During every hurricane season without fail, I'll hear someone say something to the following effect: "It's no wonder we are having so many devastating storms; God is demonstrating His great displeasure at the fact that people have become so wicked." Recently, I read an article whose author claimed this summer's California wildfires might be God's response to the California Supreme Court's recent ruling that legalized gay marriage. The sad part is that most of the people who say such things are very sincere Christians who actually believe what they are saying to be true. However, such uninformed conjecture is about as far from the truth as it can get.
You see, there are four main problems with the presumption that God uses natural disasters to punish humans for sin. One of them is biblical and the other three are derived from reason, plain old common sense, and fairness.
The biblical contradiction to the idea that God would use storms as punishment for sin can be found in Matthew 5:45, which states the following: "That ye may be the children of your Father which is heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (KJV). This verse should make it quite obvious that God sends good and bad weather to everyone, regardless of the goodness or wickedness of its recipients.
The second problem with the whole idea of God punishing sin with the use of natural disasters is the obvious randomness with which they occur. They occur in places where the majority of the people are practicing Christians just as often as they occur in places where the majority of the people are hostile to Christianity. This is consistent with the general fact that bad things often happen to good people, while good things often happen to evil people. That's just the way things work here on earth. Saying that God sends storms and other disasters because of wicked living is inconsistent with everything we can observe on a daily basis and flies in the face of logic and reason.
The third problem with the disasters-as-punishment-for-evil mentality is the simple fact that, no matter how bad a given weather-related disaster is, we can usually check the record book and find one that was much worse years ago. If the world is growing more and more wicked, shouldn't calamities of nature be growing more and more fierce and intense? Wouldn't the record books have to be re-written every year or so? This is simply not the case, as we can almost always find records of worse disasters from the past -- when there was supposedly less evil in the world.
The fourth and final problem is matter of fairness. John F. Kennedy reminded us of the fact that life isn't fair, but isn't God supposed to be? Claiming that God uses natural disasters to punish certain sins opens a whole can of worms in the realm of fairness. Why would God send natural disasters to places where people tolerate lesser sins and allow governments that turn a blind eye to murder and rape to go unpunished? Why would He strike people down for, let's say, adultery and homosexuality and allow a mass murderer like Osama bin Laden to escape justice, if even for a short time? This truth is that God will some day punish or reward everyone based on His standards of justice -- only not in this life.
Terry Mitchell is a software engineer, freelance writer, amateur political analyst, and blogger from Virginia, USA. He posts a least one article a day to his blog - http://commenterry.blogs.com - on subjects such as current events, politics, technology, society and culture, religion, health and well-being, self improvement, personal finance, trivia, and sports. His commentaries offer a unique point of view that is not often found in mainstream media. His articles here on SearchWarp represent only a small portion of his work. All of it can be found on his blog. If you like his articles, you'll love his blog.
Terrry....I can't even find the words....let me try....THIS ARTICLE ROCKS!!! I have heard so often that very thing and until now, I never had the answer I was looking for to put that theory or way of thinking to rest. Thanks for the ammo.
Terry, I just happen to be the "uninformed" author of the article you make reference to. It is apparent that you have had no seminary training. The verse you referred to as "evidence" to your argument does not carry weight. This verse refers to God's belssings upon all people... Not punishment. Your second argument also seems to miss a crucial element... although the catastrophes may seem to be random the consequences are not. You may recall the Tsunami in Indonesia that killed about 250,000 people. When was the last time you heard of that many deaths from a natural catastrophe in a "Christian" nation? Or how about the recent earthquake in China that left tens of thousands dead. I ask you to cite ONE catastrophe in our country where so many deaths have resulted. I believe that the only reason that we have had as few casualties as we have is that although God has sent catastrophes upon our country... we still have some conscience, we still have some degree of morality and faith. Nevertheless, I believe we are still seeing catastrophic events as warnings of more to come if we don't change our behavior. Last of all, I don't believe you are qualified to challenge God about whether what He does is fair or not. Thank you for your article, I just happen to disagree with your perspective.
Mark, I didn't mean to offend you with the "informed" remark, but I obviously did. For that, I apologize. I could have used more diplomatic language.
