A Christian Response to the California Wildfires

For the past few days, wildfires have devastated the Los Angeles area. Since January 7th, the fires have claimed at least 27 lives, forced over 200,000 to evacuate, and destroyed or damaged more than 12,000 structures. Some were houses owned by Hollywood celebrities. 

One Facebook friend wrote a post claiming the fires are divine judgment. I don’t believe it’s an "act of God." For one thing, the Pasadena Jewish Temple plus some churches have burned down. Approximately 20% of Californians are evangelical Christians. Actor Mel Gibson (who directed “The Passion of the Christ”) lost his home. It’s unlike Sodom in Genesis 19, which was destroyed after only four righteous people fled the city.


I’ve also heard reports of homes supernaturally spared from the wildfires. Unfortunately, questionable posts have circulated about one of them. Take a look at the photos of the preserved houses above. Notice how they differ. One shows a house with two chimneys plus a charred house to the right. Two others don’t. Believers should take a few seconds to investigate before passing on memes that might not be true. False testimonies don’t bring glory to God. They undermine the witness of those sharing them.


Now there is coming a time when God will again bring flames upon the earth as a form of judgment Revelation 16:8-9 says, “Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.” This won’t be global warming due to carbon emissions or cows farting.


I do believe God allows natural disasters to happen. There are consequences when men continually reject the Lord and make decisions against His word, such as governments enacting policies against Israel. But instead of judging non-believing celebrities who lost their homes, let’s pray that they find the way to salvation. Jesus died for them, too. 


“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” - Matthew 5:44-45


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