Death by Water: Where is God?
Canon Dr Graham Kings
To be published in the Islington Express 14 January 2005

Disastrous death by water – so where is God? Various false ideas of God have been surfacing since the tragic Asian Tsunami. Firstly, the vindictive god: he is seen as punishing the sins of people in Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Jesus’ own words speak against such a view: ‘Those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them – do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem?’ (Luke 13: 1-5).

Secondly, the absentee god: he sets the world going and does not intervene in it again. This seems like a firework instruction: light the blue touch paper and retire. God doesn’t retire. He did create, continues to do so and is still deeply involved in his creation.

Thirdly, the puppet-master god. Some think the world is like the Little Angel Puppet Theatre, just behind St Mary’s: he created the world and now intervenes in every single little aspect. But we have been given freedom and God is not manipulative. Rowan Williams has commented: ‘There is something odd about expecting that God will constantly step in if things are getting dangerous. How dangerous do they have to be? How many deaths would be acceptable?

Fourthly, the tribal god: he loves only Christians and is punishing Muslims in Indonesia and Buddhists in Sri Lanka. But Jesus’ loving attitude to the Samaritans of his day puts that great lie to rest. Finally, the calculating god: some think he is showing us the imminent end of the world. Jesus did warn of earthquakes and wars, and God will one day wrap up history and recreate the whole universe, but Jesus did also warn against predicting particular times.

Christians believe in a creator God who is still creating and is still intimately involved in his work. Paul wrote to the church at Rome: ‘We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly.’ Many see this echoed in the current tragedy. Later he mentioned the Spirit groaning within us helping us in our weakness in prayer. (Romans 8: 22-23, 26). So there is a triple groaning. During ‘Thought for the Day’ on 29 December, Elaine Storkey commented perceptively: ‘This is not a limitation of God’s power or love but a description of the world we live in: a world not yet fully delivered and longing for cosmic redemption.’

Christians also believe in a participating God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Perhaps there is a danger of leaving Christ out of our concept of God when we ponder these deep questions? Last Sunday in the Church’s calendar was the celebration of the baptism of Christ. God, through his Son, entered and suffered innocently in his own creation on the cross and his baptism foreshadowed that cross. He did not need to be baptized but went under the water for us. Some may say: ‘If God created the world, then he should pay for its suffering.’ Christians can only point towards the cross.
Jesus also rose out of the waters of the River Jordan, and later rose from the dead. Where may this rising be in this catastrophe? Perhaps in the response from across the world? Jonathan Sacks, the Chief Rabbi has written: ‘We have seen the worst of nature and the best of humanity.’ From Islington, a ten day relief team of ten experienced medics and engineers leaves this coming Wednesday, 19th January. It is led by Emma Loveridge, Director of a local company, Wind, Sand & Stars Ltd, and Honorary Curate at St Mary Islington. They will be part of the relief work of Lanka Bible College. For details of the team see www.stmaryislington.org



Canon Dr Graham Kings, Vicar of St Mary Islington.