Posted on 03/07/2012 10:24:56 AM PST by marshmallow
MINNEAPOLIS (ABP) – An author and preacher popular in Calvinist circles says it is no accident that recent killer tornadoes followed paths that ravaged some communities while others were spared.
“Why would God reach down his hand and drag his fierce fingers across rural America killing at least 38 people with 90 tornadoes in 12 states, and leaving some small towns with scarcely a building standing, including churches?” John Piper of Desiring God ministries wrote in a blog March 5.
Piper, pastor for preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, said it is wrong to ascribe power capable of causing an estimated $2 billion worth of property damage to Mother Nature or the devil.
“God alone has the last say in where and how the wind blows,” Piper said. “If a tornado twists at 175 miles an hour and stays on the ground like a massive lawnmower for 50 miles, God gave the command.”
Piper said he doesn’t know why if God has a quarrel with America that he wouldn’t show his displeasure in Washington or Hollywood instead of places like Henryville, Ind., but that “every deadly wind in any town is a divine warning to every town.”
(Excerpt) Read more at abpnews.com ...
It’s unfortunate you just jump ship on a church when you hear something that doesn’t tickle your fleshly ears.....
Why not stay and hear a hard word?
This article is sensationalizing Piper’s post I am sure, as many love to do with anything that ascribes God with actual power....you know, since he is God after all.
Most would rather just be deists but claim to be Christian when it’s convenient.
God isn’t some sadistic freak who enjoys destruction. But, his purposes are higher than our understanding and DO ALWAYS serve the good of his people and his plans overall. These horrific tornadoes have led to some good in terms of God’s overall plan in some manner. Maybe by displaying mercy in the midst of terror....who knows. But, they have.
I always get so confused.
Calvinists are supposedly dour to some people.
To others, the “New Calvinists” are pipe-smoking, beer-drinking cussing heathens who have too much fun...
Which is it?
I have never heard the gospel preached more strongly and more beautifully than in Calvinist churches.
There may be some that fail at that....all churches are flawed.
But, at least in my experience, Calvinism SHOULD if properly understood lead to a preaching of Christ crucified all the time.
If it’s not, that church is just “Calvinist” in tradition only, not in real faith practice.
My church is Reformed, but not every sermon is election this, election that. We preach the whole counsel of God, and every sermon ultimately, even in the OT, goes back to Christ and our desperate need for Him.
He sounds like the Reverend in The Simpsons.
He could google “theodicy” and discover he’s not alone....
Actually, it says no such thing. It says that the deaths were not due to the victims being more sinful than everyone else.
But Jesus also adds a warning: Look to the state of your own soul, and repent lest you meet the same fate and come unprepared to face eternity.
John Piper is exactly right. I'll take one good solid Calvinist any day over a busload of spineless, fluffy-bunny, pulpit pansies.
I stayed for several years. I left also because the youth program was horrible, and my kids were not getting anything out of it.
They started going to a youth group that met on Saturday evenings. That church had regular services going on during the youth group. I started going to those services, and they were wonderful. The programs for kids have been wonderful. They have great outreach programs.
Then my husband started going to that church and liked it better also.
I still went to both churches for about 6 months. At my old church, several of the elders left. Then, the church didn’t elect new elders. It was basically run by the head pastor and he had no accountability.
Hmm. I’d say that atmospheric instability has something to do with it.
I often disagree with Piper, but he has a solid point on this. There are numerous verses that assure us that God is active in human events. Only an empty-headed deist could see it otherwise.
Are you Jewish? That’s exactly what we believe!
>> “We have always had tornadoes even in the puritan gay 90’s and the 1950’s. Guys like this make Christians look like idiots.” <<
.
We have always had sin too.
Noobs like you make FR look gullible.
I love the weather and I want to become a Meteorologist in the worst way!
>> “The world’s just chock full of nuts and crackpots, isn’t it?” <<
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Yes, it is, see post #7 for an example.
>> “So when innocent people die, we’re to conclude that God ordered their death?” <<
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There are no inocent people on Earth. “For all have sinned and come short og the glory of God.”
>> If the proximate cause of the loss of the life of a child is a murderer and not a tornado, is that “a disaster”? <<
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A murder is the action of an individual with sinful thoughts in control; does a tornado have sinful thoughts?
>> “God doesn’t punish people by generating natural disasters.” <<
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Really? - His word tells us in hundreds of places that he punishes nations.
>> “Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it?” Amos 3:6 <<
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Not fair to quote scripture ;o)
>> “I want to become a Meteorologist in the worst way!” <<
.
Then become a Global Warmist.
Babies and children are innocent.
That does not agree with scripture.
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