It is hard for one to imagine the magnitude of the destruction and suffering that has been taking place this past week in Haiti. The headline on “The Drudge Report” said it all, “Hell Came Up!” That description instills within the mind of every person the most dreaded fear that we can imagine.
I learned firsthand in 2005 in the first days of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, that pictures and news reports cannot convey the intensity of the devastation or the extent of human loss. Video does not allow the viewer the ability for all the senses to be engaged to really determine the enormity of the situation. Photos can capture a moment but the truth is that it is more than a short period of time that comes to end like a sporting event. With every passing day, the victims of the tragedy in Haiti wake-up to find that the harshness remains and that hopelessness looms over them.
Rescue operations and humanitarian assistance continues to pour into that tiny nation hoping to still find survivors among the rubble. Meanwhile, side stories are emerging of looting, gangs wielding machetes wandering the streets and questions of who is actually running the government. Reports have come in of roadblocks being formed with the bodies of victims as anger boils over from those desperately needing aid.
To say that the situation is dire is an understatement and the need for aid is great. What is also of great need at this time is understanding as people look for answers to questions that are of a spiritual nature. Unfortunately, statements made by certain religious leaders have caused confusion and disgust and cast a disdain towards Christianity in the minds of people.
One TV minister made a statement that Haiti’s problems (past and present) are the result of being cursed due to a pact with the devil. This statement essentially means that this was God’s judgment on that nation. Interestingly, that same ministry is sending tons of humanitarian help to the victims of “God’s judgment”.
And herein rests the problem for the person trying to figure out the answer to the “why’s?” and “what should I do about it”?
First - if the devastation and problems of that nation are due to God’s judgment, why should we be helping the victims recover? After all, if the nation is cursed, won’t it just happen again? Could we find ourselves “fighting against God”?
Second - I always believed our obligation as Christians is to be Christ-like. True, Jesus spoke out against the evils of His day but not once did he call down judgment on anyone. His disciples asked Jesus once about calling down fire on a village because the people refused to welcome them but Jesus rebuked them for their words and thoughts.
Third - I believe that Christians are called to point out the evils of a society in the same way in 2008, five scientists authored a paper warning that a fault line on the south side of Haiti posed a 'major seismic hazard’. To remain silent would be a crime of a moral nature.
Fourth - the estimates of the dead from the earthquake are now hitting numbers near half a million. Compare that to the less than 2,000 people that died in Katrina and it staggers the mind. With that in mind, I wonder how many Christians have anguished over the eternal souls of those that passed into an everlasting “living hell?”
Finally - there are times that God does bring judgment upon a nation, but it is an effort on His part to turn the people back to Him; for there mercy and grace is found.
If one truly believes that the actions of a nation results in God’s judgment, then it’s time for Christians to call out to God for His mercy on the USA--and pray that He hears us!
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