Thousands died recently in Asia following a devastating cyclone in Myanmar and a massive earthquake in China. June 1st marks the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season. Natural disasters pose a challenge for all people, but persons of faith in particular are faced with trying to understand such forces in the face of their beliefs about God. Last night, I met a researched from China. He was from the Sichuan Province which received the brunt of the quake that topped out at 8.0 on the Ricter scale. He was struggling to make sense of the meaning of the destruction. It was an opportunity for conversation. Such times however require clear thinking. It is too easy to resort to Christian cliches and sloppy theology.
Here is a slightly revised form of an essay that I wrote a couple of years ago:
Hurricanes strike the southeastern states. Mudslides and earthquakes in California destroy property. Droughts in the Midwest threaten crops and scorch landscapes. Tornadoes ravage various parts of the country. Floods in low lying areas threaten homes. Each year, natural disasters cause billions of dollars in damages and cost thousands of lives around the world. In the grand scheme of things, those living in the United States are fortunate. Although damage to property tends to be in the billions, the loss of life typically is quite low per incident. As we know from the news, this is not the case in the wider world. Thousands of Haitians were killed during the 2004 hurricane season. The killer tsunami of December 2004 killed huge numbers of people in southeast Asia, India, and east Africa.
How do we fit these natural disasters into our thinking about God? Why does God allow these events to occur? How should I as a believer in God react?
I am not going to directly address the question of “why†in this essay, but rather discuss how Christians should think about natural disasters and most importantly how believers should respond in the aftermath of disasters.
As I experienced the force of three major hurricanes (Charley, Frances, and Jeanne) during 2004, I was surprised at the naïve and sometimes harmful talk that I heard from the mouths of many otherwise thoughtful Christians. Here are some of the common prayers and reflections that were tossed about in casual conversation:
1) Let’s pray that this hurricane will not hit Central Florida, but move north or south.
Believe me – I get this. Hurricanes are unnerving and dangerous. I am not looking forward to huddling in the dark, hoping that my roof holds together. But such a prayer is barely sub-Christian. How can we in the name of Jesus pray for a natural disaster to hit someone or somewhere else?
As I reflected on this more, I began to ponder aloud to the horror of my friends that perhaps Christians in the United States ought actually to pray that hurricanes strike the United States rather than the poor countries in the Caribbean and Central America. Think about it: Most citizens in the U.S. have insurance to cover the costs of rebuilding. State and Federal Emergency management agencies exist solely to speed along recovery. My own home suffered about $10,000 worth of damage in 2004, and we were without power for a total of eight days over the three hurricanes (Charley, Frances, and Jeanne), but I was never hungry or endangered by unsafe drinking water. In the aftermath of Frances, I purchased a generator to power my refrigerator, the television, and a fan. Incredibly (and making my point), FEMA came along and reimbursed me for the cost of the generator and gasoline.
Hear me: I hope that no hurricanes track over Central Florida this year. But if one does, part of me will be grateful that my brothers and sisters to the south will be spared.
2) God is bringing judgment on the United States (or on Southeast Asia or ____).
There are accounts in the Bible of God using natural disasters as signs or as judgments, but this does not therefore suggest that every natural disaster is to be interpreted in this way. In fact, natural disasters are just that–naturally occurring phenomena. In the case of hurricanes, they actually can serve a positive function (especially in inland areas) by replenishing aquifers. An ironic benefit in Central Florida (at least in suburban areas) was a big jump 30-40% in home values in the years immediately following the hurricanes. This spike was caused by the slowdown in new housing because of the need to repair older homes/business and the resulting diversion of supplies and labor.
3) My family is a family of faith. Our home was spared any damage, but our non-Christian neighbor’s shingles were ripped off. I was stunned to hear this sentiment among a number of my seminary students. My response was this: Since my home sustained more than $10,000 of damage, does this mean that my family is not a “family of faith�
We can do much better. Here are some thoughts toward a Christian Response to Natural Disasters:
1) Mourn for those who have died. Each person is created in the image of God (Gen 1:26-31; Psalm 8 ). This means that every individual is of infinite worth, value, and dignity. Death is always a tragedy. We continue to be desensitized to death in our culture. But each death represents the loss of someone’s parent, son, daughter, friend, or colleague. Moreover, each death means the loss of the individual’s unique gifts and talents. Let us mourn the loss of human potential that each death in a natural disaster represents.
2) Give thanks to God for life and safety. Life is a gift. Gratitude is a key character trait and reminds us of the true source of life. It also helps us to be content. As Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6:6-8 “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.â€
3) Serve others in God’s name. Christians are to be known by love. The aftermath of a disaster is an opportunity for believers to put faith into visible action. In our neighborhood, we organized work crews to help the elderly and anyone who sustained any significant damage. We purchased large amounts of ice and bottled water and drove into lower income areas of Orlando (which incidentally bore the brunt of the storm) and distributed them to grateful residents who were afraid to leave their property out of fear of looting. Loving service can often turn into spiritual conversations when others ask, “Why are you doing this?†A simple answer such as “we are followers of Jesus and we believe that he would be doing the same thing†can go a long way in restoring hope and pointing to its ultimate source.
4) Share resources. Monetary gifts to Christian relief organization can relieve suffering in our local areas and around the world. Christians who have material resources need to share them with those who don’t. In 2 Corinthians 8:13-15, Paul writes, “I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written, “The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.â€
5) Reality Check. Life in this world does not offer us security. God desires for believers to serve as His ambassadors and representatives by reflecting His character in all of our dealings and actions. God wants the Church to serve as agents of blessing. It is easy to get sidetracked from this mission. When tragedies strike, these can serve as wake up calls for us to serve as the body of Christ in the world.
6) Recapture the Psalter’s laments as guides for times of trouble and difficulty. The Scriptures contain profound reflection and responses to suffering. They are available for deployment by communities of faith. Here are a couple of my own essays on two classic laments: Psalm 22 and Psalm 77.
Let us live by faith, be known by love, and serve as a source of hope for others.
© 2008 Brian D. Russell
Tags: Mission, compassion, humanity, missional church, natural disasters by brian
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