When tragedy is an excuse to judge people and God

Have the Haitians sinned more than others, that the earthquake happened there?

(Luk 13:5) "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

In the days following the Haitian earthquake in January 2010 the BBC interviewed a number of people about their faith in a God who could do such cruel things. It was a cruel moment for families in the BBC studio in Florida who had lost loved ones. Most did not blame God. SMSs from all round the world poured out their bile "on a God who can kill little children or make them orphans". One caller said the earthquake had strengthen his atheism because "if there was a god he would never behave like this"

How would you answer? Doesn't the Bible tell us to "be ready with an answer" for those who question us?

Some possible answers:

We are not to make judgement on tragedy which befalls people. Beware of saying, "yes that cancer got him because of..." You might be the next to get cancer.

That's not to say we should never express an opinion. Yes, Haiti is a Voodoo stronghold but, if do not know the mind of God regarding the earthquake, we should not jump to conclusions.

Jesus Himself refused to condemn the people who died tragically in His day. When Pilate unjustly murdered some Galilaeans Jesus told the crowds not to assume that they were "worse sinners". In the same context in Luke 13, and very apt for the Haitian earthquake, 18 people were buried under the rubble of a tower which fell over. The people thought this was an ideal example to assume that the dead were under God's judgement. Jesus made it very plain that we are not to think in this pagan way for it misrepresents God as a vindictive, sadistic God who looks for opportunities to hurt and kill. No, Jesus turned the historical tragedy around and told the people that the collapse of the tower has more to do with the living that the dead. He said: Unless YOU repent you will all perish. And he didn't just imply physical death but eternal death.

So next time tragedy strikes point your finger at yourself and ask God if you are ready to meet Him.

We must abide by this rule that we cannot judge of other people's sins by their sufferings in this world; for many are thrown into the furnace "as gold to be purified", not as dross and chaff to be consumed. We must therefore not be harsh in our censures of those that are afflicted more than their neighbours, like Job's friends were in their censures of him, lest we condemn the generation of the righteous, Psalm 72:14. If want to busy ourselves with judging, we have enough to do to judge ourselves.