Archive for the ‘Eschatology’ category

God’s Judgement, Love, and the Haiti Crisis

January 19th, 2010

Opening Thoughts

A powerful 7.0 earthquake hit haiti this past week and killed at least 72,000.  Countless people are starving and more will eventually die from diseases spawned from the unburied corpses filling the streets of Port-au-Prince. I feel a connection with the people of Haiti. My parents served there in the 1980′s doing both medical and building missions and they saw first hand the destructive rule of Bébé Doc Duvalier. Over the years, our family sponsored several needy kids from Haiti and I grew up reading letters from our sponsored children telling of their life in Haiti. In last week’s earthquake, my wife agonized in prayer for many days over the life of an APU friend who was missing, and eventually found alive, in the rubble of the Hotel Montana.  With my own history in mind, I want to address this earthquake and how I see God’s judgment and love at work.

God’s Judgement Today

The internet is abuzz with the infamous remarks made by Pat Robertson on on the 700 Club TV show.

Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, ‘We will serve you if you will get us free from the French.’ True story. And so, the devil said, ‘OK, it’s a deal. And they kicked the French out. You know, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free. But ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after the other. Desperately poor. That island of Hispaniola is one island. It’s cut down the middle. On the one side is Haiti; on the other side is the Dominican Republic. Dominican Republic is prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, et cetera. Haiti is in desperate poverty. Same island. They need to have — and we need to pray for them — a great turning to God. And out of this tragedy, I’m optimistic something good may come. But right now, we’re helping the suffering people, and the suffering is unimaginable.

Most disturbing is the historical falsity presented as “fact” from a guy who founded a University. Napoleon III did not come into power in France until 44 years after the Haitian revolt.  If Robertson can’t get his history correct on such a simple thing, I don’t trust him in more complex matters.  So on its face Robertson’s “true story” must be called into serious question.

The primary problem with this quote, however, is Robertson’s biblical hermeneutic and application which I have repeatedly called into question.   In this particular instance, I would like to distance myself from Robertson’s assertion that natural disasters are the judgment of God.  I disagree with Robertson’s view for one simple reason; we are not in an age of Natural Judgement but an age of judgment through grace.

YHWH has not changed–He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. God has appointed differing ages of judgment in order to establish his unchanging plan of salvation.  In other words, God’s method of judgement upon the world is different today than it was in the Old Testament, and different from the Age to come, but his overall purpose is the same–redemption of the lost.

First, unlike some other Christian commentators, I do not have a moral or ethical problem with God judging nations by the sword or natural disaster.  Clearly God did this during the Old Testament period where He punished whole nations for the sins of their Kings and leaders (Isa 1:1-20; Jer 5:15-17; Lam 2:1-22).  I don’t claim to understand it, I even cringe at it, but I trust that God’s judgement upon these nations in the Old Testament were fair and designed to serve YHWH’s purpose.

Second, God will some future day judge the nations for their actions.  The Old Testament is clear in teaching that in the “Day of the Lord” (an End of Times judgement) God will hold to account all the nations of the world for their wicked deeds.

For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations.
As you have done, it shall be done to you;
your deeds shall return on your own head (Obediah 15. ESV)

Third, the world today exists in the age of Christ’s Judgement of Grace.  God has, for a season, forestalled the judgement of sword and nature upon the nations so they might instead have an opportunity to respond to the judgement of Christ expressed in his unselfish act of love on the Cross.

“[Jesus says] Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light. (John 12:27-36)”

God’s judgement today is not with sword and quake–used to drive the sinful to their knees in fear–it is in the death of Christ lifted up on the Cross–used to drive the sinful to their knees in love. Through Jesus’ act of love for the world, God is judging the nations who refuse to accept Jesus as the light of life.

Finally, how then should we perceive natural disasters if they are not a judgment of God?

  1. Natural disasters are a manifestation of corruption brought upon God’s creation through the sin of Adam (Genesis 3:1-24).
  2. Natural disasters are the manifestation of Nature’s true longing to be freed from the shackles of sin’s corruption (Romans 8:18-25).

