Amid graphic images of New Orleans submerged in lakes of
sewage-filled water and horrifying reports of rising death tolls,
separated families and traumatized children, many Christians are
feeling the pain of those devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
Intercessors are banding together to pray for the healing and
restoration of the victims and Americans from all walks of life are
rallying to provide much-needed disaster relief. But there are
lingering questions to which the Church of Jesus Christ must
respond.
First and foremost, where were all the prophets? Sure, I’ve heard
prophet after prophetess take credit for predicting the storm and
even claim that the worst natural disaster in American history was
Jehovah’s judgment on New Orleans, a manifestation of God’s wrath
against wickedness, and a spiritual cleansing.
Quite frankly, I am embarrassed by such prophecies. One “prophet”
went so far as to say that Hurricane Katrina’s far-reaching
destruction was certainly “the will of God and an answer to prayer.”
What prophetic spirit is this? I was not surprised that Muslim
terrorists are boasting that God has joined their holy jihad against
imperialist America, but how can God’s prophets claim He caused this
tragedy?
Have we forgotten the mandate of the prophet to intercede? To stand
in the gap? To make up the hedge? If prophets did receive a godly
warning about a devastating hurricane as long as seven years ago,
how come those prophets did not warn the churches in the territory
before the storm swallowed up such cities as New Orleans and
scattered the faithful servants of our Lord?
Hurricane Katrina should act as a wake up call to America’s true
prophets and intercessors. It’s time to climb up on the watchtower,
sound the alarm, and commission the prayer warriors instead of
waiting for disaster to strike, reviewing an archive of ambiguous
prophetic words of judgment, and looking for one that appears to fit
the bill to determine who has bragging rights.
Claiming that Hurricane Katrina is God’s judgment on New Orleans is
not biblical and The Voice magazine does not agree with this
viewpoint. Prophecies about hurricanes, wildfires and earthquakes
abound, and are often declared as God’s judgment on sin or
disobedience. Surely, God does reveal devastating events to His
prophets so we can pray, but it’s the spirit behind such judgmental
prophetic announcements that is cause for concern.
Since the spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus, are we to
conclude that our Lord’s will is to pronounce judgment in a
dispensation of grace? Jesus came so we could have abundant life
(John 10:10). The Apostle Paul said “bless and curse not” (Romans
12:14). The Word says unbelievers are judged already if they don’t
believe in the Son of God (John 3:18).
Does it make sense to pronounce another curse against unbelievers?
What about all the governing churches in the tri-state region? Did
Jesus seek to wipe them out, too? What about the next hurricane that
approaches our shores? Will it be another “cleansing?”
In addition to the phone calls and e-mails informing us that Katrina
was in fact the judgment of God, The Voice magazine received an
e-mail from a prophetess in leadership at a strong governing church
in New Orleans.
She wrote, “Everyone within the ministry has been scattered to
various places and we are still in the midst of trying to locate the
members. I was in the flood waters at my home for three days before
being rescued by boat. Afterwards, I was taken to the New Orleans
Convention Center where I remained from last Wednesday to this past
Sunday. I cannot begin to tell you what transpired during that time
– everything from rape to murder…Please continue praying for us.”
Was it God’s will to scatter the members of this church? To leave a
woman of God stranded with no food and water for three days? To
cause conditions that bred rape and murder? To leave believers
homeless and separate little children from their parents? Let me put
it another way: Does causing a hurricane of massive proportions
serve Jesus’ mandate to seek and to save the lost? To build His
Church? Doesn’t the Word declare that it is the goodness of God that
leads man to repentance? (Romans 2:4)
The Voice magazine dealt with the issue of whether or not New
Testament prophets are called to pronounce judgments and curses in
our
July 2004
cover article,
“Edify,
Comfort, Exhort… & Curse?”
It’s important that we find solid biblical answers to this critical
question because in these last days we will see more devastating
events like Hurricane Katrina and the bombings in London take place
around the world. I invite you read the entire article from the July
2004 issue at
(“Edify,
Comfort, Exhort… & Curse?”).
Then send us your comments on this critical question facing the
Church today.
Let me leave you with a couple more questions to consider: Does
telling unbelievers that God destroyed their home, killed their
children, and left their lives in utter ruin serve His purposes to
draw all men to Him? Or does it cause animosity toward the only One
who can save them from their misery and sin and restore peace and
righteousness to their lives? I think we all know the answer to
those questions.
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