WOW! There really is nothing new under the sun! [Ecc. 1:9]
I was studying and preparing to post regarding the already emerging debate in Christendom over Haiti: Was it the judgment of God or not?
I was reminded of how Christians began debating this same topic when we faced Hurricane Katrina in 2005. I pulled up my articles and posts from 5 years ago, and I decided to post my initial response to that event here, verbatim. No edits.
While I’d love to elaborate, tweak and refine my comments on the subject 5 years later to sound much smarter and wiser, I’m going to stick with my 2005 response as my “final answer.” Just substitute “Katrina/New Orleans” with “Haiti.” This is still how I feel about it.
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September 5, 2005
God is serious about sin, no doubt…. HOWEVER, I would be VERY, VERY wary of those jumping on the “Katrina-was-the-judgment-of-God” bandwagon.
Case in point:
The Lord warning his people to get out of the city, and then raining down burning sulfur on Sodom & Gomorrah—undeniably the judgment of God. Burning sulfur raining down to destroy a city has never happened before or since.
Case in point:
The Lord telling Moses & the Israelites to move away from leaders of a rebellion, and then the ground under them splits apart and the earth swallows them & all their family & belongings…… and then fire comes out and burns up the 250 people who had joined the rebellion—undeniably the judgments of God. The earth opening up to swallow and destroy a rebellion has never happened before or since.
These are just two of numerous examples in scripture.
Katrina was a natural disaster. Hurricanes have happened before ‘Katrina,’ and two more have already happened since.
The devastation of Katrina has simply escalated the spiritual battle for New Orleans. We have already seen continued degradation of morals, violence & sin in the aftermath— people are being raped, beaten and killed in shelters and on the streets. People are looting everything to be had, and turning against authorities and those who are there to help.
I’ve got news for people– God never fails! When God brings judgment– He finishes the job! So, if Katrina was God’s judgment, then why does sin still abound in that city? God couldn’t finish the job? I don’t think so.
This hurricane was not the wrath of God, nor was it the work of the devil….. it was a natural disaster whose end result has yet to be seen.
Sin, witchcraft and debauchery could rise to rebuild that city. Or righteousness and justice of God could rise, rebuild and rule New Orleans.
This is the time for God’s people to take authority in the spirit realm and the natural to bring the Kingdom of God to New Orleans. The Church needs to quit sitting around worrying about whether or not this was God’s judgment, and join in strength with the faithful already there to declare and decree God’s Kingdom rule on the earth.
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What say ye?
I say, “Ye hit the nail on the head!”
Awesome 5 yrs ago. Awesome today.
Thanks for the feedback! Many awesome missionaries have done tremendous work in Haiti in the last 5-10 years. Thanks be to God for everything they’ve done!
Regardless of “why,” I believe this is the Church’s opportunity to “‘rebuild’ Haiti for the Kingdom of God!
Indubitably.
I got into a discussion on a pastor’s page about the whole fiasco. I’m extremely wary of anyone declaring the judgment of God.
Very insightful, eh.