My faith tradition doesn’t involve confession to clergy, resulting in spiritual prescriptions leading to absolution. For we who operate outside that church structure, pent up revelations can lead to a need to unload, somewhere.

Modern culture allows people to vent in other ways. Speaking the truth can put relationships at risk; too often, the BFO (Blinding Flash of the Obvious) can be highly uncomfortable and resultingly unwelcome. We have an antidote for that: just add the get-out-of-jail passwords: “just sayin…’”

“You really should have studied more; maybe you would have passed. Just sayin’…” “Those jeans aren’t really flattering for your shape. Just sayin’…” “Maybe you should give that kid some discipline. Just sayin’…” “You don’t realize that people know you’re posing right now. Just sayin’…”

Statements of fact that might be socially toxic can be neutralized by adding that salve. Just sayin.’

Here’s one: “Maybe God has a bone to pick with our modern world. Just sayin’…”

In the insurance world, there seems to be more theological understanding at work than in contemporary culture. They write policies of protection for people and companies that allow a carve-out of coverage for what they refer to as “Acts of God.” Earthquakes, floods, lightening, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions are all notable exceptions from their liability. 

Have you noticed that we seem to be under attack from nature? A heat dome parked over a third of our country, with triple-digit temperatures on an extended basis. Record-setting earthquake off the coast of Russia, with tsunami warnings continents away. Mid-summer deluges creating historic floodings and resultant tragic deaths, in places like Texas and Beijing. 

Bible history isn’t taught these days, unless you’re in a school that still uses the Scriptures to build a foundation for education. Because of that, there isn’t much awareness of the Creator’s use of His power over nature to communicate reward or rebuke in an unmistakable level.

The first epic demonstration of His judgement: the flood of Noah was cataclysmic. Ask Pharoah about hailstones, darkness and water-turning-to-blood; he brought them on himself and the rest of Egypt. Moses appeals to Heaven, and the Red Sea opens like a highway for the Jews (Egyptian chariots didn’t have the passcode for entry). Ahab and Jezebel reigned over an agricultural economy shut down by Elijah’s declaration of drought, “until further notice.” From Genesis past to Revelation future, God has spoken into our world – in reality, it’s His World – with unmistakable clarity.

Moses knew what he was talking about as he handed the keys to Israel’s mobile Oval Office to Joshua. From Deuteronomy 28:

“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God… However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you…”

Was he just fear mongering? Or, did he grasp the direct connection between societal behavior and divine oversight?

“Enlightened” agnostics disavow any connection between the One Who Is, and the way things are. That’s not surprising; Peter saw them coming:

“You must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this “coming” he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.’” (2 Peter 3:3-4).

Political voices declare that the car you drive to work and to church is causing global climate disruption. Is it possible that the policies that elevate heinousness and denigrate holiness have even more to do with the disasters of our day?

Maybe the dismissal of the divine – by global forces that go beyond all national boundaries – is resulting in Acts of God that are pointing toward the historic reentry of the King of Kings? Just sayin’…

Peter’s prescription:

“Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives… (v 11).

If writing today, he might have added: “Just sayin…’”

Bob Shank

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