You seem to be implying that the disasters in Indonesia and China had worse consequences than those that occur in the U.S. due to the fact that they are not majority-Christian nations. I don't buy it. Have you considered the possibity that building codes and other safety issues could have been a factor? That's clearly what the difference was. Almost any time a disaster hits a third-world or otherwise less developed country, the consequences are going to be greater, regardless of its religious or moral status. They just don't (or are unable to) have the proper defense mechanisms in place like the U.S. or other developed countries have. A third-grader could figure that out. By most accounts, Europe is becoming one of the most secular and Godless places on earth. Why don't we see disasters with those Indonesia and China levels of consequences happening there?
Now, if you were right in your beliefs, the worst of the bad stuff would only happen to the worst of the bad people and the worst of the bad nations. The worse someone or some nation was, the worse the consequences would be that they would have to suffer. Bad people or bad nations could always count on bad things happening to them soon, as punishment for their deeds. Why is this not always the case?
I'm not challenging God on his fairness. I'm challenging the logic and theology of those who claim to be speaking for God. All I'm saying, for example, is that if you claim to know God struck someone down for whatever reason, then please explain to me why He doesn't strike down Osama bin Laden for mass murder. If you can't answer that question, don't pass the buck to God -- just stop claiming to know the reasons why some people suffer misfortunes.
Hi Terry, I can see that this is a topic that we both feel very passionately about. However, I must contest your claims that the disasters suffered in Third-World countries were much more severe solely based upon economic conditions, buildings codes, etc.. Did it occur to you that the reason we have such wonderful hospitals, educational institutions and building codes in this country is because of the very fact that we are a Christian nation. Do you have any idea how much the Christian faith has done to make the world a safer place? Do you think that a country that harbors, supports and encourages Islamic terrorism is a forward looking or progressive nation? And as for the innocent lives that were lost, is it not possible that God removes people from suffering by taking their lives?
Are you not aware that the Bible relates repeatedly how God brings calamity upon unrighteous peoples and nations?
The problem is that we don't want to think that God would allow harm to come to people. But, does not the Bible teach that God chastises he whom He loves?
I realize that the concept of God allowing catastrophes is a difficult one to accept. I realize that we want to think that God would never punish people. But, these ideas are just not Biblical, in any sense of the word.
Are you aware that the Bible teaches that God created evil?
Isaiah 45:7. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
Do you suppose that any catastrophe can come upon the earth without God somehow being involved in that process?
Can anything happen in God's world by mistake?
So, when there is a catastrophe... God is there. He is in the midst of the storm. God is sovereign.
Now, I would only ask you this one last thing... Do you believe that the plagues against Pharaoh in Genesis were punishment from God, or were they just a coincidence?
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of these comments.
Mark, I am quite aware of all the Biblical references you mentioned. I have read the Bible through at least 4 times, without skipping over any of it. Your argument based on "such-and-such happened in the Old Testament, so it still happens now" is a very weak one. Of course I believe God did everything the Bible says He did during biblical times. I take it literally and seriously like you do. However, God obviously does not do everything now that He did back then. Could He do it? Of course He could. But for some reason, possibly because of the New Covenant we are now under, he has apparently chosen not to.
Here somes examples of things God did in the Old Testament (obviously a very small list compared to the totality of all He did):
Turned a river into blood.
Allowed men to have more than one wife.
Told a man to marry a prostitute.
Made a donkey talk.
Ordered women, children, and babies to be killed.
Turn rods into snakes and vice versa.
Spoke to people in an audible voice.
Had a whale swallow a man and spit him up alive 3 days later.
Had the rotation of the earth temporarily reverse itself.
Turned a woman into salt.
Allowed one of His judges (Jeptha) to offer his daughter as a burnt sacrifice.
Sent a bear to rip some children apart for making fun of a man's bald head.
How many of the above things would you say God does now? ... I didn't think so.
To me, it seems just as ridiculous to say God still sends natural disasters to punish wickedness as it would to say God still does any of things I listed above.
