1/14/2010
An earthquake is a natural phenomenon, partially explained by science as the tectonic movement of the lithosphere. Physics and science only describe what happens. Science fails to truly explain why creation works the way it works. The great intellectual and scientist, Albert Einstein, once wrote, “What I see in Nature is a magnificent structure that we can comprehend only very imperfectly, and that must fill a thinking person with a feeling of humility.”
Pat Robertson’s absurd allegation that God caused the earthquake to punish the people of Haiti for the sins of their ancestor’s comes from an ancient pre-Christian image of a wrathful punishing God. The ancient vengeful God was most likely a reflection of a less socialized or civilized ancient society. Einstein also wrote, “I cannot imagine a God who rewards or punishes the objects of creation, whose purposes are modeled after our own -- a God, in short, who is but a reflection of human frailty.” Thousands of years later, most literate human beings understand the inexplicable randomness of earthquakes. Science knows where the tectonic faults are. They can measure the strength of earthquakes. They can describe the relative probability of an earthquake, but so far they have not been able to accurately predict catastrophic quakes. Pat Robertson is proof that not all human beings have evolved to the level that they can comprehend the ineffable, magnificent, and mysterious nature of God.
If the death, destruction, and suffering involved with earthquakes cannot be adequately explained by science; and if they are not acts of God to punish sinful humanity, then where is God in the midst of the earthquake? The incarnation of God in the person of Jesus is where we find God in the midst of emptiness, abandonment, injustice, and suffering. God is always beyond our knowing, yet Jesus is God in flesh, human and yet divine, utterly approachable and touchable.
Jesus, God incarnate and fully human, abides with us. We remember Jesus as he moved among the people healing with his touch, teaching his disciples to do the same, and empowering with his presence. Jesus moved to the fringe of his society, to the untouchables and those who suffered the most. In an age when religious authorities were quick to blame suffering and affliction on sin, Jesus healed and taught that faith was all that was necessary for salvation and healing.
Jesus, God incarnate and fully human, experienced the absence of God on the cross and uttered an all too familiar lament, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.” In the person of Jesus, we find the intermediary who not only knows our suffering, but also knows our experience of abandonment. Yet, God was merciful to Jesus and in the end, Jesus experienced the assurance of knowing. “Into your hands I commend my spirit.”
God the creator is always and forever at work in creation. God is somewhere in the midst of natural phenomenon, but I cannot answer the great questions of why. Why these people? Why now? Why this destruction is necessary at all.
At times like these I turn to Jesus. I hear Jesus calling to me, and to all of God’s children. “Come and follow me.” Jesus taught his disciples, empowered them, and sent them out to heal those who were sick or suffering. He taught his disciples that they would find God when they ministered to people who were hungry, thirsty, imprisoned, or sick.
Where is God in the earth quake? Incarnate in the people who are suffering. Incarnate in the people who are following Jesus in mission, to minister to the victims of the earth quake. If we love God, we will respond by loving our neighbors in Haiti. Christians are called to respond to this crisis with the love and sacrifice modeled by Jesus. We are called to respond to the needs of people with whatever gifts we have. Doctors and medical specialists are needed now. People who are trained to respond to natural disasters are needed now. Anyone with money to spare is called to extravagant generosity, responding with gifts to organizations who we know can be good stewards of our financial gifts (such as the United Methodist Commission on Relief). Later many more people with a wider variety of gifts will be called to respond, to rebuild and restore communities.
Always we are called to examine the effects of injustice and imbalances in power and resources. We must continually strive to seek the kin(g)dom of God on earth. Fewer lives would have been lost if Haiti had more resources and a stronger infrastructure.
There is so much suffering in the world. If only we would truly seek the kin(g)dom of God in earth, perhaps we could relieve much of the suffering that is caused by human greed, injustice, and violence. We may not be able to predict or prevent earthquakes, but we can affect the human caused environmental destruction that scientists are beginning to link to changing weather patterns and increasing catastrophic storms.
Where is God in the midst of the disaster in Haiti? Look and see. Jesus is there in the midst of the death and dying and all those who are lovingly ministering to human needs.
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