Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) created a hey-day for journalists to throw rotten tomatoes at her statement made this last weekend in Florida about earthquakes and hurricanes as God’s “wake up call” to politicians in Washington, D. C.
“Bachmann said, ‘I don't know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We've had an earthquake; we've had a hurricane. He [God] said, “Are you going to start listening to me here?” Listen to the American people because the American people are roaring right now. They know government is on a morbid obesity diet and we've got to rein in the spending.’” [1]
Using Pat Robertson as an example of a “televangelist clown” who says that “God is angry and the End Times are nigh,” the New York magazine adds, “Of course, most people don't take Robertson seriously. Hurricanes and earthquakes have occurred regularly all over the world since before humankind existed. There was a time when they seemed to be the product of God's wrath, but geology and meteorology long ago provided much more plausible explanations. Nevertheless, there are still a few wacky cranks like Robertson ...” [2]
But is there truth hidden somewhere between the “plausible explanations” and “wacky cranks”? Making black and white statements might sell copy, but does it do justice to what the Bible actually says about God and the end of time? Here are three reflections overlooked in the mud ball throwing:
- The Bible teaches that God’s anger is not like man’s anger (see Psalm 30:5). To say that “God is angry” brings to mind a picture of a hateful and revengeful God who desires to unleash fury on innocent victims. But it actually teaches that God hates injustice, abuse, murder, war, and will not allow sin to run rampant forever. Someday it will be put to an end (see Psalm 103:9). There will be a day of judgment when the iniquities of sinful mankind will be dealt with (see Isaiah 26:21).
- The Bible teaches that one of the signs of Christ’s soon coming is an increase in natural disasters. Matthew 24:7 lists “famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places” followed by these words, “All these are the beginning of sorrows” (v. 8). These disasters do not indicate the end has arrived, but that it is near. Such a warning doesn’t mean God “makes” the disaster happen, but prepares us to be ready.
- The Bible teaches that there is an enemy (Satan) who is part of a cosmic conflict between good and evil. And it is the devil’s primary weapon to depict God in a twisted light. When the instigator of evil and destruction in this world unleashes his wickedness through disaster, why do we point the finger at God? We need to see that evil is rearing its ugly head and that God permits evil for a time to demonstrate its true colors.
Was Michele Bachmann serious about her statements? Her press secretary later said that the congresswoman didn't literally mean that Hurricane Irene and last week's earthquake had been sent from on high as warnings to Washington. “Obviously she was saying it in jest.”
We would agree that God doesn’t send earthquakes to kill innocent people. But we would disagree that they are not wake-up calls to the times in which we live. No joking.
----------------
[1] http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700174630/Michele-Bachmann-God-warns-with-disasters.html
[2] http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/08/michele_bachmann_hurricane_god_earthquake.html