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Does God still bring judgment today?

Micah 1:2

On many occasions, a Christian has publicly declared that God is passing judgment on a person, group, or region because of some egregious sin. Whether it is a hurricane, a famine, AIDS, or some other catastrophe, we can easily find someone who labels the event as judgment from God. To make such claims in our modern era with any kind of certainty is virtually impossible because, unlike the setting of Micah, nations today do not have an explicit covenant relationship with God as Israel did. Nor do we have prophets who explicitly declare God's impending judgment for specific violations of the covenant.

God takes human actions seriously, and individuals and nations may experience consequences as a result of deep patterns of sin, but we can no longer easily discern what results from living in a post-Fall world versus what may be divine judgment. While God will not be mocked, and a final judgment is sure, we may see some situations in the meantime where catastrophe strikes and others where sin seems to reign unabated. For now, we must remain humble and strive to encourage others to live righteously, because society is better for all when God's ways are honored. In any case, when human beings experience or witness disasters in the fallen world, they should be reminded of the ultimate disaster that lies ahead and repent before that day arrives (Luke 13:1-5).

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