Christians, how do you answer when people blame God for things like hurricane Katrina, the Indonesian tsunami, and other destructive acts of nature? I'm new to Christianity, so I'm not sure what to say when I hear people say "How could God let (blank) happen?" as though God could/should have prevented it.
Thanks for your thoughts.
2007-03-11 13:59:30 · 20 answers · asked by Sabine É 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I always ask them what makes them think God did it. Then I usually ask them if they thank God when something good happens. Usually people only bring God up when they want someone to blame, not when something wonderful happens. People seem to forget that there is free will - God gave it to us, and what we all do affects everything.
2007-03-11 14:02:30 · answer #1 · answered by Rawrrrr 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree that God is not Santa Claus and bad things happen this is life everyone has something, I dont know why God allowed Hurricane Katrina to happen. My husbands family was greatly affected by that catastrophe. My husband feels that things happen we live in a fallen world and we cant control these things. God allows these things to happen for a reason and a purpose and a plan. Those that feel that Christianity is all about prosperity money fun and good times are professing Christianity without a cross which is not biblical. Life goes on tragedy happens it is not that anyone deserved for this to happen but in this life you will have tribualtions and there are no guarentees.
2007-03-11 15:38:29 · answer #2 · answered by encourager4God 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know why God allowed hurrican Katrina happen. But, I believe it is the devil who did it. But God didn't stop the devil.
A small prayer group gathered together to pray God turn Katrina around. One lady fell in a trance and visioned a sword divide the ground in Israel, and then visioned a sword divide the ground in US. Then came out of the trance hearing, "Land for land.". And they knew God wouldn't turn Katrina away.
Blessed are those who bless Abraham (Israel), and cursed are those who curse Abraham (Israel). We were also pressuring Israel to leave Gaza, & cause them to be vulnerable to terrorist attacks. So? Israel lost Gaza and US lost similar amount of land.
God knew the tsunami would happen and where everyone was. God saved some from death. Also, elephants came and helped some Christian children get away. That was a true miracle. If people gather together and pray to God about these things to get answers, God will answer.
God knew 9/11 would happen and gave people visions of it before it happened. People didn't understand or accept the visions. The Pastor of the prayer group saw a vision of the statue of liberty holding up a sword (instead of a torch) and stormy skies and lightening. He knew something awful was happening, but couldn't discern the vision at the time. Kim Clement had a clear vision of 9/11 around 1996, and it was recorded at the time. It was the planes flying over New York, etc... But no one understood the warning at the time.
One lady, a stewardess, lost her job just before 9/11 because a large guy stepped on her foot & broke it, and she had a cast and couldn't be on that flight. She was sooo upset with God about it. The stewardess that took her place was preached to about Jesus Christ & after the 3rd time confessed Jesus Christ her Lord & Savior. She was on one of the planes that went into a tower. Jesus saved all who were victims (except the terrorists). Not one was lost, they went to heaven if they were born of God or a place of rest. None went to hell (except the terrorists).
It is sin of mankind and the devils fault. It is usually the devil that does the destructive work, but mans sin opens the door to it. The devil gets permission.
Today is a day to pray to God in spirit & truth first thing in the morning and to follow after the spirit throughout the day, because God knows what is around the corner. We need to listen to God. If God directs you to go a different way than the usual way, go a different way. It could save you life.
Trust & obey, there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus is to trust & obey.
2007-03-11 14:20:00 · answer #3 · answered by t a m i l 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, welcome to the family of God!
Second, to answer your question, I don't really have a prepackaged answer when people say things like that. They may not be right in saying that God is responsible for tragedies, but oftentimes people are in sincere pain over these things, because they are catastrophic.
As I am still learning, the first step is to show love. Then maybe people will be receptive to other things. If we jump at the chance to tell people how wrong they are theologically before they can release their emotions, we may scare them away, or leave them worse off than they were before.
I know that I've blamed God in the past for things that He wasn't responsible for. He is a God of love and forgiveness. I think we should react with love before anything else.
God bless.
2007-03-11 14:12:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well...just to play devil's advocate....
Assuming there is a God, and he is all-powerful and all-knowing, why shouldn't this God have some accountability for the things that happen? Maybe he didn't directly cause or send the tsunami or the hurricane. But if he's all-powerful, wouldn't He have had the power to stop it?
Just some food for thought.
2007-03-11 14:08:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The weather has been noticeably wilder in recent years.
We humans contribute by insisting on emitting green house gases into the atmosphere. It's your old you reap what you sow wisdom.
We can blame God until the cows come home but it will do no good. We could even agree to blame God, but how is that going to help? Instead why don't we find a solution?
2007-03-11 14:06:09 · answer #6 · answered by Imogen Sue 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I tell them they're confusing God with Santa Claus. There's nothing in the Bible that says it's God's job to see to it that only "good" things will happen. To the contrary. Read the book of Job.
Maybe God has a different perspective on things than people do.
2007-03-11 14:03:52 · answer #7 · answered by kscottmccormick 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not a christian, BUT you can use the standard christian lines:
"Its all in gods plans"
"God doesnt work on nature"
"Trust that god's will is being done"
Now all of those can answer any of those questions you were asked. They have nothing to do with the actual question of WHY god didnt stop these things, but that doesnt matter. No christian can ever answer those things.
2007-03-11 14:06:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many amazing miracles, in instances of natural disasters, that occurred preventing an even greater loss of life. Natural disasters cause millions of people to reevaluate their priorities in life. Hundreds of millions of dollars in aid is sent to help the people that are suffering. Christian ministries have the opportunity to help, minister, counsel, pray, and lead people to saving faith in Christ! God can, and does, bring great good out of terrible tragedies (Romans 8:28).
2007-03-11 14:08:15 · answer #9 · answered by Red neck 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This verse helps me to share with these people who blame God. John 16:33. You can go to this link to see the total verse http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2016:33&version=31
2007-03-11 14:13:29 · answer #10 · answered by jrealitytv 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