This untold devastation of urban centers here, in central Philippines is unthinkably heartbreaking. Thousands have died. Untold billions-worth of resources were unimaginably wiped out by a raging super typhoon that ever hit the country. Countless families are now homeless. This heartbreaking tragedy has placed our nation at the center of world attention and is followed by this heartwarming worldwide effort of humanitarian assistance.
But then, many hard line religious bigots have kept babbling about God’s dreadful judgment over these dismantled metropolises and provincial settlements. These self proclaimed prophets have sounded like ancient Jonah that had pronounced damnation against the heathen city of Nineveh.
Enough of all these heartless and indifferent bigotry that made the Church looks endlessly unconcerned and disturbingly nonchalant over the sad misfortunes of many.
The true followers of Christ must stand to show pure and unconditional love towards all sorts of men. This endless babbling of doomsayers must be tamed by pure and godly compassion. And the truth is: God never gave up on us. Amidst of all these unimaginable sufferings, God’s comfort is truly overwhelming. Believers are called to be living conduits of God’s unfading compassion and mercy towards all men, whether pagans, atheists, or those continually labeled by the institutional religion as heretics. It is just us, who made artifical boundaries. It is us, imperfect mortals that put continually put labels on those who never conformed to our rigid dogmas. God has nothing to do with all our man-made doctrines.
“For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son. That whosoever believes in Jesus, His Son, shall never perish but will live for eternity.” (John 3:16)
Followers of Christ are never called to become prophets of doom, the way Jonathan Edwards used terrifying words to ignite those impermanent revival in America three centuries ago. And after those frenzy revivals had settled down, Protestant America became completely divided and irreconcilable from then on.
Believers are called to manifest Christ’s unconditional love and must refrain from acting like untouchables and indifferent High Priests during the Jesus’ days.