Application for Haiti

Haiti has suffered from a tremendous disaster, but the death and suffering are not a result of God’s judgment and I would argue that they are not even the result of the earthquake.  The death and destruction in haiti is the result of the sinful leaders of that nation who have kept those people in poverty and allowed the earthquake to bring destruction.

1. The death and suffering in Haiti is a direct result of greed.

Since 1992, the United States has given 3 Billion dollars in aid to Haiti, yet it remains the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.  The money was stolen by Haiti’s leaders and the more money the US poured in, the worse things got for Haiti.  The poor have no escape from Haiti because the money given to them was stolen by evil men.

2. The death and suffering in Haiti is a direct result of their value system.

In 1989, a 7.0 earthquake hit San Francisco (not exactly the picture of moral virtue), yet in that quake only 57 people were killed.  Why?  Because the leaders in the US, although sinful, still value the life of its citizenry. Based on our values, we impose building codes and invest Billions in infrastructures designed to protect the poor and wealthy alike from earthquakes.  Haiti’s leaders do not value life, so instead of spending money on infrastructure, they continued their policies of poverty.

3. The death and suffering of Haiti is a direct result of their religious faith.

Haiti’s predominant faith is Voodoo–a belief that magic and the spirits will save them from disaster.  Tony Campolo remarks on this very thing in his recent response to the earthquake.

Haiti’s former dictator, Jean-Claude Duvalier, was a voodoo witchdoctor, and when he was driven from power it was widely rumored that he offered an infant boy as a blood sacrifice to Satan, and cursed the country with an evil spell to bring disasters and suffering upon the Haitian people. You may not believe in that sort of thing, but many Haitians do. Now we must show them that God’s love, expressed through sacrificial people, is greater than the forces of darkness.

The Haitian people are ruled by evil spirits.  They allow politicians to rule who share their same faith and fears–leaders who seek power through evil forces. The curse of Duvalier may not have “caused” the earthquake, but it does remind us that the faith of a nation can enslave a people to poverty resulting the due penalty of their sin.

Ultimately, the hope for Haiti is that they see the light of Christ’s judgment of grace on the cross and turn to Him for freedom.  Haiti will only find this freedom in the giving of love–not dollars.   Love is expressed not through the giving of Billions, but through the message of the Gospel and the sacrifice of the many Christians who have given up the Western lifestyle to become the hands and feet of of Jesus to the people.

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Posted in Culture, Eschatology, Hamartology, Religion

Beyond the Grave: A Celebration of Life

August 9th, 2009

There is no better way to close out this series than to show a video I made from our church this morning.   Today we baptized 11 people.  Every baptism was a confession that Jesus has raised from the dead and a celebration of our hope for life beyond the grave!

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Posted in Discipleship, Eschatology, My Audio/Video, Reunion Church, Soteriology

Beyond the Grave: Hope for Today!

August 2nd, 2009

Year after year after year, politician proclaim, “I am your source of hope!”  ”Trust in me and I will make your life better!”

Year after year after year, politicians fail to keep their promises, they blame everyone else for their failures, and still people elect them again and again and again.

I open this post about life beyond the grave with a political observation, because there is a better promise of hope.  We have recorded in the Bible a promise from Jesus that we will be raised to a new life.   This hope for life beyond the grave is far more reliable than ANY political promise and more reliable than ANY politician.  This hope for new life beyond the grave is more practical for today than any healthcare plan or tax cut you can imagine!

Here is what the Apostle Paul says about his hope for life beyond…

1 Corinthians 15:29-34 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? 30 Why are we in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

This man was beaten, imprisoned, stoned and whipped because he believed that Jesus raised from the dead.    I doubt any, but a few, reading this blog post can say they have put their convictions through this kind of test.  Paul risked everything for no personal gain.  In this short passage from his letter, we find three ways that hope in a personal resurrection from the dead changed the way Paul lived his life!

First, Resurrection Hope is the Reason For Evangelism (v. 29):  If Jesus died and remained in the tomb, there is no reason to share his message with the world.  There are plenty of teachers, gurus, and shamans in our world, if  Jesus did not raise from the dead, please find one of these other teachers and follow them.  If Jesus did not raise from the dead and if we have no hope of life beyond the grave, don’t waste your time with the Bible…

But, if Jesus did raise from the dead…

Second, Resurrection Hope is the Reason for Self-Sacrifice and Serving Others (v.30-32):  Let’s be real, if there is nothing beyond this life, then don’t try to be nice to others.. there is really no point in it.

