Wayne's Worldview is a place to share my unique perspective of the world as formed from my interpretation of the scriptures and my experience as a Christian. As a pastor, I am asked a lot of questions about current issues, life dilemmas, personal problems, politics, biblical interpretation...etc.I offer these "How I see it" thoughts in effort to challenge people to think about their worldview, and to stimulate good conversations that will help us become more whole.
Welcome to the conversation.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Where's God in the Earthquake?

Q. How do we explain the presence of God in the midst of tragic events such as earthquakes or tsunamis?
A. This question is another form of the common question: How can you reconcile the goodness of God with the presence of evil and suffering in the world? Libraries of books have been written on the subject, as this is a very common objection to the Christian faith. If the topic interests you, I recommend reading The Problem of Pain, by C.S Lewis, as he writes about this subject comprehensively in terms the average person can understand. But, rather than defer the question to someone else entirely, I will answer the question in summary: God is with us in the midst of all our trouble.

When a storm, any kind of storm, comes to our front door, humanity is quick to blame God for it. We demand an explanation from this “loving” God, who has wronged us. In essence we blame God for it, but should we? The Bible teaches that evil is not caused by God, but is the direct result of our rebellion against God. God does not keep us from adversity, but he does promise to be with us, amidst the suffering. Instead of blaming a God we don’t know for our pain, we have peace and hope from our creator and savior, both in this life and the life to come. If you think the answer leaves you short, consider the atheist’s position: People are condemned to live a life of pain that ends with death with no comfort or solution now or in the future.
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2 comments:

  1. Dan DufekApril 26, 2010 at 7:56 AM

    You mentioned above that "The Bible teaches that evil is not caused by God". What kind of evil are your referring to here? Moral evil (sin) or natural evil (famines,storms, etc.) I am wondering what you would do these verses in Isaiah?


    I am Jehovah, and there is none else, no God besides Me; I clothed you, though you have not known Me; that they may know from the rising of the sun, and to the sunset, that there is none besides Me. I am Jehovah, and there is none else; forming the light and creating darkness; making peace and creating evil. I Jehovah do all these things.
    (Isa 45:5-7)

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  2. Wayne DeVrouMay 5, 2010 at 5:01 AM

    Great question. The Hebrew word רע is also interpreted as Calamity, distress, misery and injury.The word is used 667 times in different variations in the OT. Strongs # 7451. The majority texts reference this misery as a result of sin, and many times is the exercise of God's judgement for sin. While, some have been so bold as to claim that God is specifically judging people for certain sins- as in the Haiti earthquakes, I believe this is a stretch of our knowledge of the workings of God. According to the scriptures, the earth itself reacts from the fallen condition of man, so to assign a specific event with a specific sin, is to claim to know the full mind of God. I wouldn't dare do it, myself.

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