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 For the Week of January 18, 2010by Rubel Shelly The whole world has its attention turned toward the tragedies unfolding in Haiti. The initial tragedy was a 7.0 earthquake that did unimaginable devastation to a poor country with inadequate construction codes, deficient infrastructure, and ineffective government. Subsequent tragedies range from sadly predictable loss of life to chaotic international relief efforts to violence and looting. In the midst of all the tragedy and loss, there has been a widespread display of compassion – and an occasional flash of cruel absurdity. The cruelest of the cruel absurdities so far is Pat Robertson’s widely quoted explanation for the “why” of the earthquake. He told his 700 Club audience that Haiti “swore a pact to the devil” two centuries ago to get free of France. As a result, he posits, Haiti is cursed; the earthquake is God’s just wrath on the Haitian people. The incredible arrogance of such a pronouncement! This is the same would-be spokesman for God about the reasons behind Katrina, 9/11, and any number of heart-rending disasters. Robertson sees an angry God getting even. No, getting innocent people centuries too late! And vacationers and aid-workers! Since I seriously doubt he has the definitive connection with God to speak his mind about judgment that Moses, Isaiah, or other prophets had, I not only regard his pronouncement as fanciful (as relates to Haitian history) and hurtful (as relates to Haitian suffering) but a despicable misrepresentation of God’s nature and a justification for unbelief by anyone who takes him seriously. But isn’t that response “judgmental”? Indeed, it is. It is judgmental in the same way Jesus was one day when he and some friends came near a blind man. Someone in the group asked him, “Who sinned? This man or his parents, that he was born blind?” The spirit of needing to explain tragedy and pain was in Jesus’ little band. Somebody needed to be blamed for what had happened. “You're asking the wrong question. You're looking for someone to blame,” said Jesus. “There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over” (John 9:5 MSG). Would that Robertson had looked into a TV camera and said, “This is no time to be asking why this quake hit. It is time to ask what we can do to show God’s heart to its victims and to relieve the suffering of our fellow human beings.” An unbeliever might have found reason to consider faith for the sake of the fruit he saw it bearing – rather than using what he heard as grounds to mock Christ. Auto accidents, heart attacks, cancer, hurricanes, earthquakes – they happen in the world shared by believers and unbelievers. They force the “why” question to the surface. More often than not, though, we are wiser and more spiritual to avoid glib answers and to weep, pray, and help someone in pain. Join me this week to make a donation to help the suffering people of Haiti.   |
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