  • The reason for serving others is not compassion.
  • The reason for helping people is not because they have needs.
  • The reason for making personal sacrifice is not based on the life of Christ or on a bracelet that asks, “WWJD?”
  • But the reason for serving and caring for others is the resurrection of Jesus that gives us hope for a future resurrection.  And if that resurrection is real, then the works we do today will have eternal value (to us and to others).  So please care for people now, because they have an eternity yet to live!

3. Resurrection is the Reason for Living Holy (v. 33-34)  If Jesus did not raise from the dead then I encourage you to party all night, live for pleasure, and don’t worry about what anyone else thinks or feels.  Get everything you can out of this life, because pleasure and looking out for yourself is all you have to gain.

But, if Jesus did raise from the dead…

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Posted in Eschatology, Evangelism, Hamartology, Politics, Social Justice

Beyond the Grave: Does it Matter?

July 26th, 2009

I have made several posts in my series on life after death.  So far I answred the questions, “Is it Real?” and “Is it believable?”.  In today’s post I wanted to address the question, “Does it Matter?”.

In thinking about the meaning of life beyond the grave, I was struck by the amazing story of James Maki, the nation’s second face transplant recipient. Maki, 59, was disfigured in June 2005, when he fell onto the electrified third rail in a subway station. His face and right arm were badly burned. Maki was left horribly disfigured.  Thanks to medical science, Maki discovered hope.

When Maki saw his new face four days after the April 9 transplant, he told the lead surgeon,“I can’t believe you made me look so close to what I used to look like.” Susan Whitman, the widow of Maki’s donor, said “I am elated that someone else can get a chance. It goes a long way to taking the sting out of my husband’s death.”

May, 21, 2009: James Maki, 59, the recipient of the second face transplant in the U.S., speaks to reporters during a press conference in Boston.

May, 21, 2009: James Maki, 59, the recipient of the second face transplant in the U.S., speaks to reporters during a press conference in Boston.

This story has stuck with me for two reasons.

First, because James Maki, a man mocked, ridiculed and disfigured from this accident, got a second face and a second chance at life.

Medical technology in the West is doing some incredible things.  There was a time when the idea of a face transplant was the stuff of science fiction stories, but now it is a reality.  There was a time when nobody believed such a miracle was possible, but now it is a scientific fact.  There was a time when this man’s life would have been forfeit, yet thanks to modern medicine, Maki now has hope of a second chance.

If our minds can be opened to the possibility of a second-chance through medicine, then our minds should be open to the possibility of a second-chance through the resurrection-life of Jesus 2,000 years ago.    The Apostle Paul gives insight into just such a hope.

1 Cor. 15:12-19 (ESV)
Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

For Susan Whitman, the use of her dead husbands face to give Maki a second chance removed the emotional sting of death.  For all Mankind, the resurrection of Christ matters because it removes the sting of Death!

Jim Maki this week meets with Susan Whitman-Helfgot one month following the face transplant made possible by her decision to donate her husband’s face when he passed away last month.

Jim Maki this week meets with Susan Whitman-Helfgot one month following the face transplant made possible by her decision to donate her husband’s face when he passed away last month.

Second, I love this story because Susan Whitman used it to bring purpose to her husband’s death. She was thankful that one man’s death can bring hope to another.

Think for just one minute how marvelous this story is.  A wife faces the death of her husband.  She is grieved and without hope.  Then, through the power of medicine, she discovers that her husbands death can have meaning.  She discovers that her loss, can be gain for someone else.

1 Cor. 15:20-28 (ESV)
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection, it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

For a grieving widow, science gave hope, we must consider the power of the resurrection of Christ matters because it gives us hope that we can have freedom from our sin!

These are just two reasons why the Resurrection of Jesus matters.  In the next post, I will share some thoughts from 1 Cor 15 on how the Resurrection of Jesus changes our perspective on life and gives us new purpose.

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Posted in Christology, Eschatology