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The Justice and Mercy Of God
Posted by Roger Ferrell in Bible & Theology
Two weeks ago, our team of 22 folks (including my family) returned from our church’s first mission trip, which was in New Orleans. We worked through NOAH Rebuild, helped restore two homes that were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, and had a great experience. For our young church, this trip accomplished what I hoped it would: it gave us a heart for each other, a heart to serve others, and a heart for missions. Our folks weren’t even home yet before they were asking when they could come back! We will go back to New Orleans, and many other places, and are now developing missions partnerships for the next few years. It was a good trip, and I am grateful to God for its success.
One of the most amazing things about working in New Orleans (aside from the tremendous devestation there, even after almost 3 years) was the proliferation of mission groups working in the city. Everywhere we went we ran into fellow Baptists, Methodists, CMA and other church groups working on homes, sharing the gospel and praying for the city of New Orleans. I was touched by the outpouring of kindness from all these groups, of all ages, from all over the country (and even Canada)!
As our group met together for devotions one night, I confronted them with the theological issue we all wrestled with after Hurricane Katrina; the one we wrestle with when any big, bad event happens that affects many, many people: “did God cause this? And if so, to what purpose?” After Katrina, many Christian folks said it was “God’s judgement on New Orleans.” I was doubtful of that view at the time, but after finding out more about the historical wickedness of New Orleans and seeing the damage to the city, I am more inclined toward this view. There is certainly precedent: Sodom & Gomorrah, the story of Noah, Ninevah, the Edomites, etc. God can and does wipe out whole cities or people groups on occasion, usually because they had turned away from or rejected or fought against Him.
So that night I told our group that I did not know if this view was correct. But if Hurricane Katrina was God showing His justice to New Orleans, then the groups coming to rebuild the city was God showing His mercy. With the hurricane, he showed his great power, and with the help, his great compassion. If He did cause the hurricane specifically to “yell” at the city of New Orleans, then He certainly caused the body of Christ to come and be the soothing whisper of comfort over this hurting place.
But I am still wrestling with my views on this and other catastrophic events: earthquakes in China, tsunamis in Indonesia, the absolute destruction that is Myanmar. Is God “judging” or destroying these places in order that He might show His mercy? And if so, what does that mean for us as the church? Hadn’t we better be busier responding to these disasters and showing hurting people the mercy of God?
I believe the answer is yes. God is showing his judgement and power through these events, and working through the church (including para-church groups like Samaritan’s Purse) to heal and restore hearts through the gospel. If the disaster had never happened, few of these groups would have gone to New Orleans. So I am glad to see God’s awesome, terrifying power and glad to be a part of His awesome, comforting, confronting mercy. Are not both of these together the gospel, and good news for all who call on His name?
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“Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them– do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Luke 13:1-5, (NIV)
That tells me the answer is “no”. And besides, if it were the case, what city in the world WOULDN’T He destroy?
I extend this for your reflection. This is from one of John Piper’s messages at Resolved this year.
The Horror of Sin Pictured in Creation’s Futility
Why did God subject the natural order to such futility because of the sin of human beings? The natural order did not sin. Humans sinned. But Paul said, “The creation was subjected to futility.” The creation was put in “bondage to corruption.” Why? God said, “Cursed be the ground because of you” (Genesis 3:17). But why? Why are there natural disasters in creation in response to moral failures in man? Why not just simple death for all the guilty offspring of Adam? Why this bloody kaleidoscope of horrific suffering century after century? Why so many children with heart-wrenching disabilities?
My answer is that God put the natural world under a curse so that the physical horrors we see around us in diseases and calamities would become vivid pictures of how horrible sin is. In other words, natural evil is a signpost pointing to the unspeakable horror of moral evil.
Marc,
Good word. Thanks.
Bob,
Exactly. Unless you repent, you, too, will perish is a message for all people who saw the destruction of New Orleans on the news or in person. The purpose of these “acts of God” is not utter destruction of a place, but warning and reminder of the power of God. I don’t think New Orleans is any more wicked than most cities. We all are deserving of judgement. But Hurricane Katrina, the midwest floods, the earthquake in China and the devestation in Myanmar have also opened the door for God’s mercy in the hands of His church. And both his frightening power (whether or not you call it judgement or justice, arbitrary weather patterns, or the consequences of building below sea level) and his great mercy together will draw many to Christ.
Clarify for me, though, Bob. When you say “the answer is ‘no’ you are answering this question, right? [Is God “judging” or destroying these places in order that He might show His mercy?]