ABC Asks Tornado-Struck Pastor: 'How Do You Reconcile Your Faith With This Tragedy?'

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

For the MSM, there's nothing like the occasion of a natural disaster to challenge the faith of religious believers.

On today's Good Morning America, Kate Snow interviewed the Rev. Larry Lynn, Pastor of the Lady Lake Church of God, whose buildings were totally levelled by the tornadoes that recently struck central Florida.

A minute or so into the interview, Snow asked a question that challenged the core of the pastor's religious belief: "How do you reconcile your faith with the enormity of this tragedy?"

Pastor Lynn answered in a manner consistent with the most basic Christian principles: "This is just a temporal thing. We deal in the eternal. Temporal things change on a daily basis. I don't know what today might bring, but I'm prepared for it. I don't know what tomorrow might bring, but I'm prepared for it, because I know who holds tomorrow. My confidence is not in the things of this world, but in He who sits on the throne and in his son, Jesus Christ."

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

[governsleastgovernsbest]

"You, reverend, are a schmuck, at best."

The diabolical Snow, using a Yiddish expression to criticize the good Pastor ;-)

[Farmer Dean]

She just didn't get the answer she was hoping for.She was looking for a man whose faith was failing him-picked the wrong guy that time.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

You're just in a bad mood because it's Super Sunday and the Browns are nowhere ;-)

[durasell]

Uh, it's one of the oldest questions in religion.

[BenLurkin]

Pretty good answer!

[Thumper1960]

Those brainwashed believers in a mythical creation of addled and ancient minds are a tough bunch.

/ sarc

[Mr J]

"How do you reconcile your faith with the enormity of this tragedy?"

Two better questions: "How do you reconcile your faith with the existence of annoying reporters asking inane questions? Wouldn't a kind, just, loving God spare his worshippers the agonizing tedium of the so-called news broadcast on television?"

[Dog Gone]

I don't think it was that ridiculous of a question. It's an ancient one, but one that every person of faith must wrestle with.

Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?

The book of Job is devoted to it.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Uh, I know. But in the mouth of an MSMer it's hard not to see it as a gratuitous swipe.

[A knight without armor]

"How do you reconcile your faith with the enormity of this tragedy?"



I wish the media would start posing that question to C.A.I.R. members.

[durasell]

Everyone from Job to concentration camp survivors have pondered the same question. There is comfort in the answers.

[brownsfan]

"You're just in a bad mood because it's Super Sunday and the Browns are nowhere ;-)"

I'm long since over that! There hasn't been professional football in Cleveland since 1995. See there you go, now you have me hijacking your thread! :P

[Farmer Dean]

I know some folks who are still sticking pins in Art Model dolls.

[bvw]

I noted the order in which the pastor put things. To me, the first thing in order should have been that his beliefs prepared him well for whatever circumstances should have to be met. And I noted that his first idea expressed was that these were temporary (temporal) circumstances, and therefore by implication, not important in the big picture. Eternity.

Well, that is not so. The big picture is keyed upon all our reaction to all these little challenges we have in life, including the occasioned big calamity.

In a way it is those challenges that are the best of blessings, for while the other daily and lifetime blessings of comfort and sustenance, discernment, strength, etc. are well appreciated and vital to ask for -- it is the life's challenges that are the honor. The honor of responsibility and challenge that a parent gives a child who has earned that level of trust.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Wouldn't a kind, just, loving God spare his worshippers the agonizing tedium of the so-called news broadcast on television?"

That is why He gave us the Off switch.

[CaliGirlGodHelpMe]

"...maybe she was looking for him to give a positive message and some reason to the others effected by this."

I wish that were true, but I'm afraid it's giving her the benefit of a considerable doubt. The question sounded to me like she was toeing the party line and trying to get people to question their faith, or worse, blame God for the tragedy. Typically ABC.

The Pastor's answer was very good; but I would have loved a touch of sarcasm if he could have managed it in the circumstances.

[Can i say that here?]

"Therefore, I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what you shall eat; neither for the body, what you shall put on. The life is more than meat and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn: and God feedeth them: How much more are you better than the fowls?

And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If you then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take you thought for the rest?

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will He clothe you, 0 you of little faith? And seek not you what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, neither be you of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that you have need of these things. But rather seek you the kingdom of God: and all these things shall be added unto you."

I'm sure that, in some context, your point could be valid but it seems to me that the pastor was spot on.

[lawgirl]

My confidence is not in the things of this world, but in He who sits on the throne and in his son, Jesus Christ.

I love this--- some network reporter tries to put a pastor on the spot and instead the pastor gets some free airtime to declare the true meaning of christianity to the whole world. It looks to me like god put the perfect words in his mouth!

[ReignOfError]

But that was not the intention of the interviewer.

I love how Newsbusters and a bunch of Freepers are able to read reporters' minds and find evil intentions in the most benign actions.

The reporter lobbed a softball question. Anyone who can't answer it has no business being a pastor. I realize that the folks at NewsBusters feel like they have to find something to post every day, and that sometimes leaving them really stretching to find a daily outrage. This is such a case.

[durasell]

I agree, but only partially. It's not a softball question. It's a very basic and important question.