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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