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January 02, 2005
Responding to suffering
The tsunami disaster should raise painful heart-searching questions for those of us who are seeking to follow God about why such things happen. Our attempts at explanations so often seem trite and unsatisfying. Worst of all are the blame-giving exercises that see suffering as God's anger against the victims' sin. Several times (eg Jn 9:1-4, Lk 13:1-4) Jesus warns against the arrogance of such immobilising bad theology. Instead he turns our attention to our own need to do something.
As chief rabbi Jonathon Sacks said in an article in the Times this week:
"The religious question is, therefore, not: “Why did this happen?” But “What then shall we do?”...The only adequate religious response is to say: “God, I do not know why this terrifying disaster has happened, but I do know what You want of us: to help the afflicted, comfort the bereaved, send healing to the injured, and aid those who have lost their livelihoods and homes.”
I know many of us are praying, and have already given. If you haven't yet done so, please do what you can. From the UK, you can make contributions at the Disaster Emergency Committee website or by phoning 0870 6060900
Posted by Keith at January 2, 2005 09:17 PM
