Editor, continued from page 2
Meanwhile, two major earthquakes have occurred in two weeks in southern Mexico, the latest just yesterday, September 19th, with hundreds dead and many more injured, and damage to property mostly likely in the hundreds of millions. And these disasters have happened in just our little area of the globe. Expanding our survey of disasters, one third of Bangladesh was under floodwaters during this time.
Perhaps the most important stories in all these events have been how people have chosen to respond. As we have witnessed, the worst of Mother Nature has brought out the best in human nature— and even Storm the wonder dog shared in this instinct for goodness. Watching people in Houston forming human chains of rescue, sometimes in water up to their chests, many have reflected online and elsewhere on the fact that no one was asking about the politics, citizenship status, or sexual orientation of those in danger in order to decide if they were worth saving. Rather they simply saw someone in danger of injury or death and chose to respond, knowing that this life was worth it. We become the very best version of humanity when we recognize how valuable life is.
While people of all faiths( as well as good people not“ of faith”) responded generously and compassionately in the many calamities of the last month, there were those very unhelpful yakkers who took to making pronouncements about God’ s role in all of this.
Evangelical celebrity Kirk Cameron took to social media to remind us that the hurricanes currently wreaking havoc and destruction are simply God trying to tell us something:“ When [ God ] puts his power on
Hurricane Irma damage in St. Maarten display, it’ s never without reason. There’ s a purpose. And we may not always understand what that purpose is, but we know it’ s not random and we know that weather is sent to cause us to respond to God in humility, awe, and repentance.”
People have died, countless are homeless, many are gripped by fear and uncertainty— and this guy wants you to know that God did this to you, and I guess that means you need to figure out why. Why would an angry— yet we say, loving— God hurt so many people with hurricanes and earthquakes, floods and fires. Some have quickly blamed it on the lgbt community, liberals of whatever stripe, or whatever group they disapprove of, and say it’ s time for repentance— while millions of innocent people are evidently suffering in order for God to punish these few“ bad apples.”
In his first Sunday preaching after the devastation in Houston following Hurricane Harvey, Houston pastor Joel Osteen said to his megachurch congregation, which included many new refugees,“ The reason it may seem like God is not waking up is not because he’ s ignoring you, not because he’ s uninterested, it’ s because he knows you can handle it.” Really? Taking this one step further, does this mean that God loves people so much that he did away with their homes and possessions and neighbors? That sounds more like a relationship of abuse.
Osteen preaches the prosperity gospel, a branch of Christianity that holds that following Christian teachings can increase personal wealth. His Lakewood church is one of the largest in the u. s. He went on to say Harvey was part of a divine plan, with statements like,“ God knew that Houston could handle the hurricane,” and“ Quit being upset by something you can handle.” He added,“ God is in control of the universe and what he has spoken over your life will come to pass …. God won’ t allow it unless he has a purpose for it. We may not see it at the time, but that’ s what faith is all about.”
People who are wounded and grieving and heartbroken need to be cared for and comforted and embraced. Period. No theology or pontificating or religiously / politically-charged explaining— or worse, blaming. Just compassionate response.
Blogger John Pavlovitz takes all of this a step further. He writes,“ All around us people are close to
4 • The New Wine Press • October 2017