tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post4873130436090155513..comments2024-03-10T10:40:32.319-07:00Comments on Pyromaniacs: The natural-disaster-out-there dodge (NEXT! #23)Phil Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00649092052031518426noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-31800738210288922082010-08-11T14:22:46.892-07:002010-08-11T14:22:46.892-07:00And I would add an addendum to this. Even in the w...And I would add an addendum to this. Even in the worst moment, the worst pain, the worst suffering of your life, you are still doing way better than you deserve.<br /><br />Something I usually forget when I'm in a lot of pain.Gilberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05267525662313103148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-72247988094774371232010-08-11T10:30:22.672-07:002010-08-11T10:30:22.672-07:00John:
When you are told to evacuate and don't...John:<br /><br />When you are told to evacuate and don't, then yes, you choose to die in a natural disaster.Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15285043747501470199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-27275158128738614642010-08-11T06:57:11.745-07:002010-08-11T06:57:11.745-07:00This is an outrage! God is not a monster! God is l...This is an outrage! God is not a monster! God is love! We choose to die in natural disasters!Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15147021671506048314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-62768918511284227942010-08-10T21:42:08.684-07:002010-08-10T21:42:08.684-07:00Imagine the intensity of similar lines of thought ...Imagine the intensity of similar lines of thought as Noah and his family watched dead babies float by, or as they heard the last cries of people who had been their neighbors crowd onto the last peak of dry land, and then watch them sink into the depths. Whenever I hear of "natural" disasters, for some reason, my mind always goes immediately to the flood. I have not quite put it all together yet, but maybe someday...Rob Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10893938431904825170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-2175157312849584532010-08-10T20:53:36.386-07:002010-08-10T20:53:36.386-07:00The natural disaster excuse doesn't work too w...The natural disaster excuse doesn't work too well on me. There are, of course, tornadoes and tsunamis for which man cannot plan. But when you build a house on a beach where hurricanes hit regularly, how is it that we blame God for the ensuing disaster? The same thing goes for hurricane Katrina. The deaths, loss of property, etc. were horrible. But the disaster was forseeable and avoidable. I just can't understand blaming God for our own failings.Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15285043747501470199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-3588204815550361112010-08-10T18:13:15.366-07:002010-08-10T18:13:15.366-07:00The point of my story? Well the 2004 Tsunami was d...<i>The point of my story? Well the 2004 Tsunami was devastating. But out of it God has opened up a nation that for 800 years had kept Him locked out.</i><br /><br />Wow. What a powerful story.<br /><br /><br />And on September 12, 2001 all of America's churches were full.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00759432774174066023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-119589375534144962010-08-10T17:39:10.334-07:002010-08-10T17:39:10.334-07:00I like it!
AlotI like it! <br /><br />AlotMatthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02478859568914693301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-44102702484887233622010-08-10T17:12:33.154-07:002010-08-10T17:12:33.154-07:00"For over 800 years Aceh has been closed to t..."For over 800 years Aceh has been closed to the Gospel."<br /><br />That's the one. Thanks for sharing that.donsandshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03665794015011057098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-61230570655455745722010-08-10T17:03:03.046-07:002010-08-10T17:03:03.046-07:00I remember when the Tsunami happened in 2004. A LO...I remember when the Tsunami happened in 2004. A LOT of people used this dodge. (heck they still use it for that disaster).<br /><br />But then earlier this year, a group of missionaries our Church helps support were giving a report back.<br /><br />Aceh was the hardest hit by the tsunami. It is where the majority of killed lived. Aceh however has a history. <br /><br />For over 800 years it has been Muslim. Aceh is the place that converted the rest of Indonesia to Islam. For over 800 years Aceh has been closed to the Gospel. Missionaries there had to be very careful, converting someone to Christianity would result in both of you being executed.<br /><br />Then the Tsunami hit. Those who came to the aid of the people living in Aceh were predominantly Chirstians. They've rebuilt houses schools, provided food clothing etc. One of the Missionaries was visiting a Muslim neighbour when the daughter came in from school. And she told her mother that they've been learning what terrible people the Christians are and how they must hate them. Her mother stopped her and pointed out that their house had been build by Christians (Habitat for Humanity), how her school bag and books had been supplied by the Christians (World Vision). How the school had been rebuilt by Christian volunteers.<br /><br />Previously in Aceh, westerners (they assume westerner=Christian) were barely tolerated, and weren't welcome. Now they are stopped in the street and thanked.<br /><br />The point of my story? Well the 2004 Tsunami was devastating. But out of it God has opened up a nation that for 800 years had kept Him locked out.Rogerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09786092743747013038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-49089437232109034742010-08-10T16:53:22.973-07:002010-08-10T16:53:22.973-07:00Dan:
