either to try to trump the question with some theologically pretentious clap-trap about it being arrogant to ask such a thing of God; or to take the opposite but equally objectionable path of attempting to absolve God of any responsibility by spouting week-kneed drivel about it being just a symptom of a fallen world mixed with feel-good guff about mercy and love.
I’ll tell you what I’ve heard from missionaries in Japan. They are urging us to stop sending money to secular aid agencies trying to mitigate the effects of God’s disaster, and start prayerfully sending money to missionaries so they can get on with their very clear mission to echo God’s warning to as many Japanese Pagans as possible that they need to repent and believe before they suffer a great deal worse than a petty little earthquake and tsunami.
I agree with the missionaries.
Why, oh why? God sends these disasters with a very clear intent. Yes, there is suffering in this world. Yes, that is because it is fallen. But ordinary, such suffering is restrained to sickness, poverty, and death. Massive wars and so-called “natural disasters” are infrequent. But when they come, they hurt. God is in sovereign control of his planet. He brings these events on purpose. They are a wake-up call. A warning. As if to say, “see this? That’s nothing compared to what you get in eternity if you do not believe”. And that is exactly what Christians should be saying in the wake of such events. Yes these warnings come upon Christians too, some of whom die. Cool, they’re in Heaven – wish I was them! The rest of us should be quickened by these events, and stirred with a new sense of urgency that the time is short.
LB
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