What's The Deal With Natural Disasters?

Wow, we've had some really bizarre weather patterns as of late!  In the last 24 hours I've seen torrential rain and thunderstorms, sunshine and double rainbows, violent wind gusts, tornadoes, and snow flurries.  Sometimes you have to wonder just what God is doing up there! I think his weather machine is out of whack. ;)

In all seriousness though, when I heard that a tornado had touched down in Appomattox County yesterday afternoon, my heart immediately sank as I reached out to my beloved friends in that community to find out if folks were safe.  I am thankful that they have met no bodily harm and that for those whom I know personally, damage can be repaired.  But not everyone faired so well, life was lost, homes destroyed, tangible memories ripped from people's possession forever.  It is good today to hear of the clean up work that is taking place. It is good to hear of people coming together as a community to support one another (as the people of Appomattox have always done in times of heartbreak) with water and supplies, with makeshift shelters, with the support of prayers.  The power may be out, the town may be literally sitting in the dark, but a great light shines in their collective spirit. 

We often beg the question: Why do bad things happen to good people?  Or to phrase the question as Donald McKim does in his book Presbyterian Questions, Presbyterian Answers, "Does God will evil and suffering in the world and in our lives?" 

As Presbyterians we believe (or are taught theologically) that God is Good and that all which God creates is good.  In Genesis 1:31 we are told "God saw everything that God had made and indeed, it was all very good."  1 Timothy 4:4 says, "For everything created by God is good."  

In simple terms "evil" is what opposes God.  We use the term evil in multiple ways, to describe groups or individuals that are in opposition of God's purposes.  For an example of what God's purposes are we can look to Christ, who is described as the "image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation" in Colossians 1:15.  What we are questioning today is "natural evil".  Natural evil are those things that occur in creation which bring tragedy and devastation to the human experience.   

We do not believe that God's wills evil or that God wills suffering to happen in the world.  We do believe, however, that God can use such situations for the ultimate good.  That is to say, God did not send a tornado through Evergreen, Virginia yesterday to bring a small community to their knees in repentance for a sinful life.  Such a tragedy is not the result of any immorality on the part of humankind.  It was not God working through nature to create a tool of punishment in any way shape or form.  Nor is any other natural disaster used for that purpose in any other place in the world (remember Haiti...Katrina...Joplin). It is just what we are calling it... a natural occurrence in creation. However, God is already using it for the good, as is being witnessed by organizations and individuals who are coming forward to show love and compassion to their neighbors in a time of great need. 

As Don McKim writes, "We do not know reasons for evil or suffering.  What we do believe by faith is that God will be with us in the midst of our sufferings and that God's grace and power of love will enable us to endure, even in the 'darkest valley' (Ps. 23:4). So we are sustained.  We believe God can use the evil and sufferings we encounter and do within us, 'far more than all we can ask or imagine' (Eph. 3:20).  This is our comfort and our hope."

I hope you will join me in prayer for this little community in the heart of Virginia that has in the past few years had far more than its share of tragedy and grief.  But do not feel pity or sorrow for them, they would not want that.  From my few years living within the community I feel that the citizens that make up Appomattox and Evergreen, they would welcome your prayers, they would appreciate your assistance, but they would foremost want you to know their strength.  Not only their physical strength as a community, but their spiritual strength as well.  

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, ⁴who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God."
--2 Corinthians 1:3-4