What is the Christian Response to the Haiti Earthquake?

The devastating earthquake in Haiti requires a specific response from Christians and the church body of Christ on earth. Christians, true disciples of Christ, have several key responsibilities to the victims of the Haiti Earthquake according Jesus and the bible, which are the the foundations of the Christian faith. So what is the appropriate Christian response to the Haiti Earthquake? And what are the actual responsibilities for Christians-the church body of Christ on Earth-to Haitians and earthquake victims in Haiti?

Before we can answer any questions about the Christian's response to the earthquake in Haiti or the responsibilities for Christians regarding relief efforts, we must first define what exactly a Christian is. Christians are disciples for Christ and ambassadors for Christ in a world filled with sin and darkness. This is why Jesus uses the analogy for Christians as being "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world" in Matthew 5:13-15.

What does Jesus and the Bible explain about His true disciples?

One of the most famous scriptures of all times, known by most around the world-Christian or not-is John 3:16. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life," according to John 3:16 (New King James version). Prior to the arrival of Jesus in the flesh on earth, John the Baptist preached repentance. Repentance is a critical part of being a true disciple of Christ and repentance means more than just saying or thinking "I am sorry." The amplified bible does an excellent job defining repentance clearly as to "change the inner man to meet God's will" in Revelations 2:5 and since Jesus died, was buried, rose again, is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven, and sent the Holy Spirit (Spirit of Truth) to help us, Christians have an abundance of help, assistance, guidance, direction, strength, and power to be able to repent in the fullest meaning of the definition. According to Matthew 3:2 John the Baptist preached "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" and repent is defined in the amplified bible for passage Matthew 3:2 as to "think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins, and changing your conduct" by Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.

Explaining what a true disciple of Christ (a Christian) is not will help clearly illustrate what a true Christian is. The term Christian derived from the disciples of Jesus being so Christ-like in word, speech, deed, action, and truth that people mistook them for Christ himself; hence, Christian really should be synonymous with Christ-like. Some of the hallmark indicators of a non-Christian unsaved individual is a denial of Christ, selfish and self-centeredness, and behaviors (fruit) that are opposite of those modeled by Jesus Christ himself. The speech, or words spoken by, Christians are very important to gauging their true heart condition. "If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person's religious service is worthless (futile, barren) according to James 1:26. What are the "external" or "religious duties" of the true disciple, a Christian? "External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world" according to James 1:27.

Is a Christian simple someone who "professes to be a Christian?" There are people who profess to be a Christian yet their words and behaviors are not Christ-like at all. The bible explains about these people who will be more visible in the end times when "the last days will come (set in) and perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]" according to James 3:1 (Amplified Bible). "For people will be lovers of self and [utterly self-centered]" and "and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]" (II Timothy 3:2; 3:5) explains the bible. Holding a form of piety could be explain as those who might do a combination of these behaviors: tithe, read the bible, quote the bible, wear shirts and hats with scriptures, attend church, and even do community service yet the all this is only skin deep, it is on the surface only, for the inner man-or the man behind closed doors-is selfish and self-centered. What does the bible recommend regarding these people? In case you are wondering, the bible says "Avoid

Now that we understand what a Christian is not, it is not a wolf in sheep's clothing, we can easily understand what a true Christian is. Jesus said "if anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also]" in Matthew 16:24-25.

What is the appropriate Christian response to the Haiti Earthquake and the tragedy?

The Christian should respond just like Jesus would have responded if the Haiti Earthquake had struck while He walked the earth. This idea has been simplified to "WWJD?" or "What would Jesus Do?" in modern times; however, knowing just this question and a simplified answer is really not enough. Christians must not just think positive thoughts, talk the compassionate talk, and pray deep prayers, but they must actually walk the walk. "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk, even as he walked" according to 1 John 2:6.

For a true disciple, picking up the cross is actually much deeper than this. According to Luke 4:18, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." This is not just the mission of Jesus, but this is the mission of every authentic Christian.

