This Sunday morning, the Reverend Doctor Robert Jeffress is going to address the congregation of First Baptist Church Of Dallas on the subject of "Earthquake Theology".
The sermon will be centered around these blood-curdling scripturea from the book of Nahum, chapter one:
2 The LORD is a jealous and avenging God;
the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.
The LORD takes vengeance on his foes
and vents his wrath against his enemies.
3 The LORD is slow to anger but great in power;
the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished.
His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,
and clouds are the dust of his feet.
4 He rebukes the sea and dries it up;
he makes all the rivers run dry.
Bashan and Carmel wither
and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.
5 The mountains quake before him
and the hills melt away.
The earth trembles at his presence,
the world and all who live in it.
6 Who can withstand his indignation?
Who can endure his fierce anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire;
the rocks are shattered before him.
7 The LORD is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,
8 but with an overwhelming flood
he will make an end of Nineveh;
he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness.
9 Whatever they plot against the LORD
he will bring to an end;
And all this time I thought earthquakes were caused by plate tectonics.
If you go here, you can see Dr. Jeffress's schedule of media-whoring. Hit the KRLD link, and you'll hear Jeffress claim that the Japan earthquake and tsunami were either caused by God, like he caused the flood that killed everyone except Noah's family, or he "allowed" the disasters in the same way he allowed the death of Job's family.
Seriously. God is working his purpose out. In the biblical examples and murders that Jeffress mentions, God was either killing off sinners or just trying to make a point during an argument with Satan. Pick one.
If the KRLD interview is a preview, then that will probably be the nurturing message for First Baptist Dallas this Sunday.
That ol' Yahweh, he's quite a guy, isn't he?
Some people and some cultures just can't comprehend that things....just....sometimes....happen. There is no deeper meaning to them. Hurricane Katrina wasn't caused by gays in New Orleans. The earthquake in Haiti wasn't "allowed" to happen because Haitians practice voodoo, no matter what Pat Robertson says. If it doesn't rain for a while, you don't need to pray harder and longer. If your crops die, you don't need to burn a few witches. There is never a good reason to throw virgins into the volcano.
People want to believe that they're responsible for everything that happens to them, that they can take control of their environment, and that prayer, positive thinking, crystals, or talismans can improve their odds. This is why some people give money to Dr. Robert Jeffress. And this is the main reason why I've always been skeptical of the idea that the Goddess Gaia will be appeased if we'll just stop driving SUV's.and give more money and power to climate evangelists who claim they can change the weather.
According to Dr. Robert Jeffress, God either caused or allowed the earthquake in Japan. It makes no difference if God made it happen or was just taking the morning off. God was in control of the situation. If the collection of books and stories that we call "Bible" is 100% true, then Jeffress is 100% correct, and I have a grudging admiration for Jeffress for having the cajones to be somewhat consistent.
If I have a point here, it's that our ancient and holy books, and our ancient and holy concepts of gods and curses might be due for an upgrade. Otherwise, Robert Jeffress is right.
God decided to kill 10,000 Japanese people.
Hit the "Taking X out of Xmas" label below to read about the Christmas campaign that First Baptist Dallas gave us last year. Hit the "Earthquakes" label to read about what kind of bumpersticker God would put on his Cadillac.
The sermon will be centered around these blood-curdling scripturea from the book of Nahum, chapter one:
2 The LORD is a jealous and avenging God;
the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.
The LORD takes vengeance on his foes
and vents his wrath against his enemies.
3 The LORD is slow to anger but great in power;
the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished.
His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,
and clouds are the dust of his feet.
4 He rebukes the sea and dries it up;
he makes all the rivers run dry.
Bashan and Carmel wither
and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.
5 The mountains quake before him
and the hills melt away.
The earth trembles at his presence,
the world and all who live in it.
6 Who can withstand his indignation?
Who can endure his fierce anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire;
the rocks are shattered before him.
7 The LORD is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,
8 but with an overwhelming flood
he will make an end of Nineveh;
he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness.
9 Whatever they plot against the LORD
he will bring to an end;
And all this time I thought earthquakes were caused by plate tectonics.
