Does God hate Haiti?

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awretchsavedbygrace

Puritan Board Sophomore
AlbertMohler.com

"The images streaming in from Haiti look like scenes from Dante's Inferno. The scale of the calamity is unprecedented. In many ways, Haiti has almost ceased to exist.

The earthquake that will forever change that nation came as subterranean plates shifted about six miles under the surface of the earth, along a fault line that had threatened trouble for centuries. But no one saw a quake of this magnitude coming. The 7.0 quake came like a nightmare, with the city of Port-au-Prince crumbling, entire villages collapsing, bodies flying in the air and crushed under mountains of debris. Orphanages, churches, markets, homes, and government buildings all collapsed. Civil government has virtually ceased to function. Without power, communication has been cut off and rescue efforts are seriously hampered. Bodies are piling up, hope is running out, and help, though on the way, will not arrive in time for many victims.

Even as boots are finally hitting the ground and relief efforts are reaching the island, estimates of the death toll range as high as 500,000. Given the mountainous terrain and densely populated villages that had been hanging along the fault line, entire villages may have disappeared. The Western Hemisphere's most impoverished nation has experienced a catastrophe that appears almost apocalyptic.

In truth, it is hard not to describe the earthquake as a disaster of biblical proportions. It certainly looks as if the wrath of God has fallen upon the Caribbean nation. Add to this the fact that Haiti is well known for its history of religious syncretism -- mixing elements of various faiths, including occult practices. The nation is known for voodoo, sorcery, and a Catholic tradition that has been greatly influenced by the occult.

Haiti's history is a catalog of political disasters, one after the other. In one account of the nation's fight for independence from the French in the late 18th century, representatives of the nation are said to have made a pact with the Devil to throw off the French. According to this account, the Haitians considered the French as Catholics and wanted to side with whomever would oppose the French. Thus, some would use that tradition to explain all that has marked the tragedy of Haitian history -- including now the earthquake of January 12, 2010.

Does God hate Haiti? That is the conclusion reached by many, who point to the earthquake as a sign of God's direct and observable judgment.

God does judge the nations -- all of them -- and God will judge the nations. His judgment is perfect and his justice is sure. He rules over all the nations and his sovereign will is demonstrated in the rising and falling of nations and empires and peoples. Every molecule of matter obeys his command, and the earthquakes reveal his reign -- as do the tides of relief and assistance flowing into Haiti right now.

A faithful Christian cannot accept the claim that God is a bystander in world events. The Bible clearly claims the sovereign rule of God over all his creation, all of the time. We have no right to claim that God was surprised by the earthquake in Haiti, or to allow that God could not have prevented it from happening.

God's rule over creation involves both direct and indirect acts, but his rule is constant. The universe, even after the consequences of the Fall, still demonstrates the character of God in all its dimensions, objects, and occurrences. And yet, we have no right to claim that we know why a disaster like the earthquake in Haiti happened at just that place and at just that moment.

The arrogance of human presumption is a real and present danger. We can trace the effects of a drunk driver to a car accident, but we cannot trace the effects of voodoo to an earthquake -- at least not so directly. Will God judge Haiti for its spiritual darkness? Of course. Is the judgment of God something we can claim to understand in this sense -- in the present? No, we are not given that knowledge. Jesus himself warned his disciples against this kind of presumption.

Why did no earthquake shake Nazi Germany? Why did no tsunami swallow up the killing fields of Cambodia? Why did Hurricane Katrina destroy far more evangelical churches than casinos? Why do so many murderous dictators live to old age while many missionaries die young?

Does God hate Haiti? God hates sin, and will punish both individual sinners and nations. But that means that every individual and every nation will be found guilty when measured by the standard of God's perfect righteousness. God does hate sin, but if God merely hated Haiti, there would be no missionaries there; there would be no aid streaming to the nation; there would be no rescue efforts -- there would be no hope.

The earthquake in Haiti, like every other earthly disaster, reminds us that creation groans under the weight of sin and the judgment of God. This is true for every cell in our bodies, even as it is for the crust of the earth at every point on the globe. The entire cosmos awaits the revelation of the glory of the coming Lord. Creation cries out for the hope of the New Creation.

In other words, the earthquake reminds us that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only real message of hope. The cross of Christ declares that Jesus loves Haiti -- and the Haitian people are the objects of his love. Christ would have us show the Haitian nation his love, and share his Gospel. In the midst of this unspeakable tragedy, Christ would have us rush to aid the suffering people of Haiti, and rush to tell the Haitian people of his love, his cross, and salvation in his name alone.

Everything about the tragedy in Haiti points to our need for redemption. This tragedy may lead to a new openness to the Gospel among the Haitian people. That will be to the glory of God. In the meantime, Christ's people must do everything we can to alleviate the suffering, bind up the wounded, and comfort the grieving. If Christ's people are called to do this, how can we say that God hates Haiti?

If you have any doubts about this, take your Bible and turn to John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. That is God's message to Haiti."
 
