Whenever a tragedy such as the earthquake in Port-au-Prince occurs so do the usual spiritual questions. Dr. R. Albert Mohler, theologian, minister, and president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary wrote an article worth reading. In his article he addresses the question "Does God hate Haiti?" He also lays out an appropriate Christian response in contrast to some unfortunate comments recently made by another prominent Christian teacher. Read it here!
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2 comments:
i thought the message of his article was overly simplistic and non-explanatory. basically it said, "we are not God and we don't know what God was thinking when he caused (or allowed to cause) the Haiti earthquake". he goes on to essentially say that we'll never know why God did this or allowed it and that God loves Haiti based on the logic that Haiti is included in the world in his referencing John 3:16. i would sum it up like this... "we have no clue what God is thinking but we know he loves Haiti because the Bible tells us so." whatever the case, it is widely reported that Haitians are clinging to their faith more now than before the catastrophe/disaster/tragedy/destruction (there really is not a word for this...it is like the 04 tsunami).
I guess you need to consider his audience. Most Christians do not need to know why God allows or causes suffering. Most understand that at the heart of the faith is a demonstration of how God enters into the suffering and brings out good. In my opinion that is what our author was implying with reference to John 3:16. I do not think his purpose was to explain why, afterall he and his audience would be familiar with Deuteronomy 29:29, "the secret things belong to...God." He was concerned to show that God loves Haiti, and while basically he did say because the Bible tells us so he also pointed to very physical ways.
"if God merely hated Haiti, there would be no missionaries there; there would be no aid streaming to the nation; there would be no rescue efforts -- there would be no hope."
Hope in a physical sense through the people in place, and organizations in place to help, as well as hope spiritually in the promises found in belief in Christ. Eternal life, joy, peace, no more shame, guilt, pain, sin, or enemy. Coming home to God, as John Piper says is where all deep and lasting satisfaction is found.
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