Let us also not neglect that "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" according to Romans 5:8. God showed His love for us through His plans and actions before we were born, before we repented, before we apologized, before we loved Him, and while we were deep in sin. This means that the any past sins, mistakes, and disagreements are not relevant in light of the suffering from the earthquake and the needs of the Haitian people and the country of Haiti right now. The blood of Jesus will cover the sins of the repentant Christian and likewise it is also able to abundantly cover the sins and wipe out sins of the previous generations, iniquity in the family lines, or generational curses as well.

Jesus explained the proper response to tragedy in "The Parable of the Good Samaritan." This question on "who is my neighbor?" was asked by a person who knew the command to "Love your neighbor as yourself." The "right" response was the Samaritan who saw the beaten man lying for dead and took pity on him. The Samaritan stopped his journey and bandaged the man, took him to an Inn, took care of him, and then left the innskeeper money to care for him. He also instructed the innskeeper to look after the man while he was away with the promise that he would reimburse for any additional expenses. The parable ends with Jesus asking "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:25-37)

The victims of the earthquake are no different than the man beaten by the robbers. Christians are instructed to "Go and do likewise" as the Good Samaritan treated the wounded man, we should prepare ourselves to treat the victims of the Haitian Earthquake in all ways we can.

What are the actual responsibilities for Christians-the church body of Christ on Earth-to Haitians and earthquake victims in Haiti?

Jesus used "The Parable of the Good Samaritan" to illustrate exactly what we are supposed to do when faced with other injured and suffering human beings on earth. Christians are instructed to get involved and help the suffering person. Notice that praying was not a step in the story sequence. Christians are God's hands and feet on earth. We are His body in action. Christians are instructed to "pray without ceasing" so praying is a regular, constant part of the Christian's dialogue with Jesus during a day-whether a tragedy is being faced or not.

Jesus did not want the injured man to have a group of people simply praying about his rescue or recovery or He would have surely illustrated that. Jesus wanted Christians to spring into action to help hurting people and pray without ceasing as you are being the hands and feet of God on earth. The Christians responsibility is much deeper than a "prayer room only" response to suffering. Christians are told how to serve and instructed not to pretend they don't know about suffering in 1 John 3:17-18, ^"But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth."

Christians are responsible to lift the people of Haiti up in prayer. These prayers will include prayers for the victims of the earthquake to know God's love, to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, to be healed, and for the restoration of their lives as well as the rebuilding of their country. Christians who have the world's goods or material possessions are also responsible for donating to help meet the needs of the Haiti Earthquake victims. Jesus explained in "The Parable the Sheep and the Goats" in Matthew 25:35-40 "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"

Additionally, it should not be left unstated that true disciples of Jesus help their neighbors on earth year round. Christians reaching out and meeting needs should not just be in response to an earthquake or tragedy, it should be a way of life for the disciples of Jesus. In the United States, many don't understand the poverty in some places, nations, and countries. Our nation scrambles during the holidays to make sure that Santa does not forget any children, yet we fail to realize that the $25US spent on an individual toy could support an entire family in an impoverished nation for a month who lack food and water-the essentials-and could actually die without. The Christian keeps an eternal perspective, we don't store treasures on earth but we store our treasures in heaven.

John 3:16 - Passage Lookup King James Version, BibleGateway.com
The Everyday Life Bible, Revelations 2:5, page 2123
Matthew 3:2 - Passage Lookup Amplified Bible, BibleGateway.com
The Everyday Life Bible, James 1:26-27, page 2063
II Timothy 3 - Passage Lookup Amplified Bible, BibleGateway.com
Romans 5:8 - Passage Lookup English Standard Version, BibleGateway.com
Luke 10:25-37 - Passage Lookup New International Version, BibleGateway.com
1 John 3:16-18 - Passage Lookup New American Standard Bible, BibleGateway.com
Matthew 25:30-45 - Passage Lookup New International Version, Biblegateway.com