One other thing, Mark, you say the verse I used was a reference only to God's blessings, not punishment. Technically, you're right, so I'll concede that narrow point. However, my broader point was that people's behavior did not influence their fortunes here on earth. Besides, I don't need a Bible verse to tell me that bad stuff also happens to both the good and the wicked in fairly equal proportions. I see it every day with my own eyes. Good people get cancer, wicked people get cancer. Good people get killed in accidents, wicked people get killed in accidents. And so on ...
Terry, I liked the scripture reference used to support your belief. Reading the scriptures above that will give you a full understanding that the rain in this sense isn't literal but metaphoric, God "blesses" the just/righteous and unjust/unrighteous alike. He has no respecter of persons. Being a common sense person myself, I liked the other reasons given as well. The scriptures carry more weight to me than common sense and that is not meant to be offensive. It's how I try to live, by the Word of God.
I believe insurance companies came up with "act of God." What would make me answer the title of this article "no" would again come from the scriptures. It starts in Genesis 1 when the firmament was made. In Ephesians 2:2, we learn satan (no cap S, for me) is the prince of the power of the air. What more than anything causes weather phenomenons, the air and moisture, correct? When He made the firmament, God didn't say it was good because He knew where satan would live. That expanse between heaven and earth is where he lives.
To further support my belief that God does not cause bad weather conditions but of course He can control them is from Matt. 23-27 but I will type verse 26: And He saith unto them (Jesus talking) Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He rose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. This is where I believe satan was in control. Jesus would not rebuke His Father, God. Never!! Ever!! He rebuked satan. The storms were an act of the prince of the power of the air, not God. Jesus would never talk to His Father that way!!
Finally, in Matt 14:30 when Jesus had told Peter to come to Him (on the water), Peter saw the wind boisterous, and was afraid and began to sink. Guess who stirred up the wind just to usurp Jesus' authority and cause disbelief in one of His disciples? You got it, the prince of the power of the air! It was God's Word that Peter was actually walking on and not water. When Peter began to doubt, he began to sink but was rescued by a loving Father.
This is my understanding of the Word. I know God can do anything and He is Good. Anything that happens to us that is not good [rain], we have brought it on ourselves or God has faith in us and will prove to the enemy we will not be deterred by trials, as in the case of Job. As is the case in my life, currently. I'm standing! *smile*
Thanks for a great article, Terry. Blessings to you.
You're welcome. Terry, whether right, wrong, re-enforcement or . . . what I rejoice in more than anyting else is the discussion about God and the belief in Him. He gets the Glory, not any of us. Have a great afternoon and weekend! Thank you.
We see God actively involved in our lives and in the weather all the time, but sometimes we don't know when he is just letting things "play out" or if he is controlling a specific act.
Your argument that natural disasters cannot be punishments from God is a good one.
But if natural disasters are not punishments from God, why did God create them and why does God allow them to achieve such destruction?
They seem to serve no purpose other than killing (mostly) innocent people. One suggestion I've heard put forward is that natural disasters are God's way of giving us the opportunity to work together to overcome something, or a means for us to find virtue in ourselves through our efforts to help those effected, but of course a God who would allow thousands to be killed just to help others learn about virtue is obviously not a loving God.
How is the existence of natural disasters compatible with the existence of an all-powerful benevolent God? Arguments can be made that evil is necessary in order for freewill but such arguments wouldn't extend to natural disasters, which clearly are not necessary for freewill.
Ben, I don't know the answer to your question, so I'm not even going to offer a guess (if did know the answer, I'm in the wrong line of work, that's for sure). That's something we'll just to wait and ask God in the next life.
You ask a great and honest question. I asked that myself years ago. And someone gave me an answer that sent me searching the Bible for the answer.
Now, I can only assume you do not believe the bible or in God, based on your response here and in your articles that I have read. Now If have made a bad assumption I apologize. I say this, because the answer to your questions lies in the pages of the Bible, they are "hidden" or few, but they are in plain language and found in almost every book of the Bible, beginning with the book of Genesis. Don't worry, I won't walk you through all of them.
But here, is what the Bible says:
God created all things pure and good-but he did not create His angels without a free will to choose. Satan, one of God's Highest ranking angels, decided he wanted to be "God"
As a result, he willingly chose to rebell against God and God's creation (namely human kind.)
