God's punishment is an act of love

By Charles Okecha

I was deeply intrigued by an article published in the New Vision of Monday March 30, expressing response to the opinion of Ephraim Kamuntu, the Water and environment minister about God’s punishment on disaster-prone areas like Kabale, Kasese and Bududa for abuse of his creation.

Both views hold considerable element of truth, neither absolutely wrong nor correct but imply extremist ideas about God. That he is either easily provoked to punish wrongdoing or non-violent and too merciful to punish evil. Betwixt these extremes lies a true and correct interpretation which this piece seeks convey.

Biblical teachings on blessings and curses encounter divergent perceptions within Christendom just like the two parties above.  Some preachers/believers are too neurotic about curses to photocopy and distribute any intimidating document that promises ‘blessings’ and invoke curses upon those who don’t comply.  In some churches believers are compelled to pay tithe in fear of curses rather than loving obedience to a generous God! Users of social media fall victim to such intimidation to share or agree with certain posts without doubt or question.

The bible is often misinterpreted because human language is limited and prone to error as it presents the message of God to man. The various translations may carry aberrations which substantially affect our knowledge/understanding, faith and way of life.

When Adam and Eve sinned, God pronounced the harmful consequences of their disobedience but cursed the serpent and the ground. The word curse comes from the Greek word Anathema which denotes being doomed or set apart for destruction. In essence their expulsion from the Garden of Eden and the presence of God delivered them to harmful forces which affect human race to date.

God foresaw beforehand domestic violence, rape and defilement, wars, murders, diseases, famines and all sorts of evil that world make the world a difficult place to live in.

Satan the opposer of God’s purposes would destroy family relationships and complicate natural processes like child-bearing to be painful and loathsome to women and cause maternal mortality.

Humans lament why a loving and all-powerful God could not stop the first couple from death yet he created them free moral agents not robots! God is kind and merciful but also respects his laws and principles.

When Satan tempted Jesus to fall from the temple pinnacle to confirm his authority over the angels and identity as God’s Son, he replied, “God not tempt the LORD your God” implying do not compel God to violate his laws.

It is God who set the law of gravity and anyone who willfully violates that law and jumps from a height faces bodily harm, impairment and even death! The same applies to the law issued in

1450 BC forbidding eating of bats and monkeys which host Ebola and Marburg viruses.

However, God’s curse and wrath is provoked by practices like idolatry, demon worship, oppression and shedding of blood for which the Israelites suffered famines, plagues, wars and were taken into captivity.

If a human being can be angered by being compared to a dog how about God who made these creatures?

Bududa landslides bore the characteristics of God’s punishment because it suddenly occurred in the dry month of February 2010. Severe hailstorms afterward struck the same place covering several inches deep.  These calamities bear stronger links to the cult of Musambwa worship than just environmental degradation!

Nevertheless God says: I punish and discipline those that I love (Revelation 3:19). He commands us to repent and refrain from practices that lead to unending destruction.

Happy Easter!

The writer is from St. Paul’s College, Mbale