Thanks for posting this. I would like to see more responsible theologians like Pastor Mohler respond publically and in print to these news events . Listening to talk radio today, nine out of ten people left no room whatsoever to consider that God had anything to do with what takes place when any type of death takes place.
 
Mohler provides an excellent clarifying commentary and at the same time a striking rebuke without even mentioning Pat Robertson's name.
 
I have been told that a Haitian pastor who was in the Dominican at the time of the quake has not yet learned of the state of his family. The largest Reformed Baptist Church in the world is in the Dominican and these brethren will no doubt be front and center in helping.
 
The cross of Christ declares that Jesus loves Haiti -- and the Haitian people are the objects of his love.

Isn't that just as irresponsible in the other extreme?
 
I have been told that a Haitian pastor who was in the Dominican at the time of the quake has not yet learned of the state of his family. The largest Reformed Baptist Church in the world is in the Dominican and these brethren will no doubt be front and center in helping.

How large is the church?
 
The Loma Prieta earthquake, also known as the Quake of '89 and the World Series Earthquake,[4] was a major earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay Area of California on October 17, 1989, at 5:04 p.m. local time. Caused by a slip along the San Andreas Fault, the temblor lasted 10–15 seconds[1] and measured 6.9 on the moment magnitude scale[5] (surface-wave magnitude 7.1) or 7.0 on the open ended Richter Scale.[1] The quake killed 63[2] people throughout northern California, injured 3,757[3] and left some 3,000-12,000[1][6][7][8] people homeless.

1989 Loma Prieta earthquake - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A quake the same size in 89 in an American city and only 63 people die.

It isn't the quake, it is the man made shoddy buildings killing so many. Of course that can be traced to poverty and lack of zoning regulations, and I won't venture to say why the poverty and lack of zoning exists. But God sent two identical quakes to two big cities.

My brother bought a home in the 1980s in Japan the size of a trailer ( 14x70)...no basement, teeny yard, and paid 250,000. Every home is built to code on pillars driven deep into the earth for earthquakes, and with roofs that have cables running through them and into the ground for typhoons. He's been through more hurricanes than any American and never has a problem, while America's houses are wiped out with far less wind.

At some point we all need to face the fact that a good God gave us brains to understand safe building codes in a world of quakes and hurricanes and fires and so forth. Of course we can't prepare for everything and terrible things will happen. But it is a shame that some things happen that didn't have to. I hope that Haiti rebuilds safely, and I hope all the other places in the world on fault lines that are living in denial make some steps to improve safety. Starting with the New Madrid fault on the Mississippi and the utter lack of safety in certain areas (chemical plants for example). Next, all the McMansions in hurricane alley with no roof cables and no water storage, etc. I hope God uses Haiti to wake up the whole world before the entire rim of fire starts shaking.
 
The Loma Prieta earthquake, also known as the Quake of '89 and the World Series Earthquake,[4] was a major earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay Area of California on October 17, 1989, at 5:04 p.m. local time. Caused by a slip along the San Andreas Fault, the temblor lasted 10–15 seconds[1] and measured 6.9 on the moment magnitude scale[5] (surface-wave magnitude 7.1) or 7.0 on the open ended Richter Scale.[1] The quake killed 63[2] people throughout northern California, injured 3,757[3] and left some 3,000-12,000[1][6][7][8] people homeless.

1989 Loma Prieta earthquake - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A quake the same size in 89 in an American city and only 63 people die.

It isn't the quake, it is the man made shoddy buildings killing so many. Of course that can be traced to poverty and lack of zoning regulations, and I won't venture to say why the poverty and lack of zoning exists. But God sent two identical quakes to two big cities.

My brother bought a home in the 1980s in Japan the size of a trailer ( 14x70)...no basement, teeny yard, and paid 250,000. Every home is built to code on pillars driven deep into the earth for earthquakes, and with roofs that have cables running through them and into the ground for typhoons. He's been through more hurricanes than any American and never has a problem, while America's houses are wiped out with far less wind.

At some point we all need to face the fact that a good God gave us brains to understand safe building codes in a world of quakes and hurricanes and fires and so forth. Of course we can't prepare for everything and terrible things will happen. But it is a shame that some things happen that didn't have to. I hope that Haiti rebuilds safely, and I hope all the other places in the world on fault lines that are living in denial make some steps to improve safety. Starting with the New Madrid fault on the Mississippi and the utter lack of safety in certain areas (chemical plants for example). Next, all the McMansions in hurricane alley with no roof cables and no water storage, etc. I hope God uses Haiti to wake up the whole world before the entire rim of fire starts shaking.

This is easier said than done. I don't have any hard figures (and I'm too lazy to look them up) but I am pretty sure that the U.S. is a wee bit wealthier than Haiti. To say that they should have had better buildings and structures is kind of a moot point. I doubt they just chose to build low-budget structures because they wanted to.
 
