Dear Editor,

In response to Mark Wignall’s January 21 article, “In the beginning, man created God”, we must say we were somewhat disappointed and troubled by the piece. We consider Mark to be an intelligent writer and have often found some of his articles in the Observer interesting, but this one was poorly constructed and leads to a faulty conclusion.

First, we would like to ask if we as humans have ever witnessed anything in life created which did not have a creator. So to even suggest that mankind were the ones who created God is contrary to what we know as true or logical. This is the view of many atheists who seem to believe that nothing made everything on earth. Imagine if we said that this article before you came from nothing. The text fell together in a coherent order, the paragraphs appeared in a sequence, it printed itself, and then out of nowhere the title, “Which God are you speaking of?” appeared. You would ask, “Which crazy person would think that nothing created this article?” Then why would anyone give credibility to similar statements that concern the origin of the universe?

There is one thing we agree with in his phrase, “And then man created God in his own image to represent him.” The person with this view has successfully created a version of God in his mind that merely fills the bellies of men, kills “innocent” people and is OK with unrepentant churchgoers. He then leaves out the fact that the Bible tells us that God is holy and just, and will by no means let the guilty go unpunished. Then, once he has made this version of God (which is in fact an idol), he flatly rejects it. Rightly, that individual should reject that God because that is not the God of the Bible or the universe.

Secondly, what is interesting is that this theory of “There is no God” gives us no answers to or relief for the events that took place in Haiti or any other catastrophe that we face on earth. Thankfully, God has spoken to us through his Word and from it we can have answers and hope in the midst of such difficulties.

The Bible informs us that earthquakes, other natural disasters and suffering are a result of man’s sin that led to a fallen world (Genesis 3:17). It also tells us that God is in control of all things and that He does send judgements to this earth (Lamentations 3:37 and Amos 3:6). From it we also see that we are all deserving of judgement before a just and Holy God, because all have sinned before Him (Romans 1:18-19, 3:23). Ultimately disasters like this and others have been happening since the fall and are foreshadows of what is to come, a final judgement.

People seek to wrestle with the implications of “an all-good God” in the midst of suffering, but no one is asking why He tolerates our disobedience and sin at all. No one is agonising over why a Holy God shows us who are guilty so much mercy by allowing us our every breath. God is love, but He’s also just and holy and if He gave us what we deserve, the earthquake of His holiness would sweep us all into hell.

Every day of life is a gift from God, not a right we have. Our life today must be understood as God’s kindness and patience with us to lead to repentance. In light of what has happened to Haiti, we must use it as an opportunity to test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! (Lamentations 3:40)

Our hope is that as we look on at the situation in Haiti, we will realise an even more dreadful situation: that we all have transgressed the Law of God and see the fate we all deserve. And yet in spite of this He has been gracious. So let such kindness drive us to seek after the Saviour Jesus Christ, who lovingly died and rose again, so that we might be saved.

The theory that there is no God offers no reassurance or hope for the people of Haiti. For if there is no God let us eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. However, this loving God that we proclaim offers the hope of a future (eternal life) for the people who turn to him (1 John 3:2) that in Christ we will be offered a new life (or hope).

Sean and Sheldon

sonsofthunderja@gmail.com