By BISHOP DR ROBERT SOLOMONReflections on the tsunami disaster
By BISHOP DR ROBERT SOLOMON
THE gentle sea suddenly changed
character, and in a fit of madness, became a monstrous hand that
snatched thousands away in its deadly grasp. It left behind a
scene of death and devastation that has haunted the world with
terrible images of bloated, rigid, decaying bodies strewn along
beaches and among endless miles of debris.
The media brought into our homes the sounds of wailing parents
carrying their dead children in their helpless and tired hands.
The world stood still, dumb-stricken for a moment, as the magnitude
of this tragedy sank home. Then a global chorus of support for
the victims produced massive relief efforts, from big organisations
to ordinary individuals living in far-away towns. It was as if
the tremendous and unprecedented worldwide response was a determined
challenge against the uncertain and cruel ways of nature. The
best of human nature and compassion swept like a healing wave
across the world, encouraging and inspiring many. Unfolding stories
of unusual human courage, resilience and volunteerism warmed our
hearts.
Amid responses to help the victims were difficult questions. What
was God doing when the tsunami did its destructive work? Is He
not powerful enough to have done something? Is He not loving enough
to have saved the thousands of children who died in the disaster?
Was this disaster a punishment from God, as some have suggested?
It is quite common for people to
think that those who suffer on earth are being punished for sins
they have committed. Bad things happen to bad people and good
things happen to good people. However, the book of Job challenges
such notions. Bad things can happen to a good man. Wicked people
can enjoy good times (Ps. 73:2-12). The reality is more complex
than is popularly understood and we must not jump into hasty and
mistaken judgements.
Why do disasters happen? It is easier to explain things if it
involves human sin and wickedness such as war and genocide. But
when it involves natural disasters, it is more difficult. In such
instances, we turn to God and expect Him to explain Himself, for
does He not control nature?
In the biblical account of creation, we have the story of the
beginning of sin and human suffering. God told Adam and Eve that
on the day they disobeyed Him and turned away from Him, they "will
surely die" (Gen. 2:17). Tragically they sinned, and as a
result death and suffering have become part of the human condition.
Even the ground (nature) was cursed (Gen 3:17). No surprise then
that Paul wrote that "the whole creation has been groaning".
(Rom. 8:22).
We all know that human beings have also been groaning (Rom. 8:23).
What is amazing is that God is also described as groaning with
us and with disturbed nature (Rom. 8:26). This reveals to us a
God who is with us in our tragedies and who has plans to liberate
creation and bring freedom to human beings.
When we experience disasters and tragedies, we must remember that
we live in a tragic and disturbed world infected with sin. It
is not helpful to extrapolate this general truth and turn it into
direct judgement of people who suffer tragedies. Final judgement
belongs to God and we each must give an account of ourselves to
Him. There will come a time when all shall be revealed and everything
set right with God's perfect justice. But on this earth, personal
suffering cannot be seen as specific judgment on specific sins.
Do good with 'our eyes on
victims, not on audience'
When Jesus was informed about what must have been the "breaking
news" in His days - that some Galileans were cruelly executed
by the Romans, He asked, "Do you think that these Galileans
were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered
this way?" (Lk 13:1-5). His answer was an emphatic "No!"
His straightforward sermon was: "But unless you repent, you
too will all perish." Jesus also referred to a "natural"
disaster - when the tower in Siloam fell, 18 were killed. Again
Jesus said, "Do you think they were more guilty than all
the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you
repent, you too will perish."
Disasters are times for us not to judge others but to judge our
own hearts. We are called to examine our ways and to repent. But
repentance does not come easily. In Rev. 9:18 we read of a global
calamity that will wipe out one third of the world's population,
far larger than the death toll of the Asian tsunami. The scenes
of such a calamity are difficult to imagine; the world would be
devastated, paralysed and drained of all hope. The sobering fact
is that in spite of this, the rest of mankind would still not
repent (Rev. 9:20). Repentance does not come easily; such is the
human heart.