I'm reminded of this passage:

Luke 13:1-5 1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Are natural disasters God's judgment upon nations or people for sin? I think this text shows that Jesus' answer, (at least with respect to those on whom the tower in Siloam fell) is "No."

It is not that God cannot, or does not deal with people and nations through these types of so-called "natural disasters" (as though these disasters are some how outside of God's control or sphere of influence), but that all sin is judged by God.

Are we to make the determination that God has judged a people? I think for anyone to declare that "such and such an event" has happened because God has judged a people for their sin, is to assume for one's self a prerogative that belongs solely to God. Neither we, nor Pat Robertson know the mind of God with absolute finality...

If those who die as a result of these disasters are outside of Christ, they perish eternally. Thus the proper focus is not to be seen in asking if this was God's judgment, but in the realization that if we are in our sin and are not repentant, we shall likewise perish.

These kinds of events should be (and indeed, has been) that which spurs God's people to works of mercy and aid to those who are so afflicted, and not in the judgmentalism that is so widely publicized in the media. There has been a great outpouring of support for Haiti...but alas, the liberal media won't be so quick to report these efforts.
 
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Here is a set of photos. Awful. Heartwrenching.

Haiti 48 hours later - The Big Picture - Boston.com

Andrew...yeah, of course. I wasn't thinking of them so much though with that comment, more the ones who can do something in other places where the big one hasn't happened yet, but probably will. Too many people in too many risky places without any backup water or food or anything else that could afford it.
 
I wish I could give two thanks for the first post in this thread!

This one I'm not so sure about:
At some point we all need to face the fact that a good God gave us brains to understand safe building codes in a world of quakes and hurricanes and fires and so forth.

No doubt the lack of building codes and even the integrity of the builders makes a difference. But I recall the Japanese pointing fingers at the US after the damage we experienced in the Northridge quake in '94, only to get hammered themselves a year later. The depth of the epicenter, the type of slippage, the geology and the soils can all make a big difference. When the New Madrid fault pops, the alluvial soils of the Mississippi flood plane will create a nightmare.
 
I have been told that a Haitian pastor who was in the Dominican at the time of the quake has not yet learned of the state of his family. The largest Reformed Baptist Church in the world is in the Dominican and these brethren will no doubt be front and center in helping.

How large is the church?

Julio, I am in Tampa visiting family and do not have access to my files but I believe that a few years ago they had over 500 worshipping inside the building and hundreds listening by speaker outside.
 
I have been told that a Haitian pastor who was in the Dominican at the time of the quake has not yet learned of the state of his family. The largest Reformed Baptist Church in the world is in the Dominican and these brethren will no doubt be front and center in helping.

How large is the church?

Julio, I am in Tampa visiting family and do not have access to my files but I believe that a few years ago they had over 500 worshipping inside the building and hundreds listening by speaker outside.

If it is not well over a thousand there is no way it is the largest RB church in the world!!
 
I wish I could give two thanks for the first post in this thread!

This one I'm not so sure about:
At some point we all need to face the fact that a good God gave us brains to understand safe building codes in a world of quakes and hurricanes and fires and so forth.

No doubt the lack of building codes and even the integrity of the builders makes a difference. But I recall the Japanese pointing fingers at the US after the damage we experienced in the Northridge quake in '94, only to get hammered themselves a year later. The depth of the epicenter, the type of slippage, the geology and the soils can all make a big difference. When the New Madrid fault pops, the alluvial soils of the Mississippi flood plane will create a nightmare.

Well, look for another post of mine, and thank that one. That will make up for it! :cool:
 
I have been told that a Haitian pastor who was in the Dominican at the time of the quake has not yet learned of the state of his family. The largest Reformed Baptist Church in the world is in the Dominican and these brethren will no doubt be front and center in helping.

How large is the church?

Julio, I am in Tampa visiting family and do not have access to my files but I believe that a few years ago they had over 500 worshipping inside the building and hundreds listening by speaker outside.

That's awesome.
 
I'm reminded of this passage:

Luke 13:1-5 1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Are natural disasters God's judgment upon nations or people for sin? I think this text shows that Jesus' answer, (at least with respect to those on whom the tower in Siloam fell) is "No."

Sterling,

I find your conclusion hard to accept. The point that Jesus made was that:

1. The Jews to whom He was speaking were just as great sinners as those destroyed in the disasters mentioned.

2. God brought these disasters upon them due to their sin.

3. God would bring a similar disaster upon those sinners to whom He spoke.

4. Therefore, His current audience needed to repent of their sins, or they would suffer under the same sort of disaster.

Indeed, the Jews that Jesus addressed this message to did suffer such disasters with earthquakes, signs in the heaven, canibalism, the destruction of the temple, and on and on. Why? Because of their sin.

The point seems to rebuff the "we're better than them" mentality, when in fact they were just as evil. The point is not that the disasters could not be traced to sin. This is contrary to the Law of Moses (in particular, Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26, which show us the misery due to sin in this life).

Cheers,
 
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