Help Haiti, Period!

Short and to the point today, which is unusual for me, I know. Help Haiti! Do whatever you can, participate wherever you can, give as much as you can. If you are a part of a fellowship of Jesus-followers who have relief funding channels and/or have aid personnel on the ground in Port-au-Prince, find a way to give support immediately. For those of you who are United Methodist Jesus-followers, the United Methodist Committee on Relief number is Advance #418325. Urge your pastors and congregations to take special offerings this weekend!

I'm sure his intentions are sincere, but Pat Robertson of the 700 Club has not helped this effort at all. While he has asked that relief money for Haiti to be sent to the 700 Club, (I advise against this; dollars given through other Christian sources are more efficient), he has claimed to be privy to the reason Haiti has suffered not only the earthquake, but other hardships in their history. Robertson stated as fact that in the early 1800's Haitian rebels make a pact with the devil in order to throw off the yoke of the French colonialists. In the first place, how does he know this? I could just as easily make a public statement claiming that the Pittsburg Steelers made a pact with the devil in order to win the Superbowl. Second, what difference does it make why people are suffering? There's no evidence that Jesus made the cause of a person's suffering a condition on which He might or might not extend love and grace. If a person was possessed of demons, Jesus liberated him. If a person was sick for whatever reason, Jesus healed her. If a woman was guilty of adultery, Jesus forgave her. God is a transforming God in addition to being a saving God, to be sure. However, the order is clear - help, heal, rescue, save first; transform later. The grace-filled compassion of God comes first; no evaluating, just forgiving and saving.

I don't believe Haitian freedom fighters made a pact with Satan, but what if they did? Am I supposed to believe God isn't more powerful than that? Do I really think there haven't been Haitians since who have given their lives to Jesus the Christ and lived as real followers? Would that pact 200 or so years ago be any less a since that Jesus-followers in North American who buy products every day made by virtual slave labor in foreign countries so the profit margin will be higher? Paul said all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God...

Never believe a preacher when he/she says it's going to be short and sweet. Just help Haiti, period. I'll see you around the next bend in the river.