I've done a complete 180 on this. I believe this was judgement... in Biblical proportions.

Something you are not likely to hear addressed on media, Christian or otherwise, is the cancellation of one of the South's biggest homosexual orgies that was to have taken place in the streets of New Orleans this weekend. The Southern Decadence Celebration 2005 is now officially off and the 10,000 partying homosexuals, who frequently commit their depravity openly at the Southern Decadence events, aren't going to have a venue to do so in New Orleans. As the international media reports on America's need for aid, I can't help reflect on how quickly the arrogance of man can be turned to desperate need in the midst of destruction.

God's hand of judgment has been stayed so many times in this country. His grace truly has been shed on us, as the hymn says. But how much longer can the Lord hold back his anger in this land when we have the blood of 40 million children reddening our soil from abortion? The river of blood is second only to the river of filth coming from the nation's pornographers who are filling American homes with material from the pit of hell. We have our modern day Sodom where tens of thousands of homosexuals march through the streets of our cities, demanding acceptance and breathing out threatenings to those politicians who try to stop them. Now, in the midst of this culture of sin, even Christ's own church is in such open rebellion and disobedience that we have churches featuring I Love Lucy videos in the name of evangelism. God is merciful, but his cup of wrath must surely be filling as he looks at America.

As we pray for the victims who have lost everything in this horror, and so many innocent famlies have nothing today, we should also pray for the spiritual state of this nation. The awful scenes of desolation in New Orleans today are a far cry from the frivolity, debauchery and filthiness that were to have taken place this weekend. This is a time to mourn, not just for those who have lost their lives and everything they have, but also for the spiritual bankruptcy and the growing tide of evil that is sweeping America. These are sobering days in so many ways, because so often the innocent seem to suffer with the wicked.

I'm braced for the hits I'm gonna take for this... but this is what is on my heart. My heart breaks for those left in the wake of this hurricane, dont misunderstand me.

Krispy

Hi Krispy...!

Is it not possible that God could have stopped this homosexual gathering [u]without[/u] pouring out a blanket portion of "his wrath" that resulted in the death of many innocent people (including children and the elderly)? And if this is the result of God's [i]wrath[/i], then why did he not first pour it out on much larger events of unrighteousnesss? Many cities promote "legalized sin," like [i]homosexual week[/i] at Walt Disney World, three major gay events in New York City, legalized prostitution and drugs in Amsterdam, homosexual "marriages" in San Francisco and Boston (and all over Canada), etc... The list could go on. It could also include nations that persecute Christians, like North Korea, China and nearly the entire Middle East.

In other words, to consider this tragedy a "judgment" of God might be hastily placing the [i]blame[/i] on the wrong person. I have noticed that some people on this message board have been very quick to label this disaster as the work and will of God. While God has permitted this to have taken place (as with all things on Earth), it is rather premature to say this was an [i]act[/i] of God. Just as prosperity is [u]not[/u] a sign of a person's righteousness, such hardships are not necessarily a sign of a person's (or an area's) lack of righteousness. Remember, there are some members of SermonIndex who live in the effected area too.

:-)

By the way, please continue to pray for the entire tri-state area, as they recover from this tragedy. I had a strong impression to pray for the President today. Please pray for the President as he travels to this dangerous area. This area is dangerous because of some acts of lawlessness, and the people (including the President) need protection.

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Christopher

"Why now" after reading chris's reply. Well, Sodom and Gohmora (spelling error) wasn't hit until 'sin just came over the top' in preschool terms.

God picks and chooses when He does things, or when satan takes credit. But I think the whole picture here isn't USA but the World, 9/11, tsunami, Katrina. They are quickening as i posted in another thread. Judgement or not, we HAVE to realize the times were are in, weither we are 'in them' or not. I don't wanna chance being wrong. (Like, i dont wanna chance not doing anything and having God come back with me have nothing to say to Him)

Hi YeshuaIsMyGd...!

I agree. All of these [i]could[/i] be "signs of the times." But Jesus never said that these ecological disasters and "signs" would be the result of [u]his[/u] actions, anymore than a "nation rising up against nation" was a result of his doing.

And like you said, I don't want to chance being wrong in this. I would rather not verbally place the blame for this on God, especially since it is quite plausible that God did [u]not[/u] directly orchestrate this event.

What should we do? We should help those in need. And we should continue to stand up for righteousness -- especially to those that have been affected by this tragedy! We should teach, preach and urge people into the Kingdom of God. But we might want to refrain from telling people that this is the [i]wrath[/i] of God -- especially since many innocent people and families (including children, the elderly and even many of God's own people) were affected by this..

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Christopher

Do you not think that there were sincere believers in Christ who were effected when the prophecy about Jerusalem being destroyed came to reality in AD 70? And that was far worse than the hurricane.

Krispy

Hey guys, I'm not new to the site, but this is my first post. I appreciate your views and the opportunity to chime in.

I am from one of the affected states, Mississippi. Not only that, but I have many family members and friends in the southern portion of the state, which is almost nonexistent now. I have yet to hear from one friend. My cousin's home in New Orleans is under 12 feet of water, but she did escape the city.

There is no doubt this storm is a God thing. Lamentations 3:37-38 say all things, blessings and calamities, come from God. "37 Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, Unless the Lord has commanded it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both good and ill go forth?"

But this is not only an act on the gulf coast and New Orleans, it affects the entire nation. Our economy is taking and will take a huge hit as a result of Katrina. America's sins are heaped up to heaven, and the church eager to join in. We must repent, as the Luke 13 passage warns. Thank you for including it.

"39 Why should any living mortal, or any man,
Offer complaint in view of his sins?
40 Let us examine and probe our ways,
And let us return to the LORD.
41 We lift up our heart and hands
Toward God in heaven;
42 We have transgressed and rebelled,
You have not pardoned.
43 You have covered Yourself with anger
And pursued us;
You have slain and have not spared.
44 You have covered Yourself with a cloud
So that no prayer can pass through.
45 You have made us mere offscouring and refuse
In the midst of the peoples.
46 All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.
47 Panic and pitfall have befallen us,
Devastation and destruction;
48 My eyes run down with streams of water
Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.
49 My eyes pour down unceasingly,
Without stopping,
50 Until the LORD looks down
And sees from heaven."
Lamentations 3:39-50 (NASB)

Hi Krispy...!

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Christopher

I think that prophesy has been fulfilled. If I remember correctly, the Wailing Wall was part of an older temple that had been destroyed previously, and not actually part of the temple that came down in 70AD. The Romans actually removed every stone of that temple because the gold inside melted in between the stones... and they Romans wanted the gold.

But if someone confirms otherwise, then I am open to being corrected on that point.

Krispy

Hi Krispy...!

This wall was part of the Second Temple that stood in the days of Christ. Solomon's Temple was plundered and destroyed in 586 B.C. by the Babylonians at the time of the exile. It was rebuilt in 515 B.C. (as recorded by the books of Ezra and Nehemiah). This is the Temple that was referred to by Jesus in Matthew 24:1-3.

When the Roman general Titus led an army into Jerusalem, he destroyed most of the Temple, but left part of this particular wall up. Since there is still an [u]entire[/u] original wall remaining in place from that Temple, it is safe to assume that the prophecy mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 24:1-3 has as of yet gone unfulfilled.

Here is a result of a quick Google search for some more info. I hope it helps.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Wall

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Temple

http://www.templemount.org/secondtmp.html

http://www.bibleplaces.com/westernwall.htm

:-)

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Christopher

Perhaps, but I think you're contradicting what most theologians believed. Not saying theologians are alway correct... but what you're saying is very foreign to what has been believed for centuries.

Krispy