Do you believe in "Ambush Theology?"

An article in American Catholic talks about the prevalence of "Ambush Theology" in the world today. This is especially true in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Those who hold to this theory think that God is always waiting in the wings to ambush us for everything we do wrong. Those who believe this point to places in Scripture such as the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy where God lays out a blessing to those who do good and a curse to those who do wrong.

But, as the article points out, "The Bible takes people where they are, with later books often correcting the incomplete views of earlier ones." Later in the Old Testament, Jeremiah asks God why He doesn't strike down evil men. "But God answers in effect, 'You are in over your head, Jeremiah; you have to get beyond the old tit-for-tat theology.'"

Man's understanding of God's ways has developed as the centuries have passed. Jesus addressed this question further in the example of the man born blind. His followers were sure that either the man himself or his parents had sinned in order to merit him being born blind. He tells the crowd:

"His blindness has nothing to do with his sins or his parents' sins. He is blind so that God's power might be seen at work in him" (John 9:2-3).

In this case, "God's power" meant that the man was cured. Is that always the case? Of course not.

Tragedies happen. Where is God then? Sometimes God's power has to work through others (that means us). We can show God's love to those in need.

Christ has no body now but yours
No hands no feet on earth but yours
Yours are the eyes through which he looks
Compassion on the world
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good
Yours are the hands with which he blesses the world
Yours are the hands
Yours are the feet
Yours are the eyes.
You are his Body.

Therese of Avila