Are Natural Disasters the Will of God?
From Dr. Lawson G. Stone, Professor of Old Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary:
When the Bible speaks of God directing the winds and controlling the weather, this imagery is intended to celebrate the supreme power of God, which vastly dwarfs the power of any created force. But to say God is utterly powerful over nature is not at all the same as saying God manipulates nature or directly causes every weather event. The belief that God directly causes every event in nature or human life is known as the doctrine of 'meticulous providence' and not only is not taught in scripture, it makes any serious belief in an all-good, all-powerful God virtually impossible to maintain. The Bible reveals a God who has created the world gifted, by his grace, with its own inner powers of fertility, energy and change, all of which function according to their own inner laws, implanted there by the God who created them. Even though the creation was wounded by sin, knocked off its balance and subjected to death, this does not mean that God now must directly cause every event. If these natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornados and earthquakes express his judgment, then God has lousy aim, since these events harm as many faithful Christians as non-Christians. We live in a world where natural disasters and tragedies simply happen. God's power is seen when he meets suffering in the midst of tragedy, and most clearly when his church embodies that redemptive power and compassion in the midst of suffering.
In the wake of the recent deviating storms, several Asbury Theological Seminary professors were asked this question: "Are natural disasters the will of God?"
This is only one of the answers they got. The others can be found here: Are Natural Disasters The Will of God? Check it out.
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