Earthquakes, Tsunnamis, & Floods, Where is God?

Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis and floods, where is God?  Does God even care?

How should we view God?

1. God cares for humanity but is virtually powerless to prevent such disasters.  Thus, God is limited and NOT ALL powerful.
2. God couldn’t care less; God has the power to prevent, but doesn’t care enough about humanity to stop the pain and suffering.  God is absent, as in “Out of sight out of mind.”  God is unconcerned with humanity.
3. God is cruel.  God takes pleasure in humanity’s pains, receiving twisted gratification in human suffering.  God is virtually evil.
4. God is good but there is an equal and opposite force opposing God’s goodness (the theological equivalent to Newton’s law in physics that says, “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”).  That is to say, there is a duality of gods of equal force, one good and one bad, which explains why we experience both good and bad in this world.

Which god is it?  I’d say none of the above!  But of course it depends on one’s theology and faith tradition, doesn’t it.

Obviously this is only a question for those who presume God IS.  Take God OUT of the picture and you have a perfectly logical and reasonable answer to why there are natural disasters; which is to say that nature, the universe, the world and all that is in it, is random, chaotic, and meaningless (apart from whatever ‘meaning’ we humans impose upon it).  In short, it is what it is.  Without God in the picture, the best that we can say about life here on earth is that we have an accidental existence—no explanation required, no meaning possible.  Chemical reactions, gases and electrons, tectonic plate movements, all the elements, the “stuff” of nature within the universe, simply fall together willy-nilly and this is the result, stuff happens, good, bad, or indifferent.  God is not.  There is therefore no master mind, no providential god, no creator and maker to blame or hold accountable, no god of comfort and solace, no god of hope and promise, and no real meaning to the words good and bad, justice or evil, for we are but a chance happening of nature’s mindless but powerful forces.

Without ignoring or denying the laws of science, I not only believe that God IS, I also believe that God is ALL powerful and ALL loving.  God is just, righteous, and good.  God cares.  God created humanity to enjoy His Glory and embrace His love.  So, now I have a problem, how to explain our suffering.  Speaking from the Christian Faith tradition, this is where the Biblical account comes in, the story of creation and humanity’s fall into sin, God’s act of redemption/salvation for humanity, and our need to acknowledge God, turn back toward God and seek out his Love, Mercy, and Grace for our lives.  It actually makes a whole lot of sense.

Yes it does.  It’s not a matter of intelligence, education, and IQ, so it’s not being naïve or ignorant to believe this.  Very highly educated and extremely intelligent people throughout history have embraced this Biblical faith account.  It gives meaning, purpose, and direction to our lives in the face of much human pain, suffering, heart-ache, and catastrophe.  It explains the world as it is, and as we experience it (without having to deny scientific insight), while also giving us a profound sense of hope and anticipation for a better future and real meaning beyond mere chance, happenstance.  It explains God’s mind and heart toward humanity and why we can trust that even in the face of such terrible disasters, God is still the God who loves and cares for us.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.  And you know the way to the place where I am going.”  The Gospel according to John 14:1-4 (NRSV).