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

[blackbird]

Since it remains undecided about Katrina---what say ye about Rita??

If Katrina is God's wrath poured out on New Orleans----What has Lake Charles, Louisiana and Port Author, Texas done to "insite" God's right hand of displeasure????

 

[FundamentalDan]

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.

 

[whatever]

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

 

[Barjonah]

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.

 

[NateT]

Luke 13:1-5 Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And He answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered this fate? 3 "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 "Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? 5 "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

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.

Amos 3:4-6 4 Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Does a young lion growl from his den unless he has captured something? 5 Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no bait in it? Does a trap spring up from the earth when it captures nothing at all? 6 If a trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble? If a calamity occurs in a city has not the LORD done it?

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.

 

[Gold Dragon]

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.

 

[Helen]

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.

 

[Gold Dragon]

Originally posted by Helen:
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?

 

[Paul of Eugene]

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.

 

[blackbird]

Originally posted by Paul of Eugene:
I do know that the one salutory affect I have noticed from these hurricanes is some addition of humility to the national mood.

Ummmmmmm, Bro. Paul-----evidently you haven't visited any "gas lines" down here in Mississippi nor have you visited any grocery store "hoarding" spirit of fear down here----you gotta get closer down to the South here where New Orleans refugees are "mixing and mingling" with its unhappy campers to its north and east!!!

I have seen and witnessed New Orleans citizens as selfless as can be---and yet on the other hand I have also witnessed Mississippi residents "absorbing" its refugees become the most selfish humans this side of nowhere!!!!

Blackbird

 

[OldRegular]

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!

 

[Marcia]

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.

 

[ituttut]

Originally posted by blackbird:
Since it remains undecided about Katrina---what say ye about Rita??

If Katrina is God's wrath poured out on New Orleans----What has Lake Charles, Louisiana and Port Author, Texas done to "insite" God's right hand of displeasure????

Location, location, location.

 

[OldRegular]

Originally posted by Barjonah:
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.

Good Points!