Just Response to Japan

Visiting my grandfather in Illinois the other day, I had to bite my tongue so many times I’m surprised it didn’t bleed. Among other things, he expressed a sentiment I suppose is shared by many from his generation that fought in WWII. He declared that he believed the earthquake and tsunami were caused by God to punish Japanese for the sins of the fathers. I was shocked by the anger and hopefulness, even vindictive satisfaction, as he said this. His bitterness against the Japanese is so deeply entrenched in him that he can’t see them for who they are today. My dad who is in China right now reports that many Chinese share his sentiments and more for the abuses and atrocities they experienced daily in the past. I can understand residual bitterness for Japan’s past atrocities. I am also sad for those who feel this way that they can’t let the past go. I know it’s easier for me, who is far away in time and space from WWII, to say, “Get over it already!” However...I can't agree with the theology or the sentiment that Japan deserved what they got.
I know it's human to see others' catastrophes as God's Justice and Punishment for their sins. However, if we really believe that, we must also be willing to see our own catastrophes and minor set-backs as God's Justice and Punishment for our own sins.
Personally, I don't believe God operates that way, as a punishing, vindictive God who wipes out life indiscriminately with a natural disaster. Certainly there is a portrayal of God like that in the Bible, but there is plenty of scriptural and experiential evidence against that view of God. Good things happen to bad people. Bad things happen to good people. There are plenty of people who seemingly never have to make reparations to those they hurt or get appropriately smote by God (as far as we know). Others who are innocent face tragedies they don't deserve, sometimes caused by others' sins of omission and commission, directly or indirectly. Then there's everyone else in between.
We need to be willing to see tragedies from tsunamis and earthquakes to cancer and car-wrecks as a part of life. They are often random and unpredictable, and yet often directly correlate to human behaviors past and present.
Let's rethink God's justice for Japan. Can we see this tragedy as an opportunity to grow together as a human family and put our differences, prejudices, and past wars behind us.
Here's an opportunity to help Japan the United Methodist way...no strings attached, 100%.
UMCOR Assesses Response to Pacific Emergency, http://gbgm-umc.org/
The quake, just off of Honshu, Japan’s most populous island, is the strongest earthquake to hit Japan in the 140 years that records have been kept. It takes the place of last year’s earthquake in Chile as the fifth strongest ever anywhere in the world.
“UMCOR is closely monitoring the unfolding situation in the Pacific,” said Melissa Crutchfield, UMCOR executive for International Disaster Response.
“We’re in contact with our partners in the region, mindful of the still developing emergency in Japan as well as of the risk to other countries, such as Indonesia and the Philippines, and to Hawaii, which are expected to be impacted by the tsunami,” she said.
UMCOR head, the Rev. Cynthia Fierro Harvey, urged prayers for those affected by the disaster. She said that as needs become clarified, UMCOR will respond.
“Once again, in the wake of disaster and in the face of widespread need, we rely on the ever expansive generosity of United Methodists and all people of goodwill to help us respond to those whose lives have suddenly been turned upside down,” she said.
Your support for Pacific Emergency, UMCOR Advance #3021317, is urgently needed. Please give now.
• One hundred percent of every Advance gift will go to the designated cause.
• The Pacific Emergency Advance number for Japan’s cause is 3021317.
• UMCOR is serving as the denomination’s intermediary for financial contributions.
• Donations can be made at any United Methodist Church.
• To donate to the Pacific Emergency, UMCOR Advance number 3021317 make a check payable to UMCOR and mail to: UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087 (write the Advance number and project name on the memo line of the check) or call toll-free (800) 554-8583 to make a donation by credit card.