If you go here, you can see Dr. Jeffress's schedule of media-whoring. Hit the KRLD link, and you'll hear Jeffress claim that the Japan earthquake and tsunami were either caused by God, like he caused the flood that killed everyone except Noah's family, or he "allowed" the disasters in the same way he allowed the death of Job's family.
Seriously. God is working his purpose out. In the biblical examples and murders that Jeffress mentions, God was either killing off sinners or just trying to make a point during an argument with Satan. Pick one.
If the KRLD interview is a preview, then that will probably be the nurturing message for First Baptist Dallas this Sunday.
That ol' Yahweh, he's quite a guy, isn't he?
Some people and some cultures just can't comprehend that things....just....sometimes....happen. There is no deeper meaning to them. Hurricane Katrina wasn't caused by gays in New Orleans. The earthquake in Haiti wasn't "allowed" to happen because Haitians practice voodoo, no matter what Pat Robertson says. If it doesn't rain for a while, you don't need to pray harder and longer. If your crops die, you don't need to burn a few witches. There is never a good reason to throw virgins into the volcano.
People want to believe that they're responsible for everything that happens to them, that they can take control of their environment, and that prayer, positive thinking, crystals, or talismans can improve their odds. This is why some people give money to Dr. Robert Jeffress. And this is the main reason why I've always been skeptical of the idea that the Goddess Gaia will be appeased if we'll just stop driving SUV's.and give more money and power to climate evangelists who claim they can change the weather.
According to Dr. Robert Jeffress, God either caused or allowed the earthquake in Japan. It makes no difference if God made it happen or was just taking the morning off. God was in control of the situation. If the collection of books and stories that we call "Bible" is 100% true, then Jeffress is 100% correct, and I have a grudging admiration for Jeffress for having the cajones to be somewhat consistent.
If I have a point here, it's that our ancient and holy books, and our ancient and holy concepts of gods and curses might be due for an upgrade. Otherwise, Robert Jeffress is right.
God decided to kill 10,000 Japanese people.
Hit the "Taking X out of Xmas" label below to read about the Christmas campaign that First Baptist Dallas gave us last year. Hit the "Earthquakes" label to read about what kind of bumpersticker God would put on his Cadillac.
6 comments:
I don't think Japanese cried to the true God before disaster struck to save them when it happens. They worship the SUN. Why blame God who they don't acknowledge as "exist"? Blame the sun that they worship, why the sun did not protect them - why the sun did not stop the earthquake. God is not to be blamed for that. God can save them if God wants to. Is about "willingness" of God.. God could even stop Eve from eating the forbidden fruit if He wanted to. Why didn't He? God can stop the earthquakes if he wants to. But did mankind ask for his help? Mankind forget God and indeed blame God for any disaster that happens on earth....
WS - well said except for your "Gaia" crack; I realize at times you are powerless to resist your inner Andy Rooney.
Anonymous - huh?
Anonymous,
If our Holy Books are accurate, you are 100% correct. God could've stopped the earthquakes and tidal waves, but didn't want to.
Think about this next time you lose a relative, and thanks for commenting.
Dr.,
Hey, it was an admission of weakness on my part.
WS..
I lost my father when I was 12. My first cousin indeed died of aids - his father (my uncle) was a theology professor... What do you think? My best friend, a very devoted Christian, has a baby who was braindamaged, then 3 mths after that lost his husband in a tragic accident. God should have been able to save them all, huh?
Indeed, he didn't...
Let's just say that things happen, let's just try to make this a better place, and let's admit it when we don't have a freakin' clue as to WHY bad things happen to good people.
Well... don't need to blame God for any disaster in the world. This world will always be nasty, dark, cruel, etc. I experienced Indonesian riots in 1998 where the Christians and Chinese women were raped and burnt by the local Muslim, the men were brutally killed. We cried to God to help, but no help. God let it happened. But it is the sovereignity of God that we cannot understand. Again, we don't live for this earthly world - we live for the upcoming heavenly world. And God said that vengeance is His not ours.
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