Rita---Random act or Wrath of God??

How about "incite"? Actually, I still hold that the weather patterns are established cyclical events that are the result of mankind's fall. I do not believe they are some special judgment from God, though I do believe that God can and does work His way with individuals through storms.

 

There are no random acts. Until God tells us the reason for Katrina and Rita we would do well to just keep repenting.

 

I believe that there are some important theological lessons we can be reminded of from these hurricanes:
1) We live in a fallen world due to sin. Even the creation is groaning, longing for the day of redemption to be complete (Rom. 8). So, nature is messed up because of depravity.
2) Judgement is coming.
3) We have an obligation to help those affected in Jesus name, and share with them the message of salvation.
4) Lay up treasures in heaven, not on earth.
5) God is in providential, sovereign control of everything, including the weather.

What I don't think you can do biblically is say that these hurricanes:
1) are part of biblical prophecy, meaning that these events are specifically what is referred to in Scripture.
2) say that some particular sin or judgement is prevalent that God is judging through these hurricanes.

 

Here we are not told that these acts were not judgment, but simply they were not judged because they were "worse off." Therefore, I don't think New Orleans was judged because it was more sinful than New York. I also don't think that Port Author was judged because Galviston is less sinful. Rather, we're all sinful, and we all deserve the judgment.

Seems to me, the Bible thinks that God ushered in the Calamity.

That being said, after talking with a professor, I believe that every "disaster" has at least 4 purposes by God
1. Saints are ushered into heaven
2. Unrepentant people are ushered into hell
3. Sleeping Christians are awoken, to see the neccessity of their faith.
4. Unregenerate individuals are shaken from their slumber to see that there is indeed a powerful God.

 

Hurricanes fulfill a purpose in God's created ecosystems.

In areas where humans have been very successful at controlling forest fires, "controlled fires" are needed to rejuvenate life in the region which often begins dying in a different way.

I believe hurricans fulfill a similar purpose in our ecosystem and if we were to sucessfully have "weather control" and eliminate hurricanes, we might find life dying in different ways and the need for "controlled huricanes". Although nature in forest fires and hurricans do not fit well with modern human development, I believe they are intregral to the balance of life God has created on this planet.

Much of God's creation is still beyond human control and has great destructive potential on human lives and livelihoods. I think they are a constant humbling of our often prideful hearts.

So for the original question: Random act or act of God? I would say both.

 

Well, I sincerely don't think something can be both random and a purposeful act of God...that seems like a contradiction in terms to me.

 

Is drawing lots a random act? When Jonah's lot or Matthias' lot was drawn, was that an act of God?

 

I have no idea whether God deliberately aimed the hurricanes at us as part of His plan or, alternatively, it is merely something He allowed to occur within His permissive will. I do know that the one salutory affect I have noticed from these hurricanes is some addition of humility to the national mood.

 

Neither Katrina or Rita were demonstrations of the wrath of God. All dispensationalists should agree with this since they claim that Christians will be spared the wrath of God; raptured out you know!

 

I don't think Rita was random but neither do I think it was an act of God's judgment. It was another hurricane caused by the cycles of weather that are the result of a fallen world. God can use this event in many ways and also allow consequnces from it, good and bad.

My memory may be wrong on this, but I don't recall threads being started on God's judgment last year when those hurricanes hit Florida.

 

Location, location, location.

 

Good Points!