When Adam and Eve chose to disobey God by giving into temption that Satan laid out in front of them, they caused sin to enter into God's creation. It never used to "storm" God's perfect will was that the earth would be well watered from the springs below. Until Noah's time, it had never even rained as we know rain.
But, all of God's creation was subject to the results of the fall of sin. So the result is the change in whether patterns, animals eating other animals, etc.. So the short answer to your question, is that God did not create natural disasters, but in his Justice and Sovereinty, he gave man free will, warned them on chosing wrong and the consequences that would follow. Just as any good parent would.
We do see where God has directly interviened by using weather to accomplish his purpose, but man cannot blame God for the evil that that happens in this world, we do it to ourselves by giving into the original three deadly sins. "The Lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. It's all laid out in the first book of the bible.
Anyway, I am not telling you you have to accept this as truth, that is your choice, but it is the answer to your question from the Bible which, Christians believe to be the Word of God--with many good and proven reasons.
All the best to you. I hope this helps even if you disagree.
Hi Teresa, thank you for taking the time to set that out for me, I do appreciate it!
I'm not religious but I have studied religion and the Bible, and spoken with many people including Christians who believe the Bible to be the word of God, and Christians who take a less literal view of it.
I find the answer you give a little confusing though - if God did not create natural disasters was it Satan who created them? Or do we humans in our sin have the (collective) ability to create such major changes to God's creation ourselves?
Innocent people are killed in what seem to be randomly occurring (random in terms of the faith or sinfulness of the victims that is) natural disasters, depriving those people of their divinely-bestowed free will, and of their chance to find salvation (through Jesus).
Whilst I can see that individuals with free will could abuse their free will to deprive others of theirs (that is a necessary consequence of free will), it seems strange that God permits natural disasters to do the same at *random* - surely only agents with free will should be able to inflict suffering and death (and deprivation of free will) on others?
Otherwise, whether Satan or human sin created these disasters, surely the non-directed nature of these events makes them something a loving God would want to put a stop to?
Natural disasters are not evil unless they are directed with intent, which doesn't seem to be the case.
You liken God to a "good parent", warning us that we must take the consequences of our actions, but why should pious innocents face natural disasters as a consequence of (for example) *my* sins?
It seems to be a case of lumping everyone in together, like a teacher punishing a whole class for the actions of one pupil, or perhaps more accurately like a teacher punishing children *at random* whenever a rule is broken by an individual.
Sorry for going on so long, I'm just struggling to understand how all these elements can be reconciled!
I do see your struggle and appreciate the pure desire to understand how these two elements can be reconciled.
I'm sorry for the confusion, I didn't lay out other thoughts, but I can see the confusion is in how techinical we are both being in using the word "create". As you lay out your reasonings for being confused by my statement, I now fully understand what you are getting at, so thanks for bringing it up so we can keep this civil converstation going to help clarify this discussion :-)
Okay,
In a technical sense God did "create" "evil" , but more accurately, the bibles use of the world "result" of; meaning "melfunction" of it's pefect intended use.
In other words, in God creating everything pure and perfect, he also had to provide for what would happen when man chose sin--the consequence. So in weather for instance, what was intended to be our provison, comfort and enjoyment, also was created with ability to function in drastic measures as a result of it being tampered with. Much like your computer going crazy when it gets a virus.
So, neither man or the devil "created" the "evil" but rather enabled it. Much like turning on your computer. It is already made to run, but you have to flip the switch to put it to use.
So, man had the ability to put the corruption or "melfunction" into action as a result of sin. Does this help?
Your second comment: wouldn't God want this to be stopped? The answer is yes, and he made a provision for it to be stopped. This he did, by sending His Son Jesus into the world to pay for the sin of mankind. When man receives Jesus as Savior, the penality of sin is paid for--however, since our bodies were born in sin, they still must die, but once we receive Christ as our Savior, we will receive new and uncorruptable bodies which will live for ever. This is talked about in1 & 2 Corinthians and other places as well. Also when Jesus returns to earth, as Scripture says, for 1000 years, this earth will be restored to its original intent, and no chaotic weather or sin. After 1000 years, there is the final judgment and all evil will once and for all be delt with and cast into the lake of fire. Then there will be a new earth and it will be perfect without corruption in nature or humanity. So yes, God n his goodness already made a way for this to happen.
