Posted on 12/28/2004 8:49:44 PM PST by abigkahuna
Upon a little research I find that last December 26th there was a horrific earthquake in Bam, Iran where upwards of 30-50K people died. Fast forward to a year later, December 26, 2004. The death toll is still rising. What makes on go hmmmm, is that both events happened right after Christmas and both events happend in areas where CHristianity is not prevelant.
Does this mean anything? Who knows.
bttt
God is not something to be figured out, like the instruction manual of an electrical appliance.
JMHO, FRiends.
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, Dan (I know you will 8^) but I have a lot of faith in your judgement on these matters).
It is true that God is sovereign over literally everything, including natural phenomena (Psalm 29:3; 115:3; Jeremiah 10:10). It is also true that national sin can bring national judgment, even among "heathen" nations (i.e. nations other than Israel; Genesis 15:16; Proverbs 14:34; Amos 1—2, etc. ad inf.).
However, I would not attach any such one-for-one significance to these calamities, lest I fall under the judgment incurred by Job's three "friends," who thought they could interpret every act of Providence — for others.
Here is one reason why I am reluctant: another Biblical principle is this, and you may make bank on it: the greater the privilege, the greater the responsibility (Amos 3:2; Luke 12:48; Romans 2:1-2).
I say that to say this: if any nations on earth today deserve complete eradication because of their deliberate, defiant and arrogant rejection of abundantly-available truth from God, America would have to be right at the top of the list.
So let's not point fingers. Instead, let's humble ourselves, repent, and get to faith-born work.
Dan
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My approach to these things is that God may very well be doing something on the mega scale, or it may just be that some places are more at risk to having these type of disasters (like there are only a few places on earth where you can get an earthquake in the M9 range, due to geography).
From my point of view of living the Christian life on a day to day basis, it doesn't matter. What matters is how I respond. Is my neighbor in need? God wants me to respond like a child of God to these who are his children, too. Although sometimes I wonder about the eschatology of it all, what matters most is that when he comes, he finds me being the faithful servant.
Most important from my point of view is that he never catches me being like the Pharisee in the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, pointing fingers at other people's unworthiness, and for me, I can slip into that trap, so I have to be vigilant and humble.
Off to fight the good fight!
That's right. And a day will come when earthquakes will have immediate eschatological significance; but the overall scene at that point will be, in my understanding of Biblical prophecy, pretty unambiguous.
So I picture myself in dialogue with someone from this country:
Q -- Is this earthquake a direct judgment of God for my people's sin?
A -- I don't know. But God is sovereign, and in His hand is your own life-breath, as well as that of your nation... as well as my own.
Q -- Should we — should I — repent of our sin and put our faith in Jesus as Lord, Savior, and God?
A -- Yes.
Dan
Yep...It's like when Jesus was talking about the men killed at the altar by Pilate and the people killed by the falling tower...not that they were great sinners, but that we always need to know that life is impermanent, and therefore, we need to be ready. Who knows when the Bridegroom is coming?
Como se dicé, "Get right with Jesus?"
That is how I see God at work in these kinds of situations. I believe that the earth is of God's design; therefore I believe that thingies like fault lines and other geological imperfections exist for a reason...not to punish us, but to challenge us when disasters inevitably occur.
exACTly!
bump!
bttt
I second that...sometimes good hearted kooky people with good intentions say stupid things. I'd think this is the case with abigkahuna. Why do we want this kind of "endtimes fury" kind of postings in the forum anyway? To equate the earthquake and tsumami in Indonesia with some kinda of "wrath of God", "birth pains of the endtimes" "the heathens are getting there's!" notion, just helps to fuel fire to all that opposes Christianity and conservatism. Any true Christian, does not wish such suffering that is now going on on anyone. Any self-proclaimed Christian that does should have their head examined and take up paganism in their spare time.
bump!
Amen
How many here in FR declare TOT to be a crusade? And I am kooky?
Conservatisim is served by declaring TOT a "christian" crusade against any and all muslims? By dotting the pages with cries for nuking Mecca serves conservatisim?
What would any of us know when the begining of the beginning of the end were to begin?
Several on these responses seem to think the onlty to know if our Lord has returned is after he has come and gone--only in hindsight. But many biblical scholars would say there are signs of the impending coming of or Lord.
All I did was point out a couple of dots and wonder if they need connecting. I guess many here would not like to see the complete picture because then they would have to reconcile their own actions and clarion calls with that of our Lord.
It was just a very interesting observation--something to mull over.
Those unfortunates that perished deserve our Lord's protection. I never said that the two disasters were the wrath of G-d.
For all we know, G-d took all those people into his arms lovingly; while all we saw horror. But now I am getting into theophilosophical images that would not resound with the many follows of Satre here on the board. I only say this because by observing many of your responses it must be sad living a life where there is only "being and nothingness"...
For those willing to discuss the undiscussable--I am willing. A christian and a conservative; (but only to be brought out when its convient for republicans for votes).
Remember there are many of us christians and conservatives who do not bow down to the almighty republican altar--while at times our interests may converge--we are not joined at the hip.
ping
bttt
Exactly 1 year after the Northridge earthquake, on January 17, 1995, a devastating earthquake struck the city of Kobe, Japan.
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