Hurricane Sandy has been called many things: Superstorm, Frankenstorm, Mammoth storm, and Monster storm.
But, the most interesting (and loaded) name for hurricane Sandy has been “act of God.”
This should not be surprising because it has been happening for, oh, all of history.
In the ancient world, a natural disaster or an act of God was an act of judgment. And in the modern world, even with the advent of advanced geological and meteorological sciences that do their best to predict and explain natural phenomena like floods, earthquakes, or hurricanes, a natural disaster is still seen by many to be an act of judgment.
Therefore, whenever these catastrophes come every few years, we see radical groups like Westboro Baptist Church and preachers like John McTernan pronouncing the devastation as judgment on the world for issues such as gay marriage and abortion. This is nothing new. Similar language was used for 9/11 and hurricane Katrina.
However, God’s action in the world is far from simple and issues surrounding theodicy are not going anywhere any time soon. Like many, I don’t think it is helpful or necessary to equate the will of Mother Nature with the will of God, and I also don’t think this means that God is absent or uninvolved in the world and in our lives.
So, let us not simplify the things of nature, whether it is a disaster or a miracle, more than it needs to be. The problem of evil in this world is always going to be in tension with God’s goodness. Therefore, we should not deny the reality of evil to emphasize the goodness of God, and we should not deny the goodness of God in the face of evil.
As Einstein is allegedly quoted as saying, “Simplify as much as possible, but no further.”
The atmosphere is constantly in turmoil in order to maintain equilibrium, & all too often the process is devastating & dangerous. But without it, life could not survive. Many wanted to blame Hurricane Katrina on the annual gay festival associated with Mardi Gras. The actual gay district in New Orleans is the French Quarter, which was almost untouched by the storm, the surge, or subsequent flooding.
The issue is not whether storms are an act of God or not. The issue is whether disaster can be authentically attached to any one particular issue or sin, as some people claim. Biblically, cities occasionally come under the judgement (or mercy) of God, and we know it. Additionally, there’s no record of Jesus ever referring to “nature” as though somehow in a separate category from God (with a will of its own). Such thinking appears to be foreign to the Hebrew mind. It is God who is (after all) called the Lord of creation. However, we all need to be reminded of that Tower that fell in Jerusalem. A good additional question should be: “do you think that Edmontonians are any less guilty than New Yorkers for having avoided the storm?” I tell you no. But unless you repent of your sins…
[...] CanadianChristianity.com [...]
Na.1:3 “The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.” Of course all these occurrences are the workmanship of an absolute sovereign God. You are commanded to praise him for everything. Our timeline was laid out at the foundation of his creation. This World belongs to the Devil, of course this was an Earth Judgment or God Smack. If you don’t believe this you are calling Jesus a liar fore he said what the End of the Days would look like and here you go. Earthquake anyone?
Fascinating article. It reminds me of a debate I had with an atheist who rejected God because in his mind, God ‘invented’ evil. Here’s my debate with him: http://bit.ly/NJLjye
Oh boy, these God believers really crack me up!
stinking lying false prophets give Gods glory to another- their goddess mother nature. God hates you.
Jer 23:19 Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. (whirlwind=hurricane Sandy)
I will believe the word of God rather than some lying false prophets.
Nah 1:3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Nah 1:4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
Nah 1:5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
Nah 1:6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.