Six California fires have devastated Los Angeles. As of this writing, two of those fires are mostly contained, but 4 more proceed to cause destruction. More than 12,000 homes and diverse businesses have been burned. So far, over 40,000 acres have burned, with multiple blazes still raging.
The stories coming from the realm are heartbreaking, and the photos are startling. To be frank, it looks like hell. Which, unsurprisingly, has caused many to make connections to God’s judgment. To many conservative Christians, the state of California and places like Los Angeles are often called the paradigm of ungodliness. But is that true? Are these fires in L.A. an expression of God’s judgment?
People on social media have quickly proclaimed this as evidence of God’s displeasure and judgment. Others, like Franklin Graham, have said it’s not God’s judgment. How should we take into consideration these items?
What Does the Bible Say about Judgment and Disasters?
The pages of Scripture are stuffed with disasters. We’re not even ten chapters into this almost 1200-chapter book when God floods all the world (Genesis 6:5-7) as a direct response to humanity’s widespread wickedness. After saying he’d never destroy the world in that fashion again, by Genesis 19, we see Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed by fire and brimstone. This, as a side note, was also trending on social media a few days ago because of individuals tying these fires to stories of God’s judgment.
It’s clear, then, that God does use natural disasters as signs of judgment. But it needs to be noted that in each instance, there are clear warnings and calls to repentance. They are at all times accompanied by divine revelation and there isn’t a doubt as to their intent. Burning up a spot and saying, “I hope that got your attention,” isn’t the modus operandi of the God of the Universe. He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Without warning or communication, an event like these wildfires as judgment would appear to go against how the Scripture speaks of God judging humanity through natural disasters.
But there may be one other sense during which all disasters and the brokenness of creation are a consequence of our sin. It was judgment that booted humanity out of the Garden of Eden and here where the wild things are. There aren’t wildfires in Eden. This means, at the least in some sense, we will say that this can be a consequence of our sin and God’s judgment upon that sin. This way of pondering is the background for Jesus’ words in Luke 13:5. Here, a massacre by Pilate and the collapse of a Tower lead Jesus to say, “Unless you repent, you too will perish.” He doesn’t tie the disaster on to God’s judgment but points to a universal need for repentance. If the wildfire is judgment—it’s a judgment upon all of us and never only those that are in L.A.
The Scripture also assures us that God’s ultimate purpose in allowing disasters isn’t to destroy but to redeem. In all of those stories of judgment and destruction, there may be at all times a call to repentance and a promise of grace. Disasters should lead us back to God. They are a reminder that our world is broken and we want redemption. They propel us to long for the hope of the brand new creation (Revelation 21:4).
It’s for this reason over-arching story of the Bible that I’m hesitant to provide a particular answer as to whether these wildfires are God’s judgment. We needs to be cautious in assuming and even dismissing them as God’s judgment.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Kara Capaldo
Why We Should Be Cautious about Assuming (or Dismissing) God’s Judgment
I imagine a reporter 1000’s of years ago interviewing considered one of Job’s friends. Perhaps he was commissioned to jot down an article to provide his opinion on Job’s misfortune. To be honest, the entire thing feels just a little icky. I don’t smell the smoke from the fires. I’m indirectly impacted. For that reason, it feels just a little too detached to provide my opinions on what God is or isn’t doing within the L.A. fires.
I’m cautious, then, that I not be like Job’s friends. They were miserable counselors. They tied together a number of strands of their theology and jumped to a conclusion about Job. They believed that bad things didn’t occur to good people, but bad things were clearly happening to Job. Their only recourse, then, was to assume that Job will need to have been doing something mistaken. But they were silly, and God rebuked them.
Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us that God’s thoughts are usually not our thoughts. For that reason, unless God has clearly revealed something, I’m going to be very hesitant proclaiming a “thus says the Lord” over a natural disaster. But that goes each ways. I also don’t have the boldness to say it absolutely is not God’s judgment. In Amos’ time, several disasters hit Israel. They were designed to steer the people to repentance—but they quickly dismissed them. I don’t need to err on that end, either.
As unsatisfactory as it might sound, my answer to the query at hand is solely “possibly.” I lean towards saying that it isn’t because, typically, God will give warnings and communication. In fact, I’d go up to now as to say I’d be shocked if it was a pointed judgment. But that doesn’t mean that I feel God isn’t communicating through these fires. Nor is it saying that under no circumstances can we speak of these items as judgment.
But what we should be very cautious about isn’t heeding the counsel of Luke 13. Jesus drew attention back to our own hearts. If you’re looking down your nose at those in L.A. but not taking a take a look at your personal soul, I don’t imagine you’re serious about this biblically. You’re not responding to disaster as a believer should respond.
How Should Christians Respond to Disasters Like This?
When faced with disasters just like the L.A. wildfires, Christians are called to reply with compassion. Alongside this compassion, we’re called to point to Christ because the hope and answer for all that besets us outside of Eden.
Galatians 6:2 calls us to bear each other’s burdens. We shouldn’t look upon these fires with glee or have fun that godless individuals are receiving their comeuppance. That’s foolishness. Rather we must always bear their burdens and seek to like our hurting neighbors. That’s our first response.
Let’s just think for a moment in regards to the purpose of an issue just like the one proposed in this text. What good does it serve? Let’s say that we come to the conclusion that it’s absolutely not an indication of God’s judgment. Well, that’s a great thing. But is there still not a call for us to repent and switch to Christ? Are we willing to say that God isn’t doing anything in a disaster like this? Surely not. We need to see even something as devasting as this be used for our good and the furtherance of God’s kingdom. Do I even have to declare unequivocally that it’s or isn’t judgment so as to love people and point them to Jesus? No.
What I wish to say after we tackle sticky questions like that is that it’s a bit like a sumo-wrestler river-dancing on thin ice. He might get in a number of sweet moves, but eventually, he’s going to make an enormous splash, and all those in close proximity might be miserable due to it, especially him. The only reason why our sumo-wrestler would enterprise out onto thin ice to do something so foolhardy is to point out off or entertain. And neither of those are needed at a time like this. It’s much better to talk powerfully about what we do know (Christ and Him crucified) and love wholeheartedly the person in front of us.
Disasters are a possibility to point to the hope we’ve in Christ. While the world groans under the load of the curse (Romans 8:20-22), we will offer the answer. We would not have to reply in despair or judgment, but somewhat, we’re positioned to provide practical love and care while we share the love of Christ.
I don’t know all the main points of why these wildfires are raging. But I do know this: God is in a position to restore the years the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25), which implies He can bring beauty out of those ashes. Let’s focus our attention on participating in His work of redemption.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/David McNew/Stringer
Mike Leake is husband to Nikki and father to Isaiah and Hannah. He can also be the lead pastor at Calvary of Neosho, MO. Mike is the creator of Torn to Heal and Jesus Is All You Need. His writing house is http://mikeleake.net and you possibly can connect with him on Twitter @mikeleake. Mike has a latest writing project at Proverbs4Today.
