Dear Mr. Kim,

I would like to mention several points regarding your response to Miss Han's article, Hurricane and Homosexuality.

First of all, you were putting up a straw man when you wrote "I believe that it's time to grieve over the loss of life and not the time to accuse and condemn the survivors of this disaster." I examined Miss Han's article carefully but i couldn't find any passage that she was accusing and condemning the survivors (or victims) of the disaster. On the quite contrary, she was agreeing to your saying of "it's time to grieve over the loss" by drawing our attention to the fact that some tens of gays and lesbians paraded in a festive mood through a street not far from the disaster area. Apparently what she was trying to relate to us were 1) how insensitive and selfish the gay/lesbian people there and 2) how grave is their sin and how deteriorated their minds are and 3) the seeming correlation between the practice and advocacy of homosexual behaviors and God's wrath upon it based on biblical teachings. So, giving the wrong impression on her--as if she was ill-meaning to the survivors of the disastor--to readers of your article is not fair, i'll say.

Next, your conclusion that the disastor has nothing to do with God's punishment based on the example of your pastor friend is not theologically sound. Please read carefully the dialogue between Abraham and God in Genesis chapter 18 and the book of Habakkuk. You will see that God will carry out punishment as he planned even though there might be some righteous people in it. For those righteous people, he will provde shields and shelters.

Another thing is your underlying assumption of living here on earth in the midst of sins and misery is better than dying and being in the presence of Jesus. Another such assumption is that God will ignore the predicaments of his people. Both assumptions contradict with what the Bible teaches about those subjects.

Third, you said you don't believe that our God is that small or that his true intention can be interpreted that simply. Let's begin with the first part of that statement. What do you mean by that? Do you mean that punishing (to me, it's more of warning, though) our sinful behavior is a small, petty thing to do for God? Do you? I hope you don't. For the Bible is from the beginning to the end about our sin and his response to it.

Oh, yes, God can be small, minding apparently nitty-gritty minute details. Read those books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers; you will have cramps in your brain with all those meticulous instructions. So, does that make God small? No! That only tells us that whatever God is paying detailed attention is gravely important to him and to us. And almost all those things are about keeping us from sinning and making us holy as he is.

Now, to the second part of your statement: you don't believe that his true intention can be interpreted that simply. How come? If you are a believer, that means God dwells in you and you know him through his Words. And yet, you say you are not sure of his true intention? God is very straightforward about his intention. He doesn't want us to be confused or misunderstood. If necessary, he's not afraid of repeating himself over and over again until we get it.

His intention is simple: he wants us to have eternal fellowship with him and to that end, he will use any and every measure he deems appropriate and effective.

Finally, about your last statement: "Condemnation and accusation are not the way to the cross." Condemnation belongs to God and accusation belong to Satan. Both are not ours to grap. Satan's accusation lost its ground at the Cross and God's condemnation can be turned into blessing at the Cross. What's the way to the cross, then, Mr. Kim? By tolerating or ignoring or even encouraging our sin? No, Mr. Kim, no! The way to Cross is conviction of sin. Without it no single soul will come to Cross.

I am wondering why you are so against the view that the disastor was an act of God? Are you afraid that people, including yourself, may see God as a narrow-minded menacing god? If so, rest assured that God-fearing people will not and God himself is not concerned of it a bit, for he is not. Rather, we believe God is concerned of how people would respond to this disastor: would they take this as his warning against their abomination and repent or would they scoff off this as just an act of nature that has nothing to do with their sinful acts and continue sinning.

Not to pass judgement on others but to lead them to the cross, Mr. Kim, it is far better to view the disastor as an act of God, rather than an act of Nature. Please note that the actual death toll is not as high as what we first estimated in panic. Yes, many lost their homes and belongings; yet they are alive and still have time to save their souls. Among the deads there may be innocent souls; they are resting with Jesus and what do we worry over them? As for the family of your pastor friend, their moving to New Orleans just two days before the disastor and losing all their belongings save their lives must be in God's wonderful plan for them, and, if they are faithful servants, they will look on the bright side and be thankful of what's happening to them and gladly put themselves into helping the survivors to come to the cross. (Please think of Paul in Philippians 1 and Acts 16.) About their loss of belongings: God will provide all his needs. (The epilogue of Job may comfort you.)

In His love,

U-Sang Kim


10/12/2005