As I wander through day-to-day life, I'm always on the lookout for blog fodder. This week was no exception, though I gleaned my material early, on Sunday in fact. Here in the Midwest, some brutal storms swept through on Sunday afternoon and evening. Like many others, I found myself sitting in the basement, waiting for the tornado warning to expire as I prayed for God's protection. Several things crossed my mind in the time that I waited in the underground.
First, it occurred to me anew just how good and right and just it would be if God, in His perfect providence, decided not to spare my family and I or our possessions. I found that the thought, and the real possibility that such a thing could happen, tested my trust in Him. It thus urged me to alter my prayers, not just that evening, but from that point forward, to reflect a desire for Him to strengthen my confidence in His provision even more than He already has in recent months. For all of this, and for His ultimate protection through the literal storm, I am profoundly thankful.
My second thought was this: what is Gloria Copeland doing right now? I had this thought because in the past, Copeland has taught that it is man who controls the weather. Yes, that's right. Ken and Gloria Copeland rebuke tornadoes.
So where were the Copelands when at least six people were killed by multiple tornadoes this past Sunday? Where were the Copelands when Typhoon Haiyan ravaged the Philippines, killing what now is being
reported as nearly 5,000 people? And where are the 'open-but-cautious' charismatics in rebuking and condemning this kind of nonsense in their own movement? Such a teaching reflects the idea of positive confession, that man's words have power to create, destroy and control. This doctrine is not only absurd, it is utterly dangerous.
God controls the weather. He controls the storms, the typhoons, the hurricanes, the droughts. He controls the climate and ultimately, He is in control of the final fate of this earth. That is why we place our faith and trust in Him. That is why we do not rely on ourselves or on our fleeting circumstances, but only God. How gracious He is and how blessed we are to have such a powerful and personal God.
Now, if you'll excuse me, there's some cold weather headed my way this weekend, and I'm going to go see if I can find a chill-rebuking spell to scare it away. If that doesn't work, maybe I'll just make a pot of chili instead. While I'm busy doing that, I hope you take some time to enjoy your week in review (kind of):