Where Is God When Disaster Strikes ?

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

In the last few months the U.S. has suffered repeated and unprecedented catastrophes.

We've had such a series of devastating hurricanes back-to-back the past couple months that they've blurred together in our memory.  We remember the name of Katrina, standing out for the unbelievable damage it did to New Orleans' buildings and social structure in 2005.  But even these few weeks later, who can remember which of this year's hurricans was which ?

Which one made half of Floridians flee the state, with the governor warning people that if they stayed, "you will die" ?

Which one flooded Houston like no American city has ever been flooded before ?

Which one caused devastation and social dislocation that Puerto Rico is still digging out of ?

Even before we could sort all that out, Las Vegas seized the headlines from Puerto Rico with the largest mass-shooting in American history.

Then last week and this week California suffered the most destructive wildfire in its history.

Any single "largest" or "worst" catastrophe used to be taken as a sign of God's displeasure, and make people look for a spiritual explanation.  And perhaps that's not a "primitive" or unsophisticated response to disaster.

After all, the truest answer to "Where is God ?" is always that He reigns.  It makes complete sense then to ask, of circumstances among men, how it serves His purpose for the world.

Jesus warned against the smug cause-effect theology that sees sin as the reason for every misfortune (John 9:1-3).  But He in no way disavowed the theology that God punishes sin, mercifully warning us against continuing to choose evil: and that His warnings sometimes come in the form of heightening disaster.

These are unprecedented times in America; and not just in the catastrophes enumerated above.  Another is that we have an unprecedented human ruler...one who prides himself on doing what no president before him has ever done.  One who daily says incredible things...things literally "incredible," because they're not true.  One who makes catastrophic policy-decisions, breaks his word, insults, bullies, and lies...to "make America great again."

America's "faith-leaders" told us he was "God's man."  Americans chose him...American Christians most strongly of all groups...and, even having seen his true character, many continue to choose him.

Maybe America...especially American Christians...should ask if we have offended God.