The full extent of last week's tragedy in Japan will not be fully assessed for some time. Millions are yet in the grip of the massive devastation caused by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami. In trying to get my head around this thing and not sound detached or even trite has been difficult. But I do want to share my thoughts which I hope may be a help to my fellow strugglers.
First of all, I am glad to be a supporter of our great covention which is already on the scene extending aid in the name of Christ. I may be calling on our church to send a special offering to the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. The opportunity to be hands on in Japan may come in due time. But for now I offer three things that we can be doing to reach out to those who question God in the midst of tragic circumstances.
Prayer: The first thing Nehemiah did when he heard that Jerusalem lay in ruins was to pray. Pray daily for the relief effort, for those who have lost family members and friends, for our brothers and sisters in Christ as they reach out to others and that the church in Japan, by the grace of God, will rise to the occasion.
Providing Answers: Of course, this is the difficult task which requires sound Biblical thought. Logic seems lame at times like this. Horrendous tragedy like this always points to the existence of evil in this world which ultimately leads to facing the reality of God's existence. Faith could not exist in a world free of pain. At the same time how can we be sure that an infinite God, who is all wise, and all powerful, would not permit tragedy and evil to bring about a greater good which we are incapable of seeing?
Proclaiming Hope: Jesus made in clear in Luke 13 that human tragedy is not always divine punishment and that we do err to pass judgment prematurely. As believers, it is our duty to preach the good news of Jesus Christ in season and out of season. C.S. Lewis said "God shouts in our pain. It's His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." Let us make the message clear and plain, Jesus Saves. Someone has said, "in light of heaven the worst suffering on earth, a life full of the most atrocious tortures on earth, will be seen to be no more serious than one night in an incovenient motel." God's answer to our pain and suffering was given when He stepped down into it. And thankfully, through His cross He will redeem this fallen world.
