Natural disasters like flooding, earthquakes, tornados, tsunamis, hurricanes, drought, and forest fires continue to rock the lives of people around the world. What’s your understanding of why God allows these things to occur?
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zero_g on May 16, 2011 at 12:02 pm
I believe John 9:1-3 answers this:
1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
God is revealed through the works of His people who show compassion and provide help to those who suffer from these tragedies.
tom felten on May 19, 2011 at 8:23 am
Good thoughts, zero_g. God’s love and compassion and mercy can certainly be revealed through his people when catastrophic events occur.
winn collier on May 16, 2011 at 2:11 pm
I believe there are many thoughtful ways to consider this, but two I’ve been pondering recently are:
(1) these give evidence to how deep the wound of the Fall cut, even into the fabric of our earth. God allows them for the same reason he allows my rebellion, and I think both cause him grief. And one day, he will make them “no more.”
(2) Anglican Priest / Physicist Polkinghorne talks about the “shadow side” of freedom. If God wants to allow for some measure of human freedom, then God allows for us to do damage to ourselves. The same is true for the natural order. If God is going to allow beauty, then God (must?) allow for things that are-not beauty.
tom felten on May 19, 2011 at 8:52 am
winn, what you wrote points to what Paul describes in Romans 8:20-23: “Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious hfreedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering.” Yes, for now the whole natural world groans. How we look forward to the time when the curse will be lifted and Jesus will make “everything new”! (Revelation 21:5).
frat on May 19, 2011 at 8:48 am
I believe that God allows these circumstances to arise so that we can have opportunity to manifest the the grace and love of Jesus through our response to the unfortunate suffering that the victims of disaster face.
Matthew 25:44, Jesus says “inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.”
People are hurting, suffering, displaced, and discouraged, so what are you going to do? I believe every flood, every earthquake, every tornado and hurricane is not a judgement upon the victims, but a referendum on the Christian character of all who have been spared.
tom felten on May 19, 2011 at 8:54 am
Good point, frat. And as we pour out God’s grace and love on the hurting, he continues to mold us transform us into His image!