Thursday, September 01, 2005
Important Questions In The Wake Of Katrina
A couple of my favorite bloggers are asking questions that seem most appropriate in light of the events of this week.
Transforming Sermons is wondering if it is acceptable to be a Christian and experience anger. Milt draws on a post at anti-itch meditation looking at Jesus' anger when he cleansed the temple.
Squelching righteous anger is one of those places where pop-psychology has adversely affected Christian thought. God gets angry -- what's more, people get angry with God -- consider Abraham or Moses. Anger is a tool that God uses. Anger is not a sin, wrong responses to anger are, but that is a story for another time.
The point I really want to make here is that in circumstances such as those being experienced on the Gulf Coast right now, many are undoubtedly angry at God. We help neither them nor God by telling they they "should not be." They are best served by encouraging them to take their anger to God and discuss it with Him. Amazing things will happen.
Then SmartChristian is wondering if in reducing human suffering, we are reducing God's suffering.
The point? Make God feel better -- do what you can to help the victims of Katrina today!
Transforming Sermons is wondering if it is acceptable to be a Christian and experience anger. Milt draws on a post at anti-itch meditation looking at Jesus' anger when he cleansed the temple.
Squelching righteous anger is one of those places where pop-psychology has adversely affected Christian thought. God gets angry -- what's more, people get angry with God -- consider Abraham or Moses. Anger is a tool that God uses. Anger is not a sin, wrong responses to anger are, but that is a story for another time.
The point I really want to make here is that in circumstances such as those being experienced on the Gulf Coast right now, many are undoubtedly angry at God. We help neither them nor God by telling they they "should not be." They are best served by encouraging them to take their anger to God and discuss it with Him. Amazing things will happen.
Then SmartChristian is wondering if in reducing human suffering, we are reducing God's suffering.
The cross of Jesus Christ was actually an event experienced by God. If this is correct, which I believe it is, then a reflective and practical question emerges: Does God suffer less when we lessen human suffering on earth?Certainly it does. As lessening the pain of a child, lessens the pain of a parent, so happens in this situation.
The point? Make God feel better -- do what you can to help the victims of Katrina today!