The reason he is waiting so long to come back is that he wants as many people to receive eternal life as possible. So he will not return until the very last person receives him.
The other thing you mentioned was random acts of nature that would infringe on peoples right to freely choose Jesus. I am assuming you mean that they die from a disaster of some sort before they can choose? The Bible tells us that every single person who has lived or will live will have the chance to chose. God reveals himself to everyone. If they reject him it is because it is a willful choice. Many people by way of missionaries, and now internet can hear the truth about Jesus, even people in far away lands with no computers or missionaries, God reveals himself to mankind. (Romans), so be assured God is fair and just and gives everyone an opportunity. The choice is ours.
Lastly, you are right in saying that there are people who infringe on other peoples rights because they choose to cause harm to another. There are many victims of other peoples choices. That is obvious. I know the weather seems to be a hang up. But the weather does not have a brain, it is simply functioning in "melfunction" until the day Christ returns. It means no harm, it's intent is not malicious for it has no "choice" Only man has choice. It just is. But again, if it takes the lives of people, be sure, those people had the opportunity to receive Jesus before they died. Also, remember physical death is the price of sin--all of us will die physically one way or another. The issue is will we choose to be "born-again" by the Spirit of God by receiving Christ which in turn, "rights" the "wrong."
Lastly, the only way we have a real chance at growing in understanding of the ways of God, is to have the Spirit of God in our hearts. And that is a simple step. All it takes is a sincere desire on our part and to admit we have sin in our lives and that we need God. We simply say, Lord Jesus, I don't know much, I'm confused by a lot , but one thing I do know is that I want to know God, please send your spirit to live in me, open my eyes and teach me the ways of God. In Jesus name, Amen. Now, if that is prayed in all sincerity of heart, which only God can see, He will send His spirit to quiken our spirit (breath life in and give understanding to the things of God-because we are born spritually dead- Ephesians) Once this is done, reading the Bible will be different, over time more and more things will begin to make sense and seemingly contradictory things will no longer be. God Bless you with wisdom and peace within your heart.
I hope I made a bit more sense. And I too, am sorry for being long . If you would like to talk more about this, please send me an e-mail. ( or write here) So we can continue, I love talking about these things and never grow weary of questions or comments. Not if its for more than the sake of arguement.
Thanks, Terry, and I hope you don't mind letting us use your article as a forum.
Hi Terry. Well, your article, which is excellent, has certainly garnered a lot of also excellent comments. I would like to add this thought. Within any community of "bad" people there will also always be some "good" people. What is the point of causing the "good" to suffer along with the "bad?"
Also, we have free will so that we may arrange our lives as it pleases us. If we make "mistakes" in God's Eyes, well he has given us that right. But to judge us for our "mistakes," in this life, seems cruel and unnecessary. I prefer not to think of God in this way. I believe weather is just weather.
Hi Terry- Very well laid out and argued article. I understand your intent in explaining that God does not dilberately cause disasters on the wicked, yet I see Marks point of view as well--Avis's too, for that matter.
But I would like to throw in something that I hope will show that God does use His creation (specifically whether in this case) to bring judgment on the wicked. Take the 10 plagues for instance in the deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt. God made it very clear why all the calmities came upon them. Secondly and I think most relative to "today" is what Jesus said would happen in the latter times as a direct result of the sin of man, (Futher study of this shows that it is sin in general, not a specific sin) Except for Sodom and Gommorah. And finally, and most important, in my opinion is the book of Revelation. Yes, it is a metophorical book, but it is also literal--this is determined by those little phrase like "I saw something that looked like" which would be metaphorical and then there is is "And then I saw such and such)
Anyway, my point is that "natural disasters" in weather patterns are a direct result of the orginal sin in the Garden. Scripture tells us that creation even growns because it was subject to the effects of the corruption and death that sin causes (Romans). Revelation explains in great detail the destruction that will happen as a result of no rain, many fires, and plagues, beginning in the first half of the 70th week of Daniel (first 3 1/2 yrs of the tribulation) But will be increase in devasting portions the last three and a 1/2 years. Jesus Himself told us this and gave us the exact reason why --as a result of disobedience. Only those who obey the gospel and repent will escape.
