Where would the Church of God prophets of doom and gloom be without some earthly catastrophe to whip them into a frenzy? Their angry god demands that, so they look far and wide at any news story that best fits their anticipated godly punishment scenarios. The more bad news they can find the more they can scare followers with so that their wallets open up for that "final push".
Living Church of God has its focus on Australia right now with an article in their rag "Tomorrow's World" entitled: Australia's Watery Wake-up Call.
Greg Watt writes:
We have all heard the saying, “God works in mysterious ways.” And we do not need to look very hard for events to which we could ascribe this proverb today. Australia’s recent travails are a prime example.
Since February 2022, this island continent has experienced unprecedented flooding, particularly in eastern regions that are west of the Great Dividing Range, as far as South Australia. Lives have been lost, thousands of houses and commercial properties have been damaged or destroyed, essential infrastructure— electricity, water, and gas—has been interrupted, and sewage systems and treatment plants have flooded. And the rains are forecast to continue for at least one more La Niña cycle over this coming summer.
After going into all the damage from rains, flooding, fires, and loss of life, Watt says this:
We clearly see that God does indeed work in “mysterious” ways—delivering an unprecedented wake-up call to Australians, who, as they begin to rec- ognize that these natural disasters and their effects are extraordinary, are naturally questioning why they are happening and what is driving them. They want answers and they want action. While the vast majority of Australians would never concede that an omnipotent God is directing these weather events,
it is undeniable to virtually everyone that unprece- dented weather disasters are now becoming the new normal—whether prolonged scorching droughts, dev- astating bush fires, or extreme flooding.
The magical god of Armstrongism is always pissed off and the church thrives on it.
So how can we explain the causes of such events? Regular readers of this magazine know that they are no mystery. Bible students know and understand that there is an omnipotent God who rules from the heights of the heavens and who is fully engaged in directing the events on planet Earth below. King David recognized this fact and said as much when speaking of God’s omnipotence; “You broke open the fountain and the flood; You dried up mighty rivers. The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have prepared the light and the sun. You have set all the borders of the earth; You have made summer and winter. Remember this, that the en- emy has reproached, O Lord, and that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name” (Psalm 74:15–18).
Has Australia blasphemed God’s name? Emphatically, yes! Consider the nickname Australians have adopted for their country: the “Lucky Country.” Such a name attributes to blind chance the awesome blessings this country offers them—an unmatched living environment because of extraordinary mineral and agricultural wealth, providing an incredible lifestyle, the envy of most countries. Is this just luck? Only the most hardened atheist or materialist would make
such a claim. God has blessed Australia and its citizens exceedingly, despite widespread lack of gratitude and acknowledgement of Him and His merciful generosity. Despite the blessings God has poured down, despite the incredible period of peace the nation has known— we have only once had to repel an invading force from our shores, in what could best be described as a skirmish—few acknowledge God and His authority.
This rebellion and contempt toward God must and will have consequences.
Spank'em, God! Spank'em so we can feel superior! After all, we keep the law, they don't!!!!
Australia’s Watery Wake-Up Call