I thought long and hard about posting this here, as I may be opening a huge can of worms, but ulitmately I decided that this is my blog, and if I can't vent my spleen here, then where can I? I apologize in advance for the preachy-soap-boxy nature of this post.
I tend to get most of my news online. I would rather read something once and process the information than listen to a news anchor on tv use every homonym for catastrophe over and over and over. The problem with reading my news online comes at the end of the articles... when you get to the comments. The general lack of intelligence displayed in the comment section on your average news story makes my skin crawl. I appreciate the right to speak your mind. I wouldn't bother to blog otherwise. But out and out ignorance just makes me mad. (and don't even get me started on the bad grammar and spelling... lol)
Since last week, I have been watching, along with the rest of the world, the news of the tragedy unfolding in Japan with a heavy heart. So many people lost and displaced by the earthquake and tsunami, and now the increasing danger asscoiated with the damage done to the nuclear reactors... it's heartbreaking.
What really gets under my skin are comments on news stories about the situation in Japan that quote Scripture to show that events like these are punishments on our world from an angry God, or that they are signs of the impending end of the world.
I am a believer. My faith is an integral part of who I am. And as a believer, I am seriously offended by comments that say things like "this is a sign of God's anger at our greedy culture" or "this is a sign of the end of days". And I find it especially offensive when people use the pain and suffering of other human beings as a pulpit for their hellfire-and-brimstone theology.
Yes, there are places in Scripture where it talks about the end times and how "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places" (Matt 24:6, NIV). And there are verses that talk about God's anger at the sins of man.
But more pervasive, throughout all of Scripture, is the idea that we are to love our fellow man, and help our neighbours. Luke 10:25-28 sums up Jesus' views on this pretty succinctly:
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27 [The expert in the law] answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' " 28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." NIVPretty straight forward if you ask me.
And what is a truer expression of faith? To stand in a safe place and shout at the injured about the sins of mankind, or to climb into the mess that has been inflicted to help pull them from the rubble?
Okay... sermon over.
Great pot Mrs. G. I wholeheartedly agree on it all!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a little different from your usual ramblings, but why not? I totally agree. While these catastrophic events are really scary, the only good thing to do is help out, or donate if you can't.
ReplyDeleteTake care :)
Preach on Sister Hobbit!
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ReplyDeleteOh, you wouldn't believe what's been said over here in Korea (Japan's nearest neighbours).
ReplyDeleteThe pastor of the largest Christian congregation in the country commented that the earthquake and tsunami were a judgement from God because of Japan's atheism (Japanese people generally follow the Shinto tradition).
It disgusts me that people who are leaders of a faith that is based on love and understanding could be so vicious and ignorant. I wish more people would stand up, like you, and say that these people are wrong.
Thank you for this great post. I always get upset when people do that - they did the same thing with hurricane Katrina. I think that if God WAS going to bestow wrath on people, I would think it would be on the rapists, murderers and those involved in black-market people-slavery. Of course that's just MY opinion... I too agree that we are called to first and foremost love one another, look at the Beatitudes! We should be caring for one another in our times of pain and trouble, not condemning them.
ReplyDeleteYes. This.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't have said it better.