So, sorry for the book, but I think in the end, you are correct in saying we cannot determine when a "natural disaster" is a direct result of a specific sin. But Mark is also correct when He laid out in his article about Sodom and Gommorah.
Yes, ulimate judgment in terms of how we lived our lives, whether as believers unto rewards for Christ, or whether as non-believers until punishment for unforgiven sin comes from God.
Anyway, I hope my two-cents help to bring a different perspective on the two extreme thoughts :-)
Thank you for an article that obviously made a lot of us think.
» left by Michelle from Lodi, CA (33 days 9 hours ago.)
Excellent Teresa, and to Terry and Mark, I can see all of the passion you each have and the love for the Lord. May the Lord continue to bless each of you.
Nice job, Teresa. Our ways are certainly not His and His was are certainly not ours. The foolishness of God can confound the wise. He is my Redeemer and He lives! He's in your heart, mine and many others. That matters!
Terry, you hit a home run and got much attention. My response after good job is this. Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 40 Verse 1- 17. Now of course which BIBLE? Therein lies the dilemma. Yet Gods judgment falls upon all the good and the wicked. It is stated in many a verse. One Lord, many versions, same message. best Wishes, Robert.
» left by Dane Tyner from Tulsa, OK (31 days 8 hours ago.)
Terry, thanks for an excellent article. You certainly sparked off a lot of lively debate. I agree that, in most cases, we should not jump to the conclusion that God is bringing judgment in a natural disaster. I believe you have allowed that He COULD do so. Most of the unruly behavior of the planet resulting in destruction is, I believe, a result of the curse on nature following Adam and Eve’s rebellion. The Apostle Paul spoke of the "whole creation waiting for its liberation from a bondage to decay" (RM 8). That we should not automatically conclude that a natural calamity is an act of God’s judgment was specifically taught by Jesus in Luke 13:4&5. There Jesus brought up a real incident in the news of His day. A tower in Jerusalem had collapsed and killed 18 people. Jesus asked His audience a question something like this: "Do you think those 18 victims were more guilty than all the other citizens of Jerusalem?" I assume He knew they had thought this. He then specifically stated that these victims were NOT more guilty than others, and He further warned that repentance was needed in all of Israel or they would also perish. We easily see calamity come upon people and wonder, "What did they do to deserve this?" Jesus challenged that thinking more than once, though the Bible had already challenged it strongly in the book of Job. Bless you, man.
Dane, you make an excellent point. Jesus made a similar statement about a blind man. He was asked (and I'm paraphrasing now), "Who sinned, this man or parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus responded that neither the man nor his parents had sinned to cause him to be born blind. Obviouly, he didn't mean that the man or his parents were sinless. The man was born blind because that was God's will and it created an opportunity for Jesus to perform a miracle by giving him his sight.
» left by Dane Tyner from Tulsa, OK (30 days 14 hours ago.)
Terry, that is another excellent point of Jesus' teachings that challenges karma-style thinking. I know the Bible teaches the Law of sowing and reaping, but it also mediates that with the teaching about God's grace and mercy (not just a New Testament concept). I have lived in the middle of "tornado alley" for almost 40 years, and have not had my property damaged by one. Interesting testimonies are routinely born in the destructive paths of these storms. One believer will be praising God because a tornado lifted just before it reached his or her home. Another will have had the home totally destroyed, yet be praising God for their spared lives. A few years ago, a particularly destructive tornado came through the Tulsa area and one large church building was substantially damaged while a small church just a few blocks away was untouched. Should we conclude that God doesn't like big churches or THAT denomination? Hardly! I remember being struck with the fact that a high-profile godless business just about two miles from the damaged church was also untouched. Again, should I conclude that God prefers a lewd, licentious bar environment to a House of Worship? No one need to waste their time trying to convince me of that. Indeed, we must be careful about injecting more meaning into natural disasters, diseases, and other calamities than is warranted. Trusting God and praising Him are always fitting things to do. Thanks again for your attempt to engage in the battle for truth.
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