October 11, 2005
When hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the United States, some Muslim commentators said it was the judgment of Allah against America.
Now that an earthquake has devastated Muslim Pakistan, was that the judgment of Allah, too?
There is a tendency by some Muslims and Christians to see God's judgment in natural disasters.
The truth is that we live in a fallen world because of sin and these things happen.
If God were judging individual cities, why would he stop with New Orleans?
Why not San Francisco, America's homosexual capital; or Los Angeles, where pornographic movies are made; or secular New York; or prideful Washington?
Why not your city or town?
Are there no sinners there?
We are in a period of grace.
Destruction will come, but only after the Holy Spirit is removed.
And even that destruction will be limited by the return of Christ.
That is what the Bible teaches and what Christians without a political agenda or timetable believe.
Pat Robertson said on TV over the weekend that the natural disasters could indicate the return of Christ is near.
But Jesus said he would come when we least expect him. Pay attention to Jesus, not man.
In San Antonio, I'm Cal Thomas.
Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.
