The Power of One
6 October 2010 Hits:2636
Whenever there’s a disaster somewhere in the world we often hear a pronouncement from a Christian leader that this disaster is the judgment of God because of the sinfulness of people.
For example, Hurricane Katrina was said to be God’s punishment of New Orleans’ gay Mardi gras. The events of 9/11 were said to be God’s judgment on “the pagans and the abortionists and the feminists and the gays and the lesbians” who had tried to transform America into a secular society. A Christian evangelist claimed the earthquake in Haiti was God’s punishment for a legendary pact with the devil. Closer to home the events of Black Saturday were said to be the God’s displeasure with the Victorian Government’s abortion legislation. And five years ago a church minister caused anger after he compared the Asian tsunami to Noah’s flood and claimed it was an act of God to punish “pleasure seekers” who broke the Sabbath.
I have a major problem with all of these pronouncements because the Bible contradicts them. Consider God’s words to Jeremiah about the pending judgment on Israel in 597 B.C. –“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.” (Jeremiah 5:1). The tragedy was that one such person could not be found!
The same truth is emphasized in the dialogue between God and Abraham as he interceded for the city of Sodom (see Genesis 18:22-32).
Was there not ONE such person in New Orleans, New York, Haiti, Victoria or Asia? I know for a fact that there were (and are) many such persons – some lost their lives while others suffered greatly. Some are still suffering.
No, these were not the judgments of God. As Abraham said to God, “Far be it from you to do such a thing — to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Yes, He will – always!
The truth is this – people of righteousness, honesty and truth have an enormous preservative influence in their city – even if there’s only one of them! This is the power of one. Will you to be that one?
Rob Buckingham
Senior Minister
