Haiti: The Other Side of the Road

Since I was in high school I have been one of millions of people captivated by Tolkien's masterwork, "The Lord of the Rings" and its companion books. I am one of millions more who have been captivated by the stunning visuals of Peter Jackson's movies. And whether you believe this to be an analogy of Christianity or not, certainly it is a wonderful exploration of good vs. evil, weak vs. strong, and so many other worthwhile themes. So I have used it often as sermon illustrations, Bible study materials and in other places.

One of my favorite quotes from the entire work occurs while the Fellowship of the Ring is traveling through Moria. Frodo, unhappy with his task of carrying the ring, curses his fate, his luck, and above all, Gollum: "It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance." But Gandalf responds: "Pity? It was pity that stayed his hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or ill before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many."

As I continue to watch events unfold in Haiti, I am encouraged by the compassionate response of so many, including my own church, and dumbstruck by the massive destruction. My heart and prayers go out to the Haitian people and to all of those who are working to respond with aid. And as I continue to monitor the activity, I wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts that have been prompted by a comment in the media.

Any time there is a crisis of this magnitude someone invariably points to God exclaiming that this is God’s judgment. I will let the reader wrestle with their own theology regarding judgment, but will suggest that Paul says in Romans that all of us have been judged and found wanting, hence the incarnation and salvation work of Christ (Romans 8:23-31). So, for us, then, to claim that a natural disaster is some form of judgment suggests that somehow we are better than other people are, and Paul seems to suggest otherwise. As Gandalf relates to Frodo, who are we to be so eager to deal out judgement?

But I also look back to Jesus and his teaching, and it is especially the parable of the Good Samaritan that comes to mind (Luke 10:25-37). The teacher of the law wants to justify himself and asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” And Jesus tells him the parable—do you remember it? The people of God in Jesus’ day pass the injured man on the other side of the road ignoring his pain. It is only the Samaritan, considered to be ritually unclean, who stops to help him. And do you remember that at the end of the parable Jesus asks the teacher of the law who was a neighbor to the injured man? Of course he says the Samaritan acted as the man’s neighbor. But here is at least one really important point to the parable. Jesus concludes the conversation with the statement, “Go and do likewise.”

The church of Jesus’ day (represented by the priest and the Levite) deemed the injured man unworthy to help. In other words, they made a judgment about him. He had to rely on someone outside his faith to give him aid. When the teacher of the law admits this, Jesus charges him to do as the Samaritan did—to render aid without regard to nationality, creed, or religious beliefs, to render aid without judgment, from a heart of compassion and love.

I believe that God loves all of creation unequivocally. That means when a disaster happens, I am less inclined to believe that it is God’s judgment and more inclined to believe that God cries over those who are hurt and killed. But it may be that God cries even more when his people who are called to share love and grace, when the people who claim the name of Jesus Christ, pass by on the other side of the road. I hope that each of us will understand our common bond with people everywhere, and without judgment, continue to render whatever aid we can give in the name of love and in the name of Christ.