Letter to the Editor
Issue date: 9/14/05 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Dear Editor,
I am writing out of concern for the way many Christians on this campus are viewing the disaster of Hurricane Katrina. I have heard in several classes that this devastation was God's judgment on the city of New Orleans. I believe to make a claim such as this is to turn the attention away from God's cry. While I do strongly believe that the hurricane was a part of God's judgment, I do not believe there is any evidence that it was a particular judgment as was the biblical destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Many people of New Orleans were a sinful and ungodly group, but were they so sinful that God sent a specific destruction upon them? If Katrina was God's judgment then it not only should've destroyed that one city, but the entire world. We deserve the same exact treatment as the victims of the hurricane did because we are just as sinful. It is solely by the wondrous grace of God that He has not obliterated each and every one of us evil people that reside in Tigerville. Let us not forget the words of Christ in Luke 13:1-5, "Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them-do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
We stand as guilty as anyone in that city. The only difference is God still has His hand of mercy on us. To all those who watch the death count rise and wonder what your response should be to this tragedy, I will happily tell you: Repent lest the same should befall you. The Lord has given us the opportunity to turn from wickedness and so we must. We can send aid and money, but our primary duty is to turn to God and lead others to His infinite mercy. We deserve the destruction Katrina brought, and we must be thankful that compared to the entire world there was so little left to ruin.
At every moment of our life God is sending out both His wrath and His grace on the world. Both demonstrations of His character are meant for one end: the complete redemption of His people.
Jason Vaughn
Senior, Intercultural Studies
If you have comments about this article or want to write a letter to the editor, access the "Letter Submissions" link to the left of the page.
I am writing out of concern for the way many Christians on this campus are viewing the disaster of Hurricane Katrina. I have heard in several classes that this devastation was God's judgment on the city of New Orleans. I believe to make a claim such as this is to turn the attention away from God's cry. While I do strongly believe that the hurricane was a part of God's judgment, I do not believe there is any evidence that it was a particular judgment as was the biblical destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Many people of New Orleans were a sinful and ungodly group, but were they so sinful that God sent a specific destruction upon them? If Katrina was God's judgment then it not only should've destroyed that one city, but the entire world. We deserve the same exact treatment as the victims of the hurricane did because we are just as sinful. It is solely by the wondrous grace of God that He has not obliterated each and every one of us evil people that reside in Tigerville. Let us not forget the words of Christ in Luke 13:1-5, "Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them-do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
We stand as guilty as anyone in that city. The only difference is God still has His hand of mercy on us. To all those who watch the death count rise and wonder what your response should be to this tragedy, I will happily tell you: Repent lest the same should befall you. The Lord has given us the opportunity to turn from wickedness and so we must. We can send aid and money, but our primary duty is to turn to God and lead others to His infinite mercy. We deserve the destruction Katrina brought, and we must be thankful that compared to the entire world there was so little left to ruin.
At every moment of our life God is sending out both His wrath and His grace on the world. Both demonstrations of His character are meant for one end: the complete redemption of His people.
Jason Vaughn
Senior, Intercultural Studies
If you have comments about this article or want to write a letter to the editor, access the "Letter Submissions" link to the left of the page.