I spent the last five days in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Although there were tornado sirens going off and tornadoes just north and south of me, I was never in any real danger. I spent most of the last two days watching the local television coverage.
Those who know me know that I often assume the role of an insider's critic to Christianity. Allow me to say that I have been quite proud of the Christians I've witnessed over the past few days. The churches in Moore and the larger OKC area have delivered nothing short of saintly work. They won't get any national publicity for it and they don't really want it. I can say the same of the many folks near Joplin too. We have our faults and they are many, but when it comes to disaster relief and care for victims, the Christian Church is a force of good in this world.
-anthony
indeed.
ReplyDeleteJust curious: what do you make of statements like 'I thank God for having spared/protected me and my family!' etc? Because if that was true then wouldn't that mean that God consciously did not spare/protect those other people? Why wouldn't he done that? And why would some be worth of divine protection but not all?
ReplyDeleteAlso, what is praying for the victims supposed to have as an effect?
Thank you
If the psalmists teach us anything, general thanks to God is (more often than not) the correct response in times of peace and unrest. Moreover, some psalmists have no problem mixing their gratitude with some serious misgivings and blame. We Christians could learn a great deal from these lament psalms... they might mitigate the simplistic notions like the one you point out. "I survived, so God favors me" is generally bad theology.
DeleteYour question about prayer is interesting - perhaps someone else would like to chime in?
-anthony
my 2 cents is that praying for others during disaster will help them persevere and strengthen their belief that God is with them during good and bad times. it may also encourage us to do something to help out in some way.
DeleteI guess the Bible is right that we are closest to God during times of disaster!
ReplyDeleteA bit OT, but there has been a good discussion of bad theology today on the internet. Here are two examples.
ReplyDeletehttp://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/05/22/my-take-keep-bad-theology-out-of-oklahoma/
http://rachelheldevans.com/blog/abusive-theology-piper-mahaney
But what's the difference, in a situation like this, between 'praying' and 'expressing your sympathy'? Praying would involve something supernatural, no?
ReplyDeleteAnd would God, because of the praying, do something that he wouldn't already have planned to do so by himself in the first place? Can you change God's mind or opinions by praying?
Just trying to understand the logic and the reasoning behind this ...
Jerome,
DeleteI cannot help but notice that you've taken us down this path so that you can make a particular point. If your point is that Christians are buffoons to believe that God might act in the affairs of humanity, your point is well taken. I feel like a buffoon more often than not. If your point is something else, please feel free to make it.
I should also remind you that this was initially a post about how Christians tend to be awesome during disaster relief. Perhaps I should have said: "Christians, while adhering to obvious buffoonery, tend to awesome during disaster relief." Happy?
-anthony
Anthony, I'm just trying to understand how praying is supposed to work and how God (and his motivations) fit into it. Did I say anything that was logically incoherent or incorrect?
ReplyDeleteI'd still be interested in your answers. But I can understand it if you don't want to analyze this any further ...
And yes, Christians tend to be awesome during disaster relief. Although most people tend to react like that in such situations, whether Christians or not.
Thank you for acknowledging the original point of the post. Whether positive or negative, this goes a long way toward suggesting that you care to interact.
DeleteI am no expert on prayer, or the historical conversation on its purposes or the intentions of those who practice it. But if you want to know my opinion: prayer is not logical.
-anthony
If prayer isn't logical then why are people praying? They must have some idea about what they are doing and/or why, no?
ReplyDeleteAnd aren't prayers a crucial element of Christianity?
Jerome,
DeleteI'm sure that many Christians think that it is logical. I just speak for myself in this case.
It sounds like you're looking for an apologetics webpage, which this is not. I recommend:
https://hopebeyondreason.wordpress.com/
-anthony
I ,as a Muslim and as a Doctor admire my Christian brethren who are involved in serving humankind through various organisations scattered through out the Globe.I want Muslims to emulate this noble virtue .
ReplyDeleteThis is what the Quran says about such Christians who serve men..
Quran 57:26-26
"We sent Noah and Abraham, and and placed in their descendants prophethood and scripture .Then We sent following their footsteps Our messengers and followed them with Jesus, the son of Mary, and gave him the Gospel. And We placed in the hearts of those who followed him compassion and mercy".