National Council of Churches USA
Special Commission
for the Just Rebuilding of the Gulf Coast

Biblical and Theological Principles to Consider in the Just Rebuilding of the Gulf Coast

 Listed below are some biblical and theological principles we affirm and suggested scripture passages to help us reflect on each affirmation.  This isn’t at all comprehensive in either the categories or the scripture citations. My intention is to offer a springboard for the prophetic insight and creativity of other contributors, with the hope that someone at NCC skilled in writing discussion guides might compile the ideas of a pool of contributors to create a compendium of principles as a discussion guide for use in local churches or other venues: 

Natural disasters are mysterious and tragic, but they are not God’s intentional acts of retribution or wrath.  God’s justice precludes divine acceptance of “collateral damage” in which the innocent are made to suffer in the course of punishing the guilty or teaching a moral lesson to humankind.  (Reflect on Gen. 18:23-26; Deut. 24:16; Psalms 103:8-13; Ezekiel 33)  The grace of God revealed in Christ testifies that the divine will is redemption and not retribution.

When the impact of natural disaster falls most heavily on the poor, the infirm, the very young and the very old, this is not a chance occurrence.  It is, rather, the bitter harvest of our negligence in protecting and providing for these more vulnerable people.  The biblical prophets and Jesus expressed God’s special concern for those outside the circles of power, prosperity, and privilege.  Jesus and the Prophets announced a divine mandate for the prosperous and privileged members of society to extend charity and justice to help safeguard the welfare of the most vulnerable in our midst.

(Reflect on Psalms 68:4-6; Isaiah 5; Ezekiel 34; Matthew 25:24-45) 

Even when the world turns a blind eye and a deaf ear to the plight of the victims of calamity and injustice, the Lord knows of their suffering and responds with compassion and redress.

(Reflect on 1 Kings 21; Psalms 37, 73, 82, 109; Isaiah 62; Lamentations 5; Luke 1:46-55) 

The prophetic tradition of ancient Israel and Jesus’ proclamation of God’s reign on earth, define true religion as that which promotes both individual morality and social justice. Practitioners of that true religion embody God’s response of compassion and redress as they promote both charity and justice in God’s name. (Reflect on Isaiah 58; Isaiah 61 & Luke 4:17-19; Jeremiah 7:1-11; Matthew 7:21, 23:23; Luke 12:13-34; James 1:27 & 2:14-22.)

Return to About Us

Special Commission on the Just Rebuilding of the Gulf Coast, National Council of Churches USA, 110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone 202-544-2350