That's really reason to pause and think,...Dan:<br /><br />That's really reason to pause and think, eh? That "separation from God" would mean "withdrawal of His common grace," which still doesn't paint a vivid picture until you start thinking about what that entails.Stefan Ewinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05530690016594029847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-49710156003267492802010-08-10T16:32:39.731-07:002010-08-10T16:32:39.731-07:00And that's the hiding truth about Hell, Farmbo...And that's the hiding truth about Hell, Farmboy.<br /><br />I think when many people hear the reworked evanjellybean version of Hell ("It's where you go to get away from God"), they think that doesn't sound so bad. But what they don't think about is that every pleasure they have is a grace-gift from, whether the pleasure of human love or the pleasure of tying their shoes right or the pleasure of firing off two neurons in correct sequence.<br /><br />When God goes, all that goes.<br /><br />Think about it. They don't.DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-2662728955437371172010-08-10T16:19:05.851-07:002010-08-10T16:19:05.851-07:00John Gerstner took a similar track in one of his p...John Gerstner took a similar track in one of his primers, "The Problem of Pleasure." Flipping the problem of pain on its head, Gerstner notes that once one is aware of just how vile sin is and what sin deserves, one should be left in utter amazement at all the pleasure one observes in the world.<br /><br />Regarding the reference to molecules, that is something that still leaves me in awe. It's a key insight I took from my one and only chemistry class: I'm just a bunch of atoms. Why do they stick together in the orderly way that they do? The Creator of the universe is also the Sustainer of the universe.farmboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05445789397476595536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-43261769015699623462010-08-10T16:15:12.913-07:002010-08-10T16:15:12.913-07:00Guess, Jacob.Guess, Jacob.DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-58997381976520273902010-08-10T16:02:05.557-07:002010-08-10T16:02:05.557-07:00This is EXCELLENT and a sound rebuttal of that tir...This is EXCELLENT and a sound rebuttal of that tired question. One wonders why it is being rated so low.Jacobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17084189036334133951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-77995457633412172912010-08-10T14:28:47.823-07:002010-08-10T14:28:47.823-07:00Very nice, Dan.
Thanks for sharing that link - an...Very nice, Dan.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing that link - and your work.<br /><br />Peace.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00759432774174066023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-36407212469425674312010-08-10T14:17:47.297-07:002010-08-10T14:17:47.297-07:00You're absolutely right.
I developed that tho...You're absolutely right.<br /><br />I developed that thought further <a href="http://www.bibchr.com/evil.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>.DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-30289944969413873062010-08-10T13:51:20.578-07:002010-08-10T13:51:20.578-07:00Good stuff and what an interesting group.
I'v...Good stuff and what an interesting group.<br /><br />I've always been drawn to the presuppositional answer to the question of evil.<br /><br />That is, if God doesn't exist how can you even know what is evil?<br /><br />Put the other way 'round, the unbeliever has no basis for deciding what is evil without first acknowledging God.<br /><br />Van Tillian, I admit.<br /><br />Peace.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00759432774174066023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-31257858341629354932010-08-10T13:00:06.048-07:002010-08-10T13:00:06.048-07:00Every day that I wake up, make it to work in one p...Every day that I wake up, make it to work in one piece, and go home to see my wife is a testament to God's longsuffering mercy.<br /><br />If only <i>I</i> remembered that and repented every day.Stefan Ewinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05530690016594029847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-3781903557286345672010-08-10T10:27:14.336-07:002010-08-10T10:27:14.336-07:00Frank's comment above is brilliant.Frank's comment above is brilliant.CGrimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03257084521984285384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-8265083778990125162010-08-10T09:54:43.543-07:002010-08-10T09:54:43.543-07:00Mike B,
Even if your not, He doesn't.
But th...Mike B,<br /><br />Even if your not, He doesn't.<br /><br />But the questioner can't say that, can he? After all, the whole "NEXT" series presupposes that he's raising the question to you, a believer, about what God is up to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-863299082994423272010-08-10T09:49:41.951-07:002010-08-10T09:49:41.951-07:00Okay, but if you're a Calvinist, then God does...Okay, but if you're a Calvinist, then God doesn't give everyone the opportunity for repentance, does he?Mike B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08255384775115784401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-9918601361647871892010-08-10T09:37:28.498-07:002010-08-10T09:37:28.498-07:00Sven
We have some odd churches in our area too. I...Sven<br />We have some odd churches in our area too. I worry, sometimes, that mine might be one of them :-)Larry Geigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13158449612437822789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-37041150285506212622010-08-10T09:27:07.064-07:002010-08-10T09:27:07.064-07:00I think the natural disaster guy is too myopic. E...I think the natural disaster guy is too myopic. Every day, God lets roughly 155,000 people die of <i>all causes</i> every day.<br /><br />From my perspective, the disaster is a lot more wide-spread than the handful which die from some natural event -- and that's why God has a much more wide-reaching plan for resolving the problem.<br /><br />Just like DJP said, btw.FX Turkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16798420127955373559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-53085806299296770942010-08-10T09:19:01.800-07:002010-08-10T09:19:01.800-07:00The "problem of evil" is a tough one, bu...The "problem of evil" is a tough one, but I always thought the depths of human depravity are much more horrifying than even the worst natural disasters. A hurricane is devastating, yes, but I feel like a serial child rapist is a much greater horror. I'm sorry if that sounds trite, I'm not sure how to say it exactly.CGrimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03257084521984285384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-71325180629631021392010-08-10T08:53:06.582-07:002010-08-10T08:53:06.582-07:00Strategem,
Yep...exactly.Strategem,<br /><br />Yep...exactly.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01930864320573865515noreply@blogger.com