Lodi pastor: Gay marriage didn't cause wildfires

Lodi News-Sentinel ^ | July 26, 2008 | Steve Newman

[Silver Dany]

Sure it did.

[cripplecreek]

Friction?

[oyez]

Wildfires and earthquakes have been going on in California since day one. Day one was long before people got there.

[tflabo]

Oh Lord, stuck in Lodi again.....CCR

[Silver Dany]

Yea most likely. See.... this is why homosexuality should not be allowed.

[Liberal Bob]

As a pastor, I would caution all of us against making such claims.

Amos 3:6

When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it?

Isaiah 45:7

I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.

Micah 1:12

Those who live in Maroth writhe in pain, waiting for relief, because disaster has come from the Lord, even to the gate of Jerusalem.

[I still care]

The bible is very clear that God does bring disaster as punishment, or to turn people’s hearts. But for us to make a specific pronouncement is arrogant. We can’t know why God does any specific thing.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Steve Newman is senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Lodi.***

Finally a pastor with common sense! I wish there were more like him.

[Liberal Bob]

The bible is very clear that God does bring disaster as punishment, or to turn people’s hearts. But for us to make a specific pronouncement is arrogant. We can’t know why God does any specific thing.

So the purpose of God's the disaster should not be discussed and never be assumed to be a punishment?

So God will punish and no one will ever know for what reason.

Does the city of Sodom bring anything to mind?

[c-b 1]

That preacher is pretty good at plucking the verse that makes his point while ignoring the next verse:

"except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

[RichInOC]

Why not? Everybody knows you can start a fire by rubbing two sticks together.

[Migraine]

The bible is very clear that God does bring disaster as punishment, or to turn people’s hearts. But for us to make a specific pronouncement is arrogant. We can’t know why God does any specific thing.

Well said. Consider this:
Matt. 5: 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

[I still care]

The exception is when God tells us in his Word what something specific means. God is very clear in Scripture why Sodom was destroyed. But for a preacher to start preaching Florida or California is being punished or not punished - that’s not biblical.

[Liberal Bob]

The exception is when God tells us in his Word what something specific means. God is very clear in Scripture why Sodom was destroyed. But for a preacher to start preaching Florida or California is being punished or not punished - that’s not biblical.

So now that the Scripture are no longer being added too God has ceased to punish. How convenient for the Sodomites.

I take it that you believe that all prophecy has come to an end, you say it is not biblical?

[Arthur McGowan]

It is not a question of whether God causes disasters, but of whether we can really know why any particular disaster occurs.

There’s nothing “evil” in a hurricane, earthquake, or fire. We insist on building and living where these things occur, that’s all.

The last few words of Jesus’ warning are most important. He is saying: In some translations, he says, If you don’t change your ways, something worse will happen to you. In other words: If you don’t change your ways, you are going to go to hell!

[Mr. Jeeves]

Well, since the fires mostly affected rural, conservative-leaning Californians and came nowhere near all of the newly married gay couples in the coastal cities, I would say anyone making this claim doesn’t have much confidence in God’s ability to aim his wrath. ;)

[Liberal Bob]

It is not a question of whether God causes disasters, but of whether we can really know why any particular disaster occurs. There’s nothing “evil” in a hurricane, earthquake, or fire. We insist on building and living where these things occur, that’s all. The last few words of Jesus’ warning are most important. He is saying: In some translations, he says, If you don’t change your ways, something worse will happen to you. In other words: If you don’t change your ways, you are going to go to hell!

So you're saying Christ peached salvation by good works? What reference do you have for these last few words of Christ?

[Arthur McGowan]

Read the account of the Last Judgment in Matthew. People who did good works go to Heaven. People who failed to do good works go to Hell.

[Liberal Bob]

Read the account of the Last Judgment in Matthew. People who did good works go to Heaven. People who failed to do good works go to Hell.

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.