Monday, January 18, 2010

Whose Fault is the Fault?

I love how God works to bring verses to our attention at just the right time!

Yesterday in our Sunday School Bible Fellowship class, we prayed for Haiti, as I'm sure your church did. The question was raised about how to respond in conversations with non-believers (or believers too, for that matter) when questions come up about God's role in such disasters, especially in light of some public comments made last week which attribute the earthquake to God's judgment on a pagan nation. Of course, this has caused a maelstrom of reaction from both ends of the spectrum.

Later yesterday evening, I was reading an unrelated book, and stumbled across these verses:

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?

I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?

I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

Luke 13:1-5


I almost fell out of the chair! I don't remember reading those verses before, although I'm sure I have. What a great reminder that, instead of trying to read God's mind, we need to be focus on the importance of turning to Him in repentance and trust, regardless of where we live.



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14 comments:

Theresa said...

Isn't it amazing how God uses His word to grab you. Scripture that you have read many times that just hits you a different way.

I like your Blog. I look forward to reading more.

sara said...

wow, great verses!

quilly said...

Any chance you forwarded those verses to "They deserved it"?

A Stone Gatherer said...

Oh my Linda, thanks for those verses! Could you forward them to Pat Robertson please!!!!!

Cathy said...

I don't remember those verses, but they are so true. Thank you for sharing them.

Janean said...

oh my goodness. i just keep saying "wow. wow. wow." thank you for this fitting Scripture!!!!

Arlee Bird said...

I don't watch shows like the 700 Club and I'm not a follower of Pat Robertson. However, not once in any clip I've heard did I hear him say that the earthquake was a judgement from God. I think it as more to do with how Haiti is affected by a natural disaster like an earthquake or a hurricane. Haiti has been since it's independence from the French under a curse of the consequences of what they believe and practice. The country suffers from corruption, poverty, lack of values, a sinful religious mindset, and disregard for human value. I understand what Robertson was saying and it was said at a time when there was more focus on Haiti than usual. I believe his heart is in the right place and what he said spoke a great deal of truth.

If we are quoting Bible verses please note Matthew 12:25:

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.


Those against Christianity love bashing a Christian and distorting their words and ideas. If people who call themselves Christians blindly fall in with those who are against Christainity then we are dividing our house and weakening our cause. We are in the last days.
Lee

Kim said...

Linda - I'm thankful the Lord uses His word in our daily lives to give us understanding. I think, bottom line is, like you said, it is impossible to know the mind of God outside what He has written in His word. We waste our time when we try to figure out the "why" behind things that break our hearts on the human level. These are moments when we pray and thank God for being present with the people of Haiti just as He is present with us. He has not left them alone. We tend to forget that.

Skoots1moM said...

His Living Word is our guide, protector...judgment is His, indeed :)

Barbara H. said...

Amen! Did you read Al Mohler's article, "Does God Hate Haiti?" The answer is no, of course, but he has some perspectives in answer to the charge that God is punishing them.

Together We Save said...

Thanks for sharing.... very thought provoking.

Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife said...

Preach it sistah..

Denise said...

I remember the same reaction to Hurricane Katrina. We are all very aware that believers as well as nonbelievers perished then. We often spout "If not for the grace of God, that would be me." Does that mean we have more grace on us than another believer?
In the Arkansas paper today, it quotes 3 people in Haiti. Rev. Eric Toussaint at Mass preached of thanksgiving . "Why give thanks to God? Because we are here. What happened is the will of God." Mondesir Raymone, a 26 year old single mother of two was grateful. "We have survived by the grace of God," she said. Others were angry. "It's a catastrophe, and it is God who has put this upon us," said Jean-Andre Noel, 39, a computer technician.
I believe it is hard on anyone to understand God's mind. His ways are not our ways. You are so right to encourage us to focus on turning to him in repentance and trust, no matter what what circumstance, tragedy, disappointment or happiness we find ourselves in!

Samantha said...

Amen, wonderful verses.