However, I was just as heart-broken if not more so about the commentary that I heard on why things like this happen in our world. I heard it on social networking sites, websites, podcasts, and television; people giving their opinion on why things like this happen, what it means, and how we are to respond. I have heard that this is great evidence that Christ will return soon, that this is God's punishment on wickedness, or that God was not in control at all and this was nothing more than random natural tragedy.
In times like these it is important not to make statements that are based on opinion, human reasoning, or even anger. There are things we can and should say, and there are things that we should not and cannot say. The only place to find these answers is in the Word of God. My desire is for the people of God to say what God says on these issues and not shy away from those opportunities. Here are a few thoughts on what we should and should not say regarding the disaster in Japan.
1. We should affirm God's sovereignty and His absolute control over natural disasters
Amos 3:6 states Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has done it? Isaiah 45:6-7 makes it even more clear when it says, That people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things.
A quick reading of Job 38 will bring even more light to God's control over snow, hail, rain, thunder, lightning, ice, and floods. Remember the God we are talking about spoke to the wind and waves and they obeyed.
2. We do not know why natural disasters happen
We can and should say that God is sovereignly in control of natural disasters, but we make a terrible mistake when we try to speak for God and say why these things have happened. Unfortunately during times like these we hear that this is God's judgment for some specific sin directed at some specific people.
Remember Job's three friends? The reason that God became angry with them was not that they said God had done all these things to Job (property, finance, servants, children all taken away), but that they claimed to know why God had done it. They, along with Job darkened council by words without knowledge. (Job 38:2) They uttered what they did not understand and spoke wrongly of God.
Listen, could God have sent the earthquake and tsunami to Japan in order to judge them for some sin? The answer is yes, He could have. But do I, or anyone else know that this is the case? The answer is no! This may have happened for reasons that have nothing to do with judgment, but grace. Let us tread cautiously here so as to affirm God's sovereignty, but avoid speaking for him in regards to His reasoning.
3. We should be careful not determine our eschatology (study of end times) by current events
Over the last 2000 years of church history the only thing that has been agreed upon when it comes to escatology is that the Lord is coming back. There are so many different views as to how endtime prophecies should be interpreted, and given how hard these things are to get a grip on, it might be best for us to hold our eschatology loosely.
Since I was a child, I have heard after every disaster and major tragedy that the event was a sign that Christ is coming soon. However, every generation in church history has believed that Christ was returning in their lifetime, and ours is no different. We are told in Scripture that no man knows the day or hour that the Lord will return (Matthew 24:36-44). And given the varying possibilities of how endtime prophecies could be viewed, we must be careful not to view current events as an aid to interpret Scripture.
It is proper to tell people that the Lord may return at any moment, and that we are to be prepared, but that is different than kneejerking at every disaster or Middle East event as a sign that it will be in our lifetime.
4. We should use natural disaster to instruct all men everywhere to repent
In Luke 13:4-5, we are told about 18 men who were killed when a tower fell upon them. Jesus made a remarkable statement, giving insight into how we should approach disasters. He states that the men who died were no worse offenders than anyone else, yet they were killed. Jesus then tells those listening that unless they repent, you will likewise suffer.
That is how I think we should view natural disasters. We should not presume to know why God has done certain things, but affirm the sinfulness of all men everywhere, and call them to repent and surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith, putting forth the consequence that if they fail to do so they will perish.
There is more that needs to be said on this topic, but it is vitally important that Christians speak carefully and Biblically when commenting on disasters such as we saw last week.
N.T.S
Neil, I saw the worst post ever today. It was that God was judging Japan for deserting Israel.
ReplyDeleteNow, no one loves Israel or the Jews more than I do, but to say that right now is cruel at best, and truly mean spirited.
First of all, the average person in Japan did not reject Israel, the leadership did. And although we are sometimes held accountable for our nations actions, we do not know for sure if this is "God's judgment upon Japan"
Secondly it's God's loving kindness that leads to repentance. So how is saying, "You deserved that" while they are still suffering aftershocks, the probability of a nuclear meltdown, and the death of thousands, do them any good? It will only reinforce people's hatred of Christians being "hypocrites." We too, as a country, have neglected Israel at times. Are we going to say that to our brothers and sisters if an Earthquake happens to California or the Midwest???