Luke 13:1-9, 31-35
“Was 9/11 God’s judgment against America? Pat Robertson and the late Jerry Falwell said so. They blamed God’s wrath on abortion and promiscuity, and they were promptly skewered by the media—as much for raising the uncomfortable topic of divine judgment as for using the occasion to deplore America’s sexual excesses.” (Article from Christianity Today)
A tower falling and killing many people in Jesus’ day, as well as in our recent history, prompted people to claim the judgment of God was falling. Tele-evangelists and other headline grabbers are quick to point to something as “God’s Judgment for _______.” From the spectrum of Fundamentalist to Liberation Theology, tragic events in the lives of people, regions, and nations have been claimed as being God’s judgement.
I think these self-styled prophets do not heed the passage for us this Sunday. Jesus asks, “Were these people killed any worse than you?” The answer is “no.” Yet, we know that God is moving in time and history to bring his reconciliation of all things and justice for all the wronged and abused. For me, the most evident sign of God’s Judgment falling on a nation was the American Civil War. Over 600,000, mostly white, voting aged men, were casualties of this conflict. In the Confederacy, there was a rising awareness that this was the judgment of God on slavery during the last years of the war. When the judgment of God falls, there is little doubt where it is coming from.
Jesus uses these current events to teach us that God’s judgment should not be taken lightly, or as something that will happen to others. But the awareness of the coming day of judgement should compel us to change (repent) and produce fruits of righteous living. Just because God has given us another chance today to repent, does not mean that we will have that chance tomorrow. This should bring a seriousness and sense of urgency to our time of Lenten repentance and spiritual restoration.
Pastor Greg
