Hey Ya’ll -
The subtitle of my topic today is “for what it is worth”, and I mean that! My thoughts and opinions on this subject are those … “my thoughts”. I’m open to be wrong or corrected where there is sound, biblical, relevant Scripture to support it.
What am I talking about - oh, I guess I’m referring to all the various “theologies” we hear about God’s involvement in Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters.
First, let me say that I’m deeply saddended by the enormous destruction and loss of life that has occurred. I’d encourage you to donate to the relief effort. And I’d even go further and encourage that you make a “sacrificial gift” - not just a tiny donation, but something that “costs you”. Give an amount that REQUIRES you to give something up. God honors that kind of giving in a big way … remember the widow’s mite?
The Red Cross is a great organization that you can give to:
Oh well, back to the subject at hand - God, and disasters …
This is fresh on my mind - not because of Katrina, but because Tropical Storm Ophelia is now off MY coastline, and it is happening at a terrible time. Worship Under The Stars in the outdoor, amphitheater is scheduled for this weekend, and we need good weather Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Seeing this storm develop has been trying for my faith which has been steadfast for months that we’d have good weather. By noon tomorrow (Thursday, Sept 8th) I will have to make the formal decision whether or not we’ll try to have this event outdoors in the amphitheater, or if we will move it indoors to an alternate venue (most likely, the Jekyll Island Convention Center).
For the most part, I don’t think of natural disasters, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, etc., as being sent “by God” or “by Satan”. I think they are acts of “nature”. The earth was set in motion long ago, and it’s not a perfect world. We have disease, sickness, sin, and yes - natural disasters. I’m not convinced that God sent Hurricane Katrina as “judgment” on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast anymore than I’m convinced that Satan did. As a matter of fact, I don’t remember anywhere in Scripture where Satan controlled the weather. I’m open to being shown differently, though. But even if it’s judgment, didn’t God say that “judgment” would start in the house of the Lord (the church)? (1 Peter 4:17) Yes - there have been prophecies about this happening, but the Army Corps of Engineers said for decades that eventually, a hurricane would hit New Orleans, and they clearly stated how disasterous it would be. Statistically, it was gonna happen some day. Did the Army Corps of Engineers “prophesy”?
And what about other storms that don’t get as much “attention” because they aren’t so drastic. Did God send that tornado that affected a single home? There are floods, tornadoes, lighting strikes, floods, and other natural phenomenons that happen all over this world EVERY DAY. It is part of this natural earth - which is “groaning” for it’s day of redemption.
We’re faced with Tropical Storm Ophelia right now. Some will be tempted to say “Satan is using this storm to disrupt Worship Under the Stars”. I’m not quick to say that at all. From the beginning, we knew that there was an inherent risk in planning an outdoor event during the natural hurricane season. It was a risk that we factored and were greatly aware of. All we could do is obey God, book the date, and pray and believe for God’s favor upon us. But just as God has given us free will to choose, I think God has also allowed nature to “do it’s thing”, as He created it to do. I heard someone say “a hurricane striking land is a natural, bad occurrence, just like a mosquito biting your arm - only a greater magitude”.
OK - let’s move on. I need to clarify some things (for those who are still reading) … I believe God is on His throne in Heaven, and He can do what He pleases. I believe in His supreme sovereignty. I believe that He can (and often DOES) intervene in the natural way of things. We can support this in Scripture where Jesus calms the store, curses the fig tree, etc. We can also support the other extreme where God sent natural disasters (fire, the Great Flood, etc) in judgment against sinful man. However, as I study the New Testament, and the New Covenant that we have with Christ, most judgment that I read about is about a “Day of Judgment” - a great, and terrible day. I see Jesus Christ at the right hand of God, whose sacrifice appeased God’s wrath - not just for Christians, but for the entire world (see 1 John 2:1-2) … yet, they have to accept it. I see most of the bad things that happen as consequences of our being sinful and “outside” of God’s protection, due to our sin and separation from Him.
God promised to spare Sodom if He could find only ten who were righteous. I’m sure there were more than ten righeous in the path of Katrina. If Katrina was God’s judgment for the “sin on Bourbon Street” as I’ve heard over and over, why where the many churches and solid, Christian believers’ homes destroyed too?
Granted, we cannot pretend to understand or figure out the ways of the Most High God. Or can we? We can certainly understand many of His Ways because of His Word, which is forever the same and always releveant. We often hear the Scripture quoted “eye has not seen, nor has ear heard” … but it goes on to say “God has revealed it by His Spirit”.
One thing that I do fully believe. Although these things are set as part of the earth’s natural response, I do believe that God (being Sovereign) can intervene, and WILL INTERVENE. I believe that God’s intervention is often based on the faith of His people, and their willingness to act on that faith, and to simply ASK GOD TO INTERVENE. Furthermore, we know that Jesus calmed the storm in Matthew. Later in Scripture, we are told by Jesus that “we can do everything He did, and even greater things”, (John 14:12-13) so we should be able to cause intervention as well.
I experienced this personally last year - we were doing a Sunday morning “church in the park” on St. Simons Island and a tremendous thunderstorm came in. In the middle of worship, rain started pouring on the equipment and the people. I stopped the song and with a surge of faith, asked the people to begin to pray to God, and to speak to that storm and command it to leave us alone … and it was really supernatural - the storm parted, and went around us. It was if we were in a dry spot, under a tent. You could see heavy rain behind us, in front of us, and on both sides, but it blew right around us and we continued with our worship service.
Regarding Opehila and Worship Under The Stars:
I have prayed and asked God to intervene supernatuarlly (which, ANY intervention of this storm deviating from it’s natural course would be “super natural”). But I’ve done more than that - I’ve taken Jesus at His Word, and I believe that I can do what He did, and even greater things. So, I’ve spoken and said “Ophelia, you go back out to sea quickly and dissipate so we can have this event outdoors”.
I have 24 hours to see it happen. I believe that it can, and have to believe that it will. When I look at the forecast, I quickly relate to the prayer “I believe, but forgive my unbelief”.
Ultimately, my main prayer isn’t about the weather - it’s about me … I pray that God will give me peace and contentment to be full of joy and passion, regardless of whether or not this “storm” obeys our words! We can move our event indoors and it will still be glorious.
Well, I look forward to your comments and input on this … all that I ask is that you prayerfully consider your replies, and support it with Scripture that is in context with the discussion at hand. One thing I know for sure - I know less and less than I thought I knew. God is way bigger than we can imagine, and His ways are mysterious to us many times.
For the Kingdom,
Fred
