Blue Collar Scientist

I ask because a tragic mishap has befallen this church:

As many as 70 people have been taken to hospital, several critically injured, after the auditorium floor collapsed at a church in Abbotsford, BC, Canada.

Around 9 pm PDT an approximately 900 square foot section of the stage and floor collapsed at a Starfield concert attended by more than 1200 people at Central Heights Church. Reports from the concert goers indicate that sound and lighting scaffolds collapsed onto the front section of the stage and mosh pit, causing the floor to collapse into the basement 10 feet below.

This is no laughing matter; it sounds like some people are likely to die, others will certainly face a long period of recovery and possibly disability. I’ve called the church to inquire about where to make a donation to help with the medical care or recovery costs of the victims; I haven’t heard back yet but I will post a link when I do.

I don’t want to minimize the magnitude of the tragedy by bringing theology into it. But I’m not the one doing that. The church’s own theology insists that the question in the headline be answered, since the church has made up its mind on the issue. In a FAQ on their website the church claims:

5. Why is there so much pain in my life?

Pain is part of the consequence of our rebellion against God.

They link to The Great Questions of Life as a way of learning more about their theology¹:

The Effects of Sin

Sin brought disease and death into the world.

God is Just

God is a righteous judge. This means that He always does what is right…. Through Jesus, He wants to save us from sin and all of its effects. But if we won’t let Him, He will allow us to feel the evil results of our wrong actions.

God Knows Everything

God knows the past, present, and future. He sees, hears, and understands everything that happens. He knows your thoughts and why you do what you do. God knows what is best for you….

I’m quoting selectively, so run down the links and see. I think this church teaches that if something causes you pain, it’s your own damn fault.

Sometimes it is². But in this particular case, my hope for the members and guests of this church who have been injured by this accident is that they escape being condemned as vicious god-hating madmen by their pastors, and that they benefit from the finest evidence-based medical care that can be brought to bear to heal their injuries, physical and otherwise.

1. They also link to Answers in Genesis. [↩]
2. Even when it is, that doesn’t mean that people in pain deserve to suffer. [↩]