Shaking Christchurch (2)

Funny Way to Speak
A common theme is the earthquake is a sign that God is going to shake his church throughout the world. However, if God is telling his church that he plans to shake it up, then sending an earthquake to a southern city seems an odd way to do it. When I meet friends who have had their homes demolished by the quake, I could not look them in the eye and say,

God destroyed your home as a sign for the church.

God sent this earthquake to wake up his church throughout the world.

That seems too glib to me. It does not sound like my God.

The Holy Spirit is also skilled at speaking. God sent him to lead his people into the truth. Millions of Christians are listening for the voice of the Spirit. Thousands of pastors and prophets listen for his voice each week to bring a message to his people. If the Holy Spirit wants to speak to the church, he is capable of speaking directly. He does not need to speak through an earthquake in a distant city named after a college at Oxford University.

I wonder if some of those who see the earthquake is a sign to the church believe that they have heard from God and are frustrated that their words are not being heard. Frustration is risky because it can sometimes lead to hardness of spirit.