One of the great challenges for us in disasters like this one
is to repent, both from our personal sinfulness as well as from
our collective sins. It is the greed and injustice of sinful human
beings and their general indifference that have contributed to
the kind of inequality and poverty that produces fragile and flimsy
housing that is no match for the rage of a tsunami. But repentance
is difficult to come by. We must change our ways, both in our
hearts and in our world. We must repent and return to God.
Besides repentance, the other great challenge is to respond
compassionately. In fact, repentance will be the bedrock of real
and lasting compassion. If not, even our compassionate responses
can be tainted with less than noble intentions. Dr Ajith Fernando,
who is overseeing relief efforts in Sri Lanka, has written a helpful
article entitled "Disciplines for Emergency Workers."
Among other useful advice, he warns that "we can publicise
our work just so that people will be impressed by us". Our
attempts to help victims can degenerate into competition, self-promotion
and public-relation exercises.
In the exhilaration of media spotlights, what Jesus said goes
against the grain: "when you give to the needy, do not announce
it with trumpets … do not let your left hand know what your
right hand is doing … " (Mt. 6:1-4). Of course, in that
Sermon, Jesus also said, "let your light shine before men,
that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven".
(Mt. 5:16). I believe these are not contradictory statements.
One speaks about our attitudes when doing good. The other speaks
about the results. If we do good with our eyes on the audience,
we would have failed. But if we do good with our eyes on the victims,
the world would notice.
Compassion can also fade away quickly. Part of the reason for
the outpouring of global support is the extensive media coverage
of the disaster. Soon the event will fade quickly from the attention
of the world. The challenge is to make our compassion last and
to extend it to other areas of human suffering. The lack of media
spotlights on millions dying of deadly diseases, violence and
poverty in this world leaves them largely ignored or forgotten.
Writing one week after the tsunami disaster, Johann Christoph
Arnold's sobering words should make us think more deeply and act
more compassionately and consistently:
"We do not need to weep for those who have died. We need
to weep and pray and take action for all those who remain alive,
for the millions who are suffering hunger and thirst, and facing
diseases such as cholera and malaria. And meanwhile, we ought
to ask ourselves how much time we are still spending considering
the meaning of this incomprehensible disaster.
"Only a week has gone by. But how many of us have already
returned to petty pursuits like hunting for post-Christmas bargains
at the mall? Even on the news, this event is beginning to fade
-- it's back to Janet Jackson. We care so little about the rest
of the human race. Nothing matters as long as it isn't us. Yet
it could be us next time; it is an eleventh-hour warning. How
many of us take that to heart?"
In a disaster like this, our challenge is to repent and to act
with wide and lasting compassion. Our eyes should be on Christ
and His cross. There we see a God who groans with us, and is present
in our sufferings and calamities. He offers redemption. He shows
us how to respond - through self-giving love.
The cross also urges us to repent and turn to God - for our own
good, and for the good of those who need our compassion. We praise
God for the compassionate responses that have already emerged
from Christians in our churches and elsewhere.
Let us be like the islanders who showed "unusual kindness"
(Acts 28:2) to Paul and his fellow ship-wrecked travellers who
were washed ashore on a strange beach, cold and hungry, victims
of an angry hurricane and an equally violent sea.
DON'T JUMP INTO MISTAKEN JUDGEMENTS
'It is quite common for people to think that those who suffer on earth are being punished for sins they have committed. Bad things happen to bad people and good things happen to good people. However, the book of Job challenges such notions. Bad things can happen to a good man. Wicked people can enjoy good times (Ps. 73:2-12). The reality is more complex than is popularly understood and we must not jump into hasty and mistaken judgements.'
Members of Covenant Community
Methodist Church sorting out and packing clothes, towels,
shoes and other household goods for the tsunami victims and their
families. -- CCMC picture by KAREN LEE.