Firstly the Bible in Psalm 24:1 and I Corinthians 10:26 says, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.”
As far as the earth is concerned, it belongs to God and that’s because He created it.
Then Psalm 115:16 says, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; but the earth He has given to the children of men.”
In the beginning in Genesis 1:26, God says, “Let Us make man in our image, according to Our likeness: Let them have dominion (rule) over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
From this verse we can tell that God decided to give the management of the earth to man. We are to manage it for God. The authority to manage the earth was complete such that if man mismanages the earth he could lose it just like a CEO of a company managing a business on behalf of shareholders could lose the company through mismanagement.
When man sinned against God, he lost the power to rule the earth and the devil took over the earth as shown in Luke 4:5-6. The devil showed the kingdoms of the world to Jesus and said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomsoever I wish.” Jesus did not object to what the devil said to Him because He knew that Adam had delivered the earth to the devil at the fall.
After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, God never cursed man but the earth – Genesis 3:17. From that time the earth became sick and waits for its redemption – Romans 8:19-21. Even though God is the creator of the earth He has given the authority to rule it over to man. Our mismanagement of the earth can not be blamed on God. Our lives are tied to the earth.
In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God says, “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
God works in the earth in response to our prayers. He has limited himself as far as the earth is concerned unless we invite Him through prayer. We pray not because God does not know our needs but because He respects our choices and will want to get involved when we ask Him. James 4:2 says,”…yet you do not have because you ask not.”
In view of all that has been said, suffering will always be with us in the world and most of it will be self inflicted because we are not managing the earth wisely and others just because of nature. There’s a reason why God gave the children of Israel laws governing the use of land (Leviticus 25:3-4).
In regard to the Haiti earthquake, scientists had warned the Haitian officials two years ago that their country was ripe for an earthquake (ABC News), but of course the time was too short to do much about it.
I say this to point out the fact that with technology we have the ability to detect some natural occurrences and can prepare for them. God says, “My people perish from a lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6)
Geologists and seismologists agree earthquakes can be induced in five major ways: fluid injection into the Earth, fluid extraction from the Earth, mining or quarrying, nuclear testing and through the construction of dams and reservoirs (New Dawn Magazine).
With some of these perceived natural occurrences, could it be that we as humans are not managing the earth properly and when they occur we put the blame on God? Have we forgotten about Cause and Effect?
The last thing is that there are so many things that we won’t find answers to. For instance we might not know why good people, even Christians suffer.
Bishop Jeston & Rev. Charity Katebe
Senior Pastors
www.royalglobalchurch.org
Good message and Amen.
Excellent article! I could not have put it better myself.
This is a brilliant explanation.I was questioning WHY especially after my Haitian sister -in laws cousin lost an entire family in the earthquake.
Rubbish! Try reading other BOOKS 😮
\zambians ubupa! Just shut up! Haiti sits at the junction of two tectonic plates like other major earthquate prone regions dubbed the Pacific ring of fire i.e california, Indonesia, Pacifi Islands and South East Asia. Imwe ama fake Zambian pastors can you explain how Haiti has mismanaged its earth to suffer this tragedy? Do you know that the last major Haiti earthquake of similar proportions happened in 1860? Was it due to the mismanagement of the earth? Northern Europe, UK, Zambia, Eastern United States have never had earthquakes is it due to better management of their earth? Or is it that they sit on a non-earthquake geological formation? The other st…pi…d christian theorist Pat Robertson had to apologise for claiming that Haiti has suffered because it entered a pact with the…
Evolution kwena wasenkeshya mwe=))
Pat Robertson apologised for claiming that the earthquate is due to the fact that Haiti entered a pact with the D..e….v…i…l ( I did not know that this word was immoral) in the 19th century.Please ba LT let people discuss everything under the sun . This censoreship is just comical. What is the justification for blanking out words like s..e..x education? It is backwardness it does not in anyway enhance your moral uprightness. Instead you appear to be very arkward and closed minded individuals!
Pat Robertson apologised for claiming that the earthquate is due to the fact that Haiti entered a pact with the D..e….v…i…l ( I did not know that this word was immoral) in the 19th century.Please ba LT let people discuss everything under the sun . This censoreship is just comical. What is the justification for blanking out words like s..e..x education? It is backwardness it does not in anyway enhance your moral uprightness. Instead you appear to be very arkward and closed minded individuals!
# Mbulawa, hold your fire!! The two ‘fake Pastors’, as you are calling them, have not said Haiti has mismanaged its earth as a matter of fact. Instead, they have posed a general question, “Could it be that we as humans are not managing our earth properly?” What these two have said in this article does not, in anyway accuse the Haitians of any ‘mismanagement’ whatsoever[-x. As for Pat Robertson, i can only say that he is a fool!!
1. Botswana has donated p1 million to the republic of haiti, as humanitarian aid following the devastating earthquake that took place in haiti ,Rwanda – us$100,000, according to rwanda’s new times newspaper.South africa – the government has announced a three-phase assistance package: deployment of doctors to a search and rescue team led by rescue south africa, a non-profit company; deployment of forensic pathologists to help identify bodies; provision of unspecified humanitarian aid in partnership with south african ngos .Senegal – president abdoulaye wade has pledged free land to haitians wishing to be “repatriated”, news agencies reported. Spokesman mamadou bemba ndiaye was quoted as saying: “senegal is ready to offer them parcels of land – even an entire region. It all…
It all depends on how many haitians come.” .Liberia – independent star radio reported the government had contributed $50,000. Nigeria – the 121-strong police contingent serving with the un mission in haiti is working with rescue teams in the capital, port-au-prince, according to this day newspaper. The country’s vice-president goodluck jonathan said in a statement: “as the international community mobilizes in aid of haiti, it can count on nigeria’s support.”
I wonder why people tend to insult instead of just giving their opinions. Mbulawa you should first think before calling people ubupuba. This is just their opinion, I think we are all entilted to our own opinions.:”>
God’s word and promises are true even when physical circumstances show the opposite , God is still faithful, his word is still true and his love is unchanging. The best option is to praise him when circumstances seem contrary to his word and promises and he will surely come through and show himself strong. He will definately restore the years that the locusts and cankerworm have eaten.
The best that Christians can do is to educate/ teach people that when bad things happen it is not God who causes the bad things because when earthly children ask for bread there are not given stones neither are they given snakes when they ask for fish, how much more will God give good gifts/things to those that ask him. It’s high time christians stopped using the name of the Lord in vain by accusing him of causing bad things.It’s better someone says i don’t know why this bad thing has happened but one thing i know is that God is good and he is not the cause of this bad thing.
Hallo Guys….
intereting opinions indeed but let us use this platform to educate one another rather than rediculing each other….what is happening all over the world is clear testmony of what the Bible tells us. it was foretold just like the coming of THE GREAT JESUS CHRIST and his death so it was fulfilled therefore, all what was foretold after the resurrection of our Jehovah’s Mighty Son will be fufilled. there is nothing wrong that the people of Haii have done, it is the works of the DEVIL…. it happpened to Job remember but because JOB clinged on TO GOD he was rewarded……
Science and Bible never agree with each other. This article is well written.
Its sad that so many pipo are putting the blame on Haitian Govt. One article in one of the papers in U.A.E written by an American writer explained that Haiti is cursed and that they have been suffering for a long time and it will continue. It is so annoying to read such things when innocent pipo have died. I’m sure when those scientists warned Haiti govt that there will be an earthquake, they must have informed UN to assist them prepare but then no one seemed to care and waited for the damage to occur so that they can all issue statements and show the world that they are assisting poor Haitians who were imported from Africa as slaves.:)>-:)>-:)>-:)>-
God is all-knowing. He described teh future of the earth and mankind already to us – earthquakes, wars and romous of war, people lovers of themselves etc. So why would anyone blame God for these things. When you see these things happen, know that time is near for the Lord to come back. It’s like the way you see a rain cloud and know it is about to rain.
Scientist knew an earthquake will struck Haiti but they could not tell when this will be so. Right now they know a poweful earthquake will strike Califonia or so in teh USA, may be in 20 years time. They are not sure but it will surely happen.
Dont blame Haiti. Not long ago Iran was hit by an earthquake. This has nothing to so with managing the earth.
More earthquakes will come.
Just a comment on:
“For instance we might not know why good people, even Christians suffer.”
This question sounds sensible to the natural mind or a carnal Christian who does not know his God. But it is not spiritual.
A mature Christian knows that God is inside him, by the Holy Spirit. When you walk in step with the Holy Spirit as Ephesians instructs us, you will live a life that is higher than the base life lived by mere men. Be filled with the Holy Ghost and be led by him. Walk in his light and you will always be in control and on top of every situation, as God is.
Think about it, would Jesus make such a statement? Absolutely No! He was the solution to all suffering. So is every child of God. Christians just need to grow up and live like sons of God, and do greater works.
I always get irritated by the misleading approach towards understanding the Bible. The arrangement of books in the Bible is not accidental. Books are grouped according to their genre: history, prophecy, stories, poetry, Law, gospels, letters, etc. Therefore it is misleading to ‘cut and paste’ passages all over the bible. Read each passage in the context of that book and in the context of the genre. All the books of the bible seek to present a Theological message in order to help human beings understand themselves, God and creation. If the Author of the article had considered these points, he would have given us a more sound theological reflection on the earthquake in Haiti, than trying to ‘accuse’ human beings of having not taken care of the earth well. Do more Biblical exegetical…
#19 What is it that has really upset you Am lost.
Me I wont say ubupuba I will just say Dont misinform the public ba LT. God cant curse his own creation. All this is just coming from our own fertile imaginations
Napapa Sana, well said.
Ba Moze, It is the author’s references (on his reflection on Haiti) to Human beings’ mismanagement of the earth, people to seek God’s face and turn from evil, cause and effect of natural disasters. But also the haphazard mechanical joining together of ‘unrelated’ Bible passages.
NAPAPA SANA, Maybe its just me, but i feel i have understood the part about ‘mismanagement’ in a different context. Does the author really blame the people of Haiti? make me understand (if you can) on just that point, please.:-?
Come on Pastor katabe..Do not expose your ignorance on issues that are sometimes too way deep for the human mind to grasp and give a logical explanation,IF IT WAS YOUR CHILDREN AND WIFE BURRIED UNDER THE RUBLE would you still be writing these unverified ideologies of yours???It´s untimely and very insensetive to say the least about your thoughts.The people of haiti need all the suport and prayers any sane and God fearing person can offer.
Ba Moze, This is part of what makes me uncomfortable with the use of the term ‘mismanagement’ especially when giving a general reflection on Haiti, he says: “Geologists and seismologists agree earthquakes can be induced in five major ways: fluid injection into the Earth, fluid extraction from the Earth, mining or quarrying, nuclear testing and through the construction of dams and reservoirs (New Dawn Magazine).
With some of these perceived natural occurrences, could it be that we as humans are not managing the earth properly and when they occur we put the blame on God? Have we forgotten about Cause and Effect?”
You yourself Pastor,left your church in Lusaka,the church your pionered before you broke away from victory ministries under nevers Mumba(a man of gold) and now you are in the states,why did you leave Zambia??answer,because of the scourge of grinding poverty.Am really feedup of Pastors parrading in the name of God on issues that they have no clue about,so my advice to you sir is keep quiet and just pray for the desparate people of haiti.What did a baby do to deserve being burried under the quake?
This pastor! Good knowledge of the bible but less understanding. Do you even have the audesity to relate some verse to the tragedy in Haiti? The problem with christianity is that people want to interpret the bible using any example that they could find. It is dead wrong. No one religious man would dare say we can manage the earth because every religious person knows for sure that we humans are not creators. We have no power whatsoever, to prevent natural disasters from happening even if we can predict them(technologically or prophesies like TBJ) we are still shot of the knowlede of God. As such we cannot even make an account of a naturaral disaster or relate it to the bible. The best we can do is be there for those who are afflicted.
23 NAPAPA SANA! U must be a priest not a pastor:d
nino123, i am a pastor of souls, but ‘Pastor’ is not my title.
you are a brave man….thanks for accepting and believing what others are affraid of…. some of us just deny reality….you studied the Bible and gave excellent thoughts about it…keep up the good work…i agree with what you said! God bless you! :):)
you are a brave man….thanks for accepting and believing what others are affraid of…. some of us just deny reality….you studied the Bible and gave excellent thoughts about it…keep up the good work…i agree with what you said! God bless you! :):)
Well I still don’t understand why you would start talking about this at a time like this! You are not different from Pat Roberston (Who I think is evil) who said the Haitins are cursed for their beliefs. There are children and women dying as we speak and there is a lot of blame to go around. Haiti is closed to America yet it is one of the poorest countries in the world. This has nothing to do with the intellect of the officilas but the politics of the region. They were warns about the Earth Quake but where do you think they could have gone? The Dominican Republic which is on the same Island does not accept the Haitians for their skin colour. You might be a Bishop and all that but you have no moral authority to give lectures to the people that gave black people an idea of back!
Acording to the Pastor,what he implies is that, the people of haiti are in this situation beacause of luck of knowledge??????? very absurd.
holycaust? ba pastor if you want to convince people try using science. you need external evidence to prove arguments.
naturally like your web site however you have to test the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I to find it very bothersome to tell the truth on the other hand I’ll surely come again again.