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

[Zack Nguyen]

Amen.

[Tolkien]

Excellent reply. Looks to me his faith is together.

[johnny7]

“Shaman... where's your God now?!” -Kate Snow

[Zeroisanumber]

[smith288]

I would ask the chick how she reconciles her communism with such high priced clothing.

[Doctor Raoul]

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

And the Pastor sez, "Well Sweetie Cups, when I hear reporters like you, I realize there IS a devil. And if there is a devil, there must be a God. It's that simple..."

[ConservativeMan55]

bttt

[Bulldawg Fan]

I suspect the interviewer had no clue what he was talking about.

[Doctor Raoul]

I would ask the chick how she reconciles her communism with such high priced clothing.

Millionaire Marxists, commies with credit cards.

[msnimje]

I don't get this bigoted line of questioning. It is like asking a wealthy person why he was mugged.

[atomicpossum]

Obviously, such questions come from a complete lack of understanding of faith. Who ever said that 'become a Christian, nothing bad will ever happen to you?'

[governsleastgovernsbest]

LOL. Inside track for line 'o the day!

[Esther Ruth]

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/k/ikwihb.htm

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

Refrain

But I know Whom I have believèd,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.

I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.

Refrain

I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing us of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.

Refrain

I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.

Refrain

I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.

Refrain

[Carl LaFong]

Gee, I can't Kate.This God stuff must be a crock!It's atheism for me. And I'm joining the Democrat party.BTW, what's you doin tonite ,sweets cheeks?

[11th Commandment]

This question shows a total lack of understanding about what the promise of Faith is about. I could go on to beat-up on the drive by media, but I wonder how many Christian asked the same question?

[bvw]

The middle part of the pastor's answer, imo, should have been the first and repeated part. That is that his beliefs made him well-prepared to deal with what happens, no matter what it is.

Instead the first idea he mentions was the weakest, a sop to victimhood, "This is just temporary."

Challenges in life are the constant blessings of the moral, and those closest to G-d. They are not "temporary".

[governsleastgovernsbest]

He did not say "temporary," he said "temporal", meaning of this world, not of the eternal.

[Scarchin]

Actually, I have no problem with the question. It gave the pastor a perfect opening.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I see your point, but why was the question remotely necessary in the first place. As another poster suggested, who claims that bad things can't happen to believing people?

[Coldwater Creek]

I suspect that you are entirely correct. Even a good many that call themselves Christians don't have a clue as to what 'real' faith is.

[bvw]

Same thing. The world is here for a reason, and that reason is not temporary or temporal.

[Coldwater Creek]

Thanks!

[zarf]

Would Pentecostals buy this explanation?

[Rumplemeyer]

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

I have heard the same type of questions after these type of events, "why did God allow this", the pastor put it in perspective.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

With respect, the pastor was making a deeply religious point: that he is not concerned with things of the material world, but with those of the eternal.

[Tolkien]

The MSM is as clueless about God as they are about guns. They see both as destructive.

[Thumper1960]

Reminds me of an old TV movie, "Satan's Triangle", where the Devil demands the priest to: "Reject your God, Pagnolini".

Another MSM hack so subtly demanding a minister, in the midst of tragedy, reject his God and submit to the secular world of humanistic hubris.

[Condor 63]

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

That about sums it up.

This question shows a total lack of understanding about what the promise of Faith is about.

That sums it up. Case closed.

[Tax-chick]

I would ask the chick how she reconciles her communism with such high priced clothing.

Oh, raucous round of applause for your brilliant response!

I just wish I had the nerve to say that!

[grjr21]

It's not the first time that question has been asked and any pastor who doesn't have several answer ready as to why bad things happen to good people should find another line of work.
If you are wondering why she would ask it maybe because he is a pastor.
If it was a business owner wouldn't you ask how a disaster would affect the business , or a school teacher how it would affect the students .
What should she have asked how is this going to affect the collection plate ?

[Moonmad27]

Don't those reporters ever read the Bible? (obvious answer, I know) Jesus talked about this same issue when he mentioned a tower that had fallen, killing people. That little comment fascinates me - what must have been big news at that time is unknown except for that mention. All these big news items in the newspaper will someday be just as unknown, but this pastor knows what's important.

[Thumper1960]

I would ask the chick how she reconciles her communism with such high priced clothing.

All people are created equal. Except some, who are more equal than others. Communism and its inherent shortages and inequality are for the "little people".

[Dallas59]

Her hair looks terrible.

[mkjessup]

Bravo Pastor Lynn!

What a shame THIS Pastor Lynn couldn't take the place of that fake preacher calling himself 'Reverend BARRY Lynn' over at the AntiAmerican Communist Liars Union!

I'll bet the answer ABC got from this Florida preacher wasn't what they were hoping for, eh? ;)

[bvw]

I suggest he start taking more account of the material world then and not disrespecting it for what it is.

Here -- when your Dad and Mom give you food, clothes, a warm bed and a comfortable house -- do you deny that all of that is for *nothing*???!!

[Cheburashka]

Actually, I have no problem with the question. It gave the pastor a perfect opening.
---
Of course it did.

But that was not the intention of the interviewer. She expected the line of questioning to develop the point that "You, reverend, are a schmuck, at best."

And the concept that it did no such thing no doubt has still not entered into her cotton-fluff-filled head.

[Esther Ruth]

1Cor 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Romans 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

[governsleastgovernsbest]

First you criticized Lynn for paying too much attention to material things, now you criticize him for not paying enough attention. You are a hard guy to please.

[brownsfan]

Generally, I dislike the MSM, but this isn't such a bad question. It's not like the interviewer expected the Pastor to say: "Well, I can't, I give up on religion."
It gives the Pastor an opportunity to give a mini sermon. To help others try to come to grips with the situation.

Tempest in a teacup is my take.

[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.