The RH Bill and the Flood



The Habagat was still raging and the flood was still rising at that time. But some people have already declared that it was divine wrath poured out against the Reproductive Health Bill. For example, Advocates of Life twitted, “I wouldn't be surprised if the flooding in Manila is an expression of God's wrath over the RH Bill.” (The House of Representatives voted to end all the debates on the bill last Monday, August6, 2012, when the rains fell. Talk about timing!) 

I find such pronouncements so insensitive at the very least. No matter what’s our stance on the RH Bill, I just hope we would all agree that both pro-RH and anti-RH people suffered in the calamity. I don’t even think that that issue crossed their minds as they scampered to the roof to save themselves. The blame game can come later. But I think we would be more on target when we pin it on other issues such as poor urban planning and improper waste disposal. It was, as experts say, more of “a man-made disaster” than the hand of God.

When I read those accusing tweets and FB posts, I recalled Luke 13 when people asked the Lord Jesus “about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.” (v. 1b, ESV) Possibly, they asked Him why God allowed such injustice. He wisely replied, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Vv. 2b-3) Some tend to think that there are those who suffer because they were “worse sinners” than them. The Lord answered with a resounding “No.” Then He added, “Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Vv. 4-5) Again, He said, “No.” When cancer inflicts a dear loved one, for example, we tend to cry out, “Why her? There are so many evil people out there. Why not them?” It is because we assume that they are “worse offenders.” Sure, we admit we are all sinners. But we add in the next breath that we are not that bad compared to others. Our Lord teaches “that calamity can happen to anyone because all are human… Jesus’ point was that being killed or not being killed is no measure of a person’s unrighteousness or righteousness. Anyone can be killed. Only God’s grace causes any to live… Death is the common denominator for everyone.” (The Bible Knowledge Commentary) Instead of being self-righteous, all of us need to repent and put ourselves in the hands of the merciful God. For all of us need His grace. We should not be haughty. We should humble ourselves before Him and pray for our country.

Instead of blaming, we should be helping. 

Popular posts from this blog

God Knows Judas Not Pay

In the National Geographic Magazine (May 2006 issue), in its cover story, The Judas Gospel , Professor Eliane Pagels of Princeton University claimed that the so-called gospel of Judas “ changes the history of early Christianity. ” Even UP Professor Randy David took notice of the Judas Gospel: “Strictly from a sociological standpoint, I think the discovery of the Gospel of Judas makes Christianity a far more interesting religion than what centuries of metaphysical theology has made of it.” (A Gospel for the Postmodern, Phil. Daily Inquirer, April 16, 2006) That’s why I spoke in our Young Pro Fellowship a few days ago on God Knows Judas Not Pay (A Biblical Response on the Judas Gospel). I believe opportunities like this hype on the Judas Gospel or the Da Vinci Code opens a door for us to share the true Gospel. For those who did not attend last Thursday, let me share briefly why we reject the Judas gospel. I came up with the acronym J-U-D-A-S. J udas was portrayed as a traitor in the Bibl
Read more

“Ubus-ubos Biyaya, Bukas Nakatunganga”

Image
That’s what my mother always told us when we were still kids. (Translation: “You spend everything today, you will have nothing tomorrow.” ) Image source: So, What's New ? Dionie did just that. Last April 2008, he won PHP14,125,032 in the Lotto 6/42 draw. Excitedly, he “lived the life of a millionaire, something he had been longing to experience. He lived in a P4-million house in a posh subdivision, drove around in a sports utility vehicle [which he bought the very same day he claimed his prize] , and gave goodwill money, ranging P1,000 to P 850,000, to relatives and friends. He also gambled daily, womanized, and went on regular drinking sprees.” (Source: Manila Bulletin ) He estimated that he squandered a minimum of P100,000 almost every day. He also lent money even to people he did not really know. “I just gave them and told them not to pay me back.” (Ibid) His bank had to issue him a special card so he can withdraw huge amounts of money quickly from the automated teller m
Read more

“Don’t drink the Kool-Aid!”

Image
Forty years ago, this expression became known as a description of blind obedience.   Source: Los Angeles Times On November 18, 1978, members of Peoples Temple, a cult group in Guyana, drank Kool-Aid drink laced with cyanide to commit a mass suicide “at the behest of their charismatic but paranoid leader, Jim Jones”. [1] According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica , “The death toll exceeded 900, including some 300 age 17 and under, making the incident one of the largest mass deaths in American history. ”  [2]  What made those people submit to such atrocity? According to Stella Morabito, a senior contributor to The Federalist online magazine, Peoples Temple is “Exhibit A… [of]  the dangers of the cult mindset or how vulnerable all people are to cult tactics.”  [3] She pointed out that, Coercive persuasion has immense power to shape and twist the human mind.  …[Jones’] utopian preaching of a humane world in which all lived happily in harmony resonated with the
Read more