tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025355312720857456.post1129077773090583446..comments2023-02-23T09:24:01.219+00:00Comments on Life and Faith: God of Natural Disasters?Dan Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13065774459407620529noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025355312720857456.post-75976126399541599572012-11-02T00:08:11.932+00:002012-11-02T00:08:11.932+00:00I write this as we, in New Jersey, and in greater ...I write this as we, in New Jersey, and in greater Northeast US just experienced and is suffering from Hurricane Sandy.<br /><br />God is love. I believe it. I also believe that God would rather have humankind be awakened with and through natural (or Acts of God) disasters than to experience eternal death from our sins. To that end, we, Christians, do not discuss death enough from the pulpit and with each other. Jesus conquered death for good. "Do not fear" as He commanded us. Yet, with fear and with human reason, we try to find human answers and even lay blame to human behavior for the causes of catastrophic disasters (i.e., earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, etc.).<br /><br />We, preachers, must not sidestep the most catastrophic disaster of them all - the eternal death from sin.<br /><br />Steve Kimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025355312720857456.post-73495383504287766112011-07-02T11:50:09.543+01:002011-07-02T11:50:09.543+01:00Thanks Jeff. It's always easier to speculate a...Thanks Jeff. It's always easier to speculate about these things from a distance (although none of us are untouched by suffering) but your insights from "the field" are much appreciated!Dan Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13065774459407620529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025355312720857456.post-77343231429394206152011-07-01T21:06:22.416+01:002011-07-01T21:06:22.416+01:00Just returning from Haiti a couple weeks ago, a lo...Just returning from Haiti a couple weeks ago, a lot of questions remain unanswered. One thing I do know however...as much as we may want to speculate why God allowed something so traumatic to happen to a helpless nation, I witnessed some of the deepest love and abiding faith that the Haitians have in a God that seemingly allowed all to be stripped away. What we consider to be the end in a tragedy may mark some of the most fertile ground for hearts to be surrendered and a deep spiritual richness that I have not been able to touch.Jeff Loguehttp://www.doesgodloveme.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025355312720857456.post-3336390688243643492011-06-01T22:24:48.744+01:002011-06-01T22:24:48.744+01:00Hey Gary,
>> Why do you assume that God is ...Hey Gary,<br /><br />>> Why do you assume that God is love, and would never do anything malicious? <br /><br />Because that's been my own personal experience of Him so far, and because that's the central message of the Christian faith, as exemplified by the self-giving sacrificial love of Jesus, who I am convinced is - as the Bible teaches - the Son of God.<br /><br />>> Wasn't man made in God's image, and we all know what man is like!<br /><br />Made in God's image yes, but with the power to choose - so man was allowed to choose what he wanted to be, not just follow a predetermined path that had been laid out for him.<br /><br />>> You seem to look for possible reasons that might fit your "God is love" idealogy, but they just don't really fit. Should you not question then your starting point?<br /><br />Yeah, probably - I actually have done lots of times, but I always end up back at the same place! I really do believe He's love Gary, even if I don't understand all the reasons why He does stuff, or allows things to happen.<br /><br />I think there are many reasons - possible and actual - why God allows suffering and evil to exist in His world, but I can't begin to claim that I understand the whole picture.<br /><br />For more on what I think about love, see <a href="http://thescepticalbeliever.blogspot.com/2010/07/shape-of-love.html" rel="nofollow">this post</a>Dan Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13065774459407620529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025355312720857456.post-39036114525064689992011-05-31T16:07:37.270+01:002011-05-31T16:07:37.270+01:00Thought I would have a quick read of this since I ...Thought I would have a quick read of this since I mentioned natural disasters in a recent comment in your other blog post.<br /><br />Why do you assume that God is love, and would never do anything malicious? Wasn't man made in God's image, and we all know what man is like!<br /><br />There is much pain and suffering in the world, wars, famine, disease, natural disasters, crime. So much in this world is bad really - not a small bit, but quite a lot! Why would a loving God allow this?<br /><br />You seem to look for possible reasons that might fit your "God is love" idealogy, but they just don't really fit. Should you not question then your starting point?GarySargenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10182218829794322330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025355312720857456.post-32860745857231368772011-03-31T22:29:27.249+01:002011-03-31T22:29:27.249+01:00Dan, thanks for the link. You have worked this to ...Dan, thanks for the link. You have worked this to a considerable depth and in a very balanced and creative way. My views are clear, but your unfolding thesis begs more questions - and for that I thank you again!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08268991293847325315noreply@blogger.com