Do we blame sin to quickly?
It seems to be a favorite past time of at least a few high profile Christians out there to blame natural disasters on the sin of whatever place they effect. I remember when 9/11 happened and someone out there said it is because of the sin of greed and capitalism overcoming the united states. Then hurricane Katrina happened and someone tried to blame the sin and debauchery of New Orleans. Then there came the earthquake in Haiti, it must be the voodoo government someone shouted out.
Now I am all for blaming sin for natural disasters, but only sin in general. I agree with Paul as he writes to the Romans saying, all creation groans and waits for deliverance as it is fallen in to sin as well through the one, man, who subjected it. Adam was the regent of this world and when he fell he gave regency over to Satan. So all creation fell along with humanity. But we get to carried away too quickly when it comes to blaming particular natural disasters on particular people.
In Job 4-5 Job's first friend speaks up. He hears the rant of Job against the day of his birth and his wish to no longer be living and he just can't stand it any more. He must speak. Job don't you know terrible things only happen to the wicked? You don't see the evil in this world prosper and the righteous go down in flames. It's just not how things work. God promises blessings to the righteous and curses to the wicked. Job get over this whole wishing you were dead thing and blaming all of this on life and repent man, move forward get past it.
What kind of world is this guy living in??? The wicked prosper all over the place, those who cheat get ahead here. Those who work hard and do good can also get ahead here. Many of the wicked work very hard at being wicked and do very well. Add to this the rain falls on both the righteous and the wicked. Stuff just happens. We live in a fallen world with a regent who is happy to take us out. We know from the beginning of this book the devil is behind this mess. Which people would the devil rather see winning? The righteous or the wicked after all?
But somehow it is more prudent to take calamity upon ourselves. Some how we just aren't allowed to say this life sucks. The problem is living in a fallen world suffering is part of life. There are times in life when we feel it more than others and it can't all just be blamed on current active sin. There is plenty that can be. When we murder it hurts people, when we abuse our children it hurts people, when we reject the less popular it hurts people. But which one of you is able to stir up a whirlwind and crush a house or drown a city? I'm sorry those things are outside of our power. Unless you're Storm from the X-men I suppose.
It is good for us to get write with God and recognize we fall short with the rest of humanity. Job did this regularly he offered sacrifices daily for himself and his children. But sometimes life in a fallen world just sucks and sometimes we need to be able to say so without someone getting all freaked out and trying to fix it by finding the one to blame.
Next time you are tempted to look for the cause of deep personal suffering realize it just might be beyond any of our control and give credit where credit is due. We still live in a fallen world and sometimes life sucks. Relax let it go and rest in the promise of hope God has given us, it won't last forever.
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