Q: I heard a guy on the radio this week talking about how Japan "is a godless nation" and the latest earthquake and tsunami are punishments from God. How would you respond to someone who has such beliefs? Doesn't God love everyone?
A: Mmmm ... I'm not sure I would say that God loves everyone. God is willing to love everyone. God desires to love everyone. And I believe God is grieved that not everyone meets the criteria for His love. But the Bible does indicate that God's love is reserved for God's people ... and we each have the choice of being one of those people.
I also don't know if it's true that Japan "is a godless nation." What is true is that traditionally they have not shared the values of Christian nations. For example, in war they have been savage invaders and conquerors, inflicting horrendous atrocities on their victims. It's been only since the United States dropped atomic bombs on them that they stopped behaving so badly on the world scene. If the U.S. hadn't done that, it's likely that they would be a ruthless regime terrorizing the world today. Like I said, they have traditionally not shared the values of the western Christian people groups.
But does that mean that all Japanese people are godless? No, I don't think so. In fact, there are Christian churches in Japan. There are Christian missionaries working in Japan. Look, I don't know if God is trying to punish Japan with these calamities or not. The fact is, nobody knows such things. If I were the Japanese people though, I would be asking myself if God would have any reason to punish the entire nation.
I heard recently that less than 1% of the Japanese population is Christian - and that most Japanese don't claim any religion at all. So it is fertile ground for evangelism. As Jesus said, "the harvest is many, but the workers are few." So rather than try to decide whether or not the Japanese people might somehow deserve the calamities they're experiencing --- I believe it would be more Christlike to wade into their misery and despair and show them the love of Christ.
Knowing God's nature and character the way I do, it's entirely possible that God will use these calamities to help bring more Japanese people to Christ. We should all be at least praying for them and asking God to use this time to reveal Himself to the Japanese people. Let us all pray that God will be glorified in the end through these calamities.
I find it interesting you talk about the Japanese inflicting horrendous atrocities on their victims during war and then the next sentence discuss the atomic bomb that the US dropped….which was a horrendous atrocity on thousands upon thousands of innocent men, women and children. It is ironic that people can talk about the horrible things the US had done during war times (and still continue to do even not in war times – drone strikes, etc on innocent people), but it’s okay because we are doing the “right” thing. Every country believes their side is right. You may think that the US can inflict horrible pain and suffering on innocent people in the name of freedom or democracy, but that just seems hypocritical. Natural disasters happen in every country, no matter if they are “godless” or not. Japan doesn’t focus on God and as you said only 1% are Christian, but what I found interesting after living there nearly 4 years is that they have more respect and love for their fellow man than the US does (a “godly” nation). There are no mass shootings. Only a handful die from guns every year. Less than 10 typically! The number of rapes, murder, theft, etc is so low and the country is SAFE. Yet, they are a “godless” people. The funny thing is – they take accountability for their mistakes and culturally they respect others. There is a lot of individual accountability. Unlike “godly” followers that just toss their hands up and say that everything was the will of God and do not take any individual accountability. I’m struggling with my Christian faith right now mainly because of the difference of living in Japan and the US. I don’t want them to become like the US. The love, respect and safety there is unmatched here in America. I don’t think forcing God will help. Look at what a “godly” country like the US has to deal with – death, murder, racism, violence, theft, anger…doesn’t seem to be making us better human beings.