Judgment...or not?

 

Photo owned by the Los Angeles Times

     My home state is being ravaged by fires.  More specifically, the Los Angeles area is being ravaged by fires.  I was born and raised in what is considered suburban Los Angeles.  In my early and mid 20's, I did a lot of ministry in L.A. proper (as well as suburban L.A.).  In my late 20's, I moved further east, to a very scenic community on the edge of both the CA dessert and mountains (translations, it was 115 degrees F in the summer and occasionally snowed in the winter!).  I met my husband while living in this beautiful town.  This town was the furthest from Los Angeles I had ever lived at that time, and I liked the more rural, Conservative feel.  To this day, it is the most Christian town I ever lived in.  After marriage, my husband and I eventually moved out of state.  But I still love many people in CA, and in the Los Angeles area.  

     I have seen many people on social media refer to the current fires as God's judgment on an evil city and its evil inhabitants.  Is this true?  Is God judging L.A. right now?  I can't claim to know the mind of God (who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counselor hath taught him? Isaiah 40:13).  However, I am going to give a few reasons why I do not believe these fires are God's judgment (though they can serve as a wake-up call, as any disaster can, and be used for God's glory).  

1) God would have spared Sodom and Gomorrah for 10 righteous, and Los Angeles' Christian population far exceeds 10.  In Genesis 18, the Lord revealed to Abraham that He planned to destroy the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Abraham appealed to the Lord to consider the godly people living there.  He began his bargaining at fifty--would God destroy them if there were fifty righteous?  The Lord replied that He would spare the cities for fifty righteous (we're not quite to this point yet, but there are also way over fifty godly in Los Angeles).  Eventually Abraham works his way down to ten righteous, and again, the Lord says he would spare Sodom for ten righteous.  Of course, only Lot and his family were righteous.  God knew there were not even ten, and He destroyed these cities.  There are many, many God-fearing folks in Los Angeles and it's surrounding area.  Pew research has 65% of the population of Los Angeles as Christians.  Now, obviously, not everyone who claims to be Christian has really had a born again experience.  Also, Pew Research lumps groups like Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses as Christians.  So let's look at how many Evangelicals (those who most likely have had a born again experience) are in Los Angeles.  Pew Research has Evangelicals at 18% of the population.  Eighteen percent of 3.821 million people (for simpler math, let's just say 3.8 million) is 684,000.  If God would spare Sodom for 10, it seems doubtful He would cast judgment on a city with more than half a million of His own people.  

2) California has a long history of fires.  Admittedly, the current situation is beyond the norm.  But it is a problem that has been going on in the state for ages.  I remember as a little girl, a fire came out way.  We were packed and ready to evacuate (it didn't end up coming to that), and some friends from church lost their home.  As God would mercifully have it, all seven of their kids were away at church camp when it happened, and the parents were able to get out of the house in time (barely!).  God helped them through that very difficult time.  But no one even once said, "Maybe God is judging our neighborhood!"  Like all natural disasters, it is a result of the fall.  

3) There are natural disasters everywhere.  The Bible does talk about unrest in the world and natural disasters being the beginning of birth pangs before Christ's return (Matthew 24:7-8), but this is not said to be God judging the people in the places these things are happening (actually, fires aren't even mentioned).  Two years ago here in Little Rock, AR, we had a tornado come through town, a quarter mile from our house.  Nobody said, "Maybe God is judging Little Rock."  It was accepted as a disaster.  A tragic disaster.  Think of all the cities every year affected by natural disasters--floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires--the list can go on.  Is God judging each of those cities?  If so, it would follow that people in Southern Europe are the most pleasing to Him, as they have the lowest amount of natural disasters on earth.  Of course, no one is speculating if God loves Southern Europeans the most, because we really know that isn't how it works.  Another point to add is that, as of this writing, it has not been determined how these fires in L.A. started.  There could be arson involved, and if so, that is human sin, not God's wrath.  There are too many variables for us to consider that God is especially angry with people in Los Angeles.

4)  There is sin everywhere, so why would God only judge one city?  Little Rock, where I live now, has the highest crime rate of any US state capital city (and yes, I know Los Angeles is not a capital city, but it still has a lower crime rate than Little Rock, per Neighborhood Scout).  Jesus Himself said in Luke 18:2-5, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?  I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.  Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?  I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”  Rather than a judgment, it is a warning that life is short, and without Christ, everyone is doomed.       

    As I said, I can't claim to speak for God.  He certainly hasn't confided in me about why He has allowed these fires to ravage my hometown area.  But those are some reasons I don't see it as the wrath of God.  However, I do think God can allow and use things for His glory.  It is my prayer that revival will result from this, and that the Christians in L.A. will be emboldened to share Christ with their neighbors during this crucial time.  Maybe the good citizens of this city will start to question their leadership, and reconsider the way they vote.  Maybe some good changes can be made.  God is in control.  

     People are very quick to judge Los Angeles, and California in general.  As a Conservative Christian who lived in California the first 34 years of my life, I am sick to death of it.  People need to wake up and realize that crossing a state line or national border does not change human nature.  Prejudice is evil, whether it is about someone's skin color, or what state or city someone is from.  Get to know people before passing judgment on them, or thinking that God is passing judgment on them.  It is easier to judge nameless, faceless masses, but there are innocent people in Los Angeles who are in danger right now.  People like you, who have children like yours.  They have hopes and dreams.  Pray for them, instead of insisting God is mad at them (and feeling superior yourself).  You're not superior, and neither am I.  We all need Jesus--not just people from L.A. but EVERYONE.  Even me.  Even you. 

Important

      What is your biggest regret?  Maybe not taking a job opportunity you were once offered?  Letting a friendship fizzle out?  Sometimes I regret having that dessert when I wasn't hungry after dinner.  Other times, regrets are bigger and more serious than that--such as saying something hurtful to someone I love, or not saying something I know I should.  

     19th century American evangelist Dwight Moody had a big regret, one he said he'd give his right arm to undo.  He called it the "greatest mistake" he ever made.  It occurred on October 8, 1871.  He was preaching the Gospel in Chicago, and at the close of his message, he asked the audience, "What will YOU do with Jesus?"  He gave them a week to decide, and urged them to come back the next week, where he would again ask that question, and urge them to make a profession of faith.  He never had his chance.  That night, the Great Chicago Fire ravaged the city, killing approximately 300 people, and destroying millions of dollars worth of property.  Moody deeply regretted letting people leave without giving them that opportunity to receive Christ as Savior then and there.  

Dwight L. Moody

     Sometimes, people ask me why evangelism and the Gospel are so important to me.  Dwight Moody's story says it all.  Second Corinthians 6:2 says, ...Today is the day of salvation.  

     One of my big concerns with a lot of church ministry is that the Gospel is rarely presented, and an actual invitation is given even less often.  In most Vacation Bible Schools, for example, the Gospel and an invitation to receive Christ are given one day of the week, maybe Thursday or Friday, and it's this big deal.  My concern is, what about children who only come on Monday and don't come back?  There's a total lost opportunity, just like Moody and the Chicago Fire.  Tomorrow isn't a guarantee.  We need to be preaching the Gospel at EVERY opportunity.  The Apostle Paul felt so urgent that he said, ...For necessity is laid upon me.  Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! (First Corinthians 9:16).  In his final letter to his protege Timothy, he wrote, preach the word.  Be ready in season and out of season...do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.  (Second Timothy 4:2,5).  

     It is true that the Holy Spirit can work in hearts, even if we fail.  Maybe some who heard Moody's sermon that night in 1871 really did believe in the message of Christ, and receive Him as Savior, without Moody giving that invitation.  We can rest in God's Sovereignty, but we must never use it as an excuse to avoid obedience to the Great Commission.  Jesus commanded us to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth (Mark 16:15).  He didn't say, "But if you don't want to do it, don't worry, I'll override your timidity and save them anyway."  He commanded us.  A command from Jesus isn't something we can question, or theologically try to get out of.  It's right there in the Bible.  No excuses.  God is the one who saves, but we are called to share His message with a dying world that needs Him so desperately.  

     I have been in trouble for sharing the Gospel many times in my life, always (ALWAYS) from Christian people who should have been in agreement with me.  Somehow, the Gospel didn't fit with their program.  Oops, I led someone to Christ and it wasn't even Thursday.  I messed up VBS!  Bad me.  I'm being facetious, if you can't tell.  The problem is that we get into our routines and programs, and don't put ourselves on God's plan, and worse, we don't obey Christ's commands.  We must not stop preaching the Gospel!  The Gospel is important!  Important!  More important than convenience.  More important than the church's programs or plans.  More important than "how we've always done it" before.  More important than getting along with everyone.  If the Gospel isn't part of the program, the program is wrong and needs to be changed.  

     Don't let Dwight